The Charleston Dance Remix

About

The Charleston is a style of jazz/swing dance that was popularized in the US and Europe during the 1920s. On YouTube, a classic footage of Al Minns & Leon James performing the dance has spawned a series of remix videos, typically dubbed with modern techno and electronica music.

Origin

The B&W footage of Al Minns & Leon James’ performance was originally recorded at the Savoy Ballroom in the 1950s and later featured in The Spirit Moves: A History of Black Social Dance on Film (1983):

The first remix version was uploaded by YouTube user charlesfondue on May 11, 2006. Titled “charleston style,” the video shows Minns & James’ dance footage dubbed with Daft Punk’s Around The World. As of February 2010, this video has been viewed 2.9 million times and currently ranks at #69 top favorited video in People & Blogs category:

Derivatives

Marked by its similarities with more modern dance styles, some YouTube users responded with their own “old meets new” remixes using techno/electronica:

• Jumpstyle version

• Mirrored version feat. Daft Punk – Around the World

• feat. Aphex Twin – Windowlicker

• Do The Charleston:

• feat. Kortatu – Sarri Sarri

• feat. Spanish punk band Baldin Bada – Ibilaldia

• feat. Cake Song from Children’s Show Lazytown

• feat. Korean rap group 1tyme – Hot

• feat. Astrolectrix – Aeroflot

• feat. Turrican II: The Final Fight theme song (by p0dde):

• feat. Jack the House techno

• Charleston animation version:

The Charleston

Modern Iteration of the Charleston Dance

The Charleston is a step & swing dance that was often associated with Flappers during the Roaring Twenties. The steps are thought to have originated with the “Jay-Bird”, a similar style of folk dance popularized earlier in the African-American communities in Charleston, South Carolina. However, its mainstream breakthrough came with the Broadway show Runnin’ Wild (1923) and was further developed by influential Harlem dancers like Al Minns & Leon James. Today, Charleston beat still remains relevant in the world of modern dance, especially through recent revival of Lindy Hopping in the 80s and 90s.