Novelty/fad dance
Fad dances are
dances which are characterized by a short burst of
popularity. They also called "dance crazes". During the
1960s and
1970s new dances appeared almost every
week, often
choreographed to popular songs ("Mashed Potato Time" by Dee Dee Sharp, "Freddy (Freddie)", the "Twist"). Their steps were often printed in dance
magazines. Dance crazes have continued into the
1980s with "
YMCA", and the
1990s with "
Macarena". Contemporary sources for dance crazes include
music videos and
movies. There are fad dances which are meant to be danced individually
(solo), others are
partner dances, and yet others are danced in
groups. Some of them were of
freestyle type, i.e., there were no particular step patterns and they were distinguished by the style of the dance movement (Twist, Shake, Swim, Pony, Hitchhike). Only some of them survived until now, sometimes only as the name of a step (Suzie Q, Shimmy) or of a style (Mashed Potato) in a recognized dance. Fad dances are in
fashion at the time of their popularity. They are associated with a specific
time period, and evoke a
nostalgia when danced nowadays.
Novelty dances are characterized by humour, as well as a sense of newness or uniqueness missing in other dances. They might include quirky and unusual steps, or have an unusual name. Novelty dances may also have been fad dances which have remained popular over a longer period. It is not necessary that they ever were fashionably popular. These are also referred to as "party" or "dance party" dances. Novelty dances that have remained popular no longer are associated with a specific time period-- they are timeless. Novelty dances are meant to be funny, and to evoke general mirth verging on silliness in participants.
Related links
- Dance basic topics for a list of general dance topics.
- list of specific dances for a general, noncategorized index of dances
External links