Rock 'n' Roll Dances of the 1950s (The American Dance Floor)

This descriptive and analytic study examines how 1950s rock n roll dancing illuminates the larger cultural context out of which the dancing arose.Rock n Roll Dances of the 1950s provides a fresh highly animated lens through which to observe and understand the cultural climate of 1950s America examining not only the steps and aesthetic qualities of rock n roll dances but also their emblematic meanings. Exploring dance as a reflection and expression of cultural trends the book takes a sharply analytical look at rock n roll dances from the birth of the genre in the mid-1950s to the decades end. Readers will explore the emergence of teen culture in the 50s rock n rolls association with delinquency and the controversy ignited by the physical movements of early rock n roll artists. They will learn about the influence of black culture on 1950s dances and about the trendsetting TV show American Bandstand. Particularly telling for those wishing to grasp the underlying tensions of the decade is a discussion of the dance floor as a platform for racial integration.Period archival photosA bibliography of books articles videos films and recordings documenting the history of 1950s rock n roll music and dancingA detailed index allowing the book to be easily used as a reference source for research on social dance rock n roll and American popular culture