Breakaway (dance)
Encyclopedia
From 1919 to 1927, Breakaway was a popular swing dance developed from the Texas Tommy
and Charleston
in Harlem
's African American
communities. The Breakaway was danced to jazz
, and while it often began in closed position
, the leader would occasionally swing the follower out into an open position
, hence "Breaking away". When in open position the dancers would improvise with fancy moves. Some variations included both dancers completely breaking away from each other to dance 'alone'.
George Snowden
is popularly credited with bringing the Breakaway to the mainstream after participating in a 1920s New York City
dance competition, although it is difficult to be sure he was the only dancer of the day performing the step. Footage of Snowden dancing the Breakaway can be seen in the 1929 short film After Seven (directed by S.J.Kaufman).
Norma Miller
credits "Twist Mouth" George with having pioneered the breakaway (or at least bringing it to the streets of Harlem) in her book "Stompin' at the Savoy."
It is this 'breaking away' which revolutionised the then current European partner dancing structure. For instance in the Polka a step called the Coquette (Love Chase)is defined as "The lady escapes from her partner and polkas solo while the gent pursues her, arms akimbo." By the late 1920s, Breakaway had been incorporated into Lindy Hop
, which replaced it as a popular social dance
.
Texas Tommy (dance)
After the great 1906 earthquake and fire in San Francisco, the Barbary Coast became more of a tourist attraction than its predecessor. Dance-floors and variety shows designed to shock the tourists replaced prostitution as the chief business and many of the dance crazes that swept America during...
and Charleston
Charleston (dance)
The Charleston is a dance named for the harbor city of Charleston, South Carolina. The rhythm was popularized in mainstream dance music in the United States by a 1923 tune called "The Charleston" by composer/pianist James P. Johnson which originated in the Broadway show Runnin' Wild and became one...
in Harlem
Harlem
Harlem is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, which since the 1920s has been a major African-American residential, cultural and business center. Originally a Dutch village, formally organized in 1658, it is named after the city of Haarlem in the Netherlands...
's African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
communities. The Breakaway was danced to jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
, and while it often began in closed position
Closed position
In partner dancing, closed position is a category of positions in which partners hold each other while facing at least approximately toward each other....
, the leader would occasionally swing the follower out into an open position
Open position
In partner dancing, open position refers to positions in which partners are connected primarily at the hands as opposed to closer body contact, as in closed position. The connection is through the hands, wrists, and fingers, and relies heavily on frame and the compression and tension of both...
, hence "Breaking away". When in open position the dancers would improvise with fancy moves. Some variations included both dancers completely breaking away from each other to dance 'alone'.
George Snowden
George Snowden
"Shorty" George Snowden was an African American dancer in Harlem during the 1920s and 1930s. He is popularly credited with coining the name "Lindy Hop" for a popular partner swing dance of the day...
is popularly credited with bringing the Breakaway to the mainstream after participating in a 1920s New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
dance competition, although it is difficult to be sure he was the only dancer of the day performing the step. Footage of Snowden dancing the Breakaway can be seen in the 1929 short film After Seven (directed by S.J.Kaufman).
Norma Miller
Norma Miller
Norma Miller is an American swing dancer known to many people as The Queen of Swing. The daughter of parents from Bridgetown, Barbados, Miller was born and raised in Harlem, New York. She was interviewed along with dance partner Frankie Manning in Ken Burns documentary Jazz...
credits "Twist Mouth" George with having pioneered the breakaway (or at least bringing it to the streets of Harlem) in her book "Stompin' at the Savoy."
It is this 'breaking away' which revolutionised the then current European partner dancing structure. For instance in the Polka a step called the Coquette (Love Chase)is defined as "The lady escapes from her partner and polkas solo while the gent pursues her, arms akimbo." By the late 1920s, Breakaway had been incorporated into Lindy Hop
Lindy Hop
The Lindy Hop is an American social dance, from the swing dance family. It evolved in Harlem, New York City in the 1920s and '30s and originally evolved with the jazz music of that time. Lindy was a fusion of many dances that preceded it or were popular during its development but is mainly based...
, which replaced it as a popular social dance
Social dance
Social dance is a major category or classification of danceforms or dance styles, where sociability and socializing are the primary focuses of the dancing...
.