Dancing through the ages
Connie Goff
Have you heard about the new dance crazes?
Have you watched them “Whip” and “Nae Nae?”
Have you tried to “Hit the Quan?”
During recent visits from our grandchildren, particularly Chet and Clara, we have had the opportunity to witness said dances as this two-and-three-year-old pair twist and gyrate to the beat of their favorite songs and demonstrate the new moves.
It’s great fun to watch. (Those little grandchildren are so cute, of course).
However, after everyone leaves and the house is quiet again, Roger and I have often turned to one another and asked questions like:
“What’s a Quan and why do you want to hit it?”
“How do you nae nae?”
“And why should one whip?”
Due to our curiousity, we have learned to surf the Web and have found Youtube videos that depict said music and dances. (Yes, we are quite the HIP old people–surfing the Web and all.)
Interestingly, Chet and Clara have pretty much got those dance moves down pat. They can “hit that Quan” and “Whip and Nae Nae” right up there with the best of them.
Visions of other more recent dance crazes also come to mind. Dances like the “Cupid Shuffle,” the “Cha Cha Slide,” the “Boot Scootin’ Boogie,” the “Macarena” and the “YMCA.”
All quite popular on the dance floor. And what about “Gangman Style?” Kind of a scary title, but I reckon it’s safe enough.
Now, Twerking on the other hand, that’s just not right.
We’ve watched all our grandchildren and some of our children movin’ to the groove, so to speak, at a varety of dance parties.
Does that make me sound old — or nerdy?
I’ve even been known to join in a time or two on some of these dances; however, Roger saves himself for the more “sophisticated” dance steps.
So, as Roger and I sit and watch these Youtube videos, being of the more “elderly” set, we have begun to wonder what it’s all about.
Are these dance moves some sort of mystery ceremony?
Are these young people possessed with powers we know nothing about?
Should we be concerned?
In pondering these — and other questions about the modern generation — we have thought back through the years and contemplated some of our own choices in dance moves.
In the ‘60s, most dances included casual/do-your-own-thing kinds of steps.
I love telling my chidren about when their dad and I “slow danced” really close and all of the frightful details that accompanied said dancing! They love that.
But I distinclty remember when Chubby Checker introduced the “Twist.” Oh my. Was that ever an exciting advancement in the dancing lives of many a teenager.
I’ll have to say, there were some dancers who really got that twist thing down — and then there were those who didn’t quite get the concept. I often wonder about many of those kids — their backs, actually — as they have grown older. Man, they really twisted, gyrated, and moved those hips. But, who could help it with music like that?
The “Hand Jive” and the “Jitterbug” were both favorites amongst us teens in the ’60s.
And then there was the “Stroll.” It was kind of phasing out when I entered my teen years, but we attempted it at our weekly “teen town” activities. However, I can remember watching my brothers and their dates doing the “Stroll” when I was younger. Now that was a beautiful dance and I loved watching them.
I had heard stories about another dance — one that I had never seen, nor do I think I need to see anytime soon.
Rumor has it that my oldest brother got kicked out of the Catilina Club, north of Maryville, one evening when he was a young — possibly foolish — man for doing the “Dirty Dog.”
I called him to get permission to mention this story and he filled me in on details I won’t bore you with. Just know it’s a good thing he was kicked out when he was.
As for me, I think I’ll leave the “whipping” and “nae naeing” and the “hitting the Quan” to the younger generation.
Some good old two-stepping and waltzing are just fine for this old gal.
And remember, from way back in the beginning–back in Old Testiment days–David danced. Look it up if you’re curious in 2 Samuel 6:14.
