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Hand dancing, also known as "D.C. hand dancing" or "D.C. swing", is a form of
, from the Smooth & Ez Hand Dance Institute It fell out of favor during the
, from the Smooth & Ez Hand Dance Institute In 1999 it was formally recognized as the official dance of D.C. by the district council. In 2000, the book ''D.C. Hand Dance: Capitol City Swing'' by Kim L. Frazier was published about the history, definition, philosophy, culture, structure, steps, and styles of Hand Dance. It provides discussions on etiquette, the competitive and social dance environment, the benefits of the dance, social norms, the traditional and contemporary variations. In 2008, hand dancing was featured on the television contest '' So You Think You Can Dance'' with the auditions of contestants Markus Smith and Deonna Ball. Their performance followed a brief exposition on its history and video footage from a hand dancing party at a
The History of D.C. Hand DanceNational Hand Dance AssociationDC Hand Dance Club
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hand Dancing Swing dances Culture of Washington, D.C.
Hand dancing, also known as "D.C. hand dancing" or "D.C. swing", is a form of swing dance
Swing dance is a group of social dances that developed with the swing style of jazz music in the 1920s–1940s, with the origins of each dance predating the popular "swing era". Hundreds of styles of swing dancing were developed; those that hav ...
that can be traced as far back as the 1920s, from Lindy Hop and the Jitterbug, to the 1950s when dancers in the District of Columbia
)
, image_skyline =
, image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...
developed their own variety. It is characterized by gliding footwork and continuous hand connection/communication between the partners, hence its name., from the Smooth & Ez Hand Dance Institute It fell out of favor during the
disco era
Disco is a genre of dance music and a subculture that emerged in the 1970s from the United States' urban nightlife scene. Its sound is typified by four-on-the-floor beats, syncopated basslines, string sections, brass and horns, electric pia ...
, but in the 1980s, Hand Dance resurfaced in the Washington dance community.
In 1993, the Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution ( ), or simply the Smithsonian, is a group of museums and education and research centers, the largest such complex in the world, created by the U.S. government "for the increase and diffusion of knowledge". Founded ...
recognized Hand Dance as an American Art Form, and the Smithsonian exhibit led to the establishment of the National Hand Dance Association."Introduction", from the Smooth & Ez Hand Dance Institute In 1999 it was formally recognized as the official dance of D.C. by the district council. In 2000, the book ''D.C. Hand Dance: Capitol City Swing'' by Kim L. Frazier was published about the history, definition, philosophy, culture, structure, steps, and styles of Hand Dance. It provides discussions on etiquette, the competitive and social dance environment, the benefits of the dance, social norms, the traditional and contemporary variations. In 2008, hand dancing was featured on the television contest '' So You Think You Can Dance'' with the auditions of contestants Markus Smith and Deonna Ball. Their performance followed a brief exposition on its history and video footage from a hand dancing party at a
VFW
The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), formally the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, is an organization of US war veterans, who, as United States Armed Forces, military service members fought in wars, Military campaign, campaigns, ...
hall in Suitland, Maryland
Suitland is an unincorporated community and census designated place (CDP) in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States, approximately one mile (1.6 km) southeast of Washington, D.C. As of the 2020 census, its population was 25,839. Prio ...
.
On 1 January 2011, the ''Washington Post
''The Washington Post'' (also known as the ''Post'' and, informally, ''WaPo'') is an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C. It is the most widely circulated newspaper within the Washington metropolitan area and has a large nati ...
'' featured an article on Hand Dancing highlighting District of Columbia Mayor Vincent Gray's participation in the art form.
The TRI-State Connection holds an annual hand dance competition in Tyson's Corner each September.
References
External links
The History of D.C. Hand Dance
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hand Dancing Swing dances Culture of Washington, D.C.