Buzz
Not too long ago, everyone was learning The Dougie, and just as we got the hang of it, pop culture icons were already showcasing their takes on the 'Harlem Shake.' Almost instantly, the fleeting nature of these trends became apparent, especially if your own attempt ended up immortalized on the internet.
Dance crazes have been a part of our culture for more than 100 years. Though they no longer dominate music halls, their legacy continues to linger in our collective memory.
1. THE GRIZZLY BEAR
Originating in Chicago around 1909, thanks to John Jarrott and Louise Gruenning, 'The Grizzly Bear' sparked a wave of animal-themed dances. This pioneering routine aimed to mimic the movements of a grizzly bear encounter. Dancers would take heavy side steps, sway their upper bodies, and hold their hands near their chests, culminating in a loud shout of, 'It’s a Bear!'
The dance first graced Broadway in 1910’s Over the River, featured in the song “Everybody’s Doin’ It Now.” To ride the wave of its popularity, music publisher Ted Snyder enlisted lyricist Irving Berlin to pen words for George Botsford’s piano piece “The Grizzly Bear Rag,” leading to the creation of “The Dance Of The Grizzly Bear,” which further boosted its fame.
By 1912, newspapers reported that New York had imposed a “social ban” on the dance. Rumors suggested that former President Woodrow Wilson’s 1913 inaugural ball was canceled partly due to his disdain for The Grizzly Bear, The Turkey Trot, and The Bunny Hug. Officially, the cancellation was attributed to Wilson deeming the event “too costly and inappropriate for such a serious occasion.”
In more recent times, Downton Abbey showcased Thomas and Daisy performing the dance in its second episode, though characters like Mrs. Patmore expressed strong disapproval.
2. THE TURKEY TROT
Jarrott and Gruenning also introduced The Turkey Trot, though mentions of a similar dance date back to 1895 in the song “Pas Ma La.” The Trot involved partners dancing face-to-face, incorporating gentle swaying, “pumping or flapping” motions, and, most controversially, close waist-holding, a move referred to as “hugging” in the early 1900s.
The dance was often seen as a pretext for “prolonged close contact,” which many believed fueled its widespread appeal. This same aspect led to some exaggerated stories about the consequences faced by those who dared to perform it. For instance, fifteen women were reportedly dismissed from an unnamed magazine for doing the dance during their lunch break. In another case, a New Jersey court supposedly sentenced young women to 50 days in jail for Turkey Trotting. Sylvia Dannett and Frank Rachel’s book
3. THE PEABODY
The Peabody, named after William Frank Peabody, gained popularity in the 1930s and '40s. There’s some debate about Peabody’s profession—some say he was a New York police lieutenant, while others claim he was a firefighter. However, everyone agrees on one thing: he was notably overweight.
Peabody’s size played a role in the dance’s structure. The foxtrot-style ballroom dance positioned the woman to the right of the man rather than directly in front, allowing larger individuals like Lt. Peabody (or Jackie Gleason) to move freely without hindering their partner’s steps.
4. THE STROLL
Following the success of The Bunny Hop, regulars on American Bandstand aimed to craft dances for every song, leading to the creation of The Stroll. This dance was slow, straightforward, and perfect for TV—boys lined up on one side, girls on the other, with one couple meeting in the center to shuffle together.
The Stroll was designed as a dance for Chuck Willis’ track “C.C. Rider,” earning him the title “King of the Stroll.” In 1957, Dick Clark encouraged The Diamonds to sustain the trend by writing a song about the dance, resulting in their hit “The Stroll,” which topped the Cashbox charts.
5. THE FREDDIE
Freddie Garrity and his band The Dreamers were known as the playful entertainers of early 1960s British pop. Their 1963 UK top-ten hit “You Gotta Make a Fool of Somebody” gained attention in the U.S. when Freddie performed his quirky dance moves on TV. When a host asked about the dance’s name, Garrity reportedly improvised and called it “The Freddie.”
Although Chubby Checker released his take on “Let’s Do the Freddie,” the dance never gained widespread popularity, with the song peaking at #18 in 1965. A later generation might recognize the dance from a scene featuring Shelley Long in the '80s cult favorite Troop Beverly Hills.
6. THE OSTRICH
In 1964, Lou Reed, a staff songwriter for Pickwick music label, was assigned to create a new song, resulting in “The Ostrich.” The track featured Reed’s unique “Ostrich Tuning,” where all guitar strings were tuned to the same note. The dance instructions were equally unconventional, with lyrics like, “Hey, put your head, oh, upside your knees/now, do the ostrich, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah/Yeah, you take a step forward, you step on your head.”
7. THE FLY
Chubby Checker became a millionaire by 22, thanks to a series of hits that appealed to both teenagers and adults. While “The Twist” and “Let’s Twist Again” remain iconic, some of his other popular tracks, like “The Fly,” which reached #7 on U.S. charts, are less remembered today.
8. THE PONY
“Pony Time” became Chubby Checker’s second #1 hit, though it never achieved the same widespread fame as “The Twist.” Aside from Cindy Wilson of The B-52’s showcasing The Pony in the 1980 music video and an Saturday Night Live performance of “Give Me Back My Man,” the dance largely disappeared after the 1960s.
In a recent Rolling Stone interview, Chubby Checker remarked, “The Robot is just the Pony.” He also noted, “Breakdancing is the Pony, too. When music slowed down, it opened up new possibilities. The Robot, breakdancing, and street spinning all stem from the Pony.”
9. THE HULLY GULLY
A playful conspiracy theory suggests The Hully Gully was introduced to curb the wild popularity of The Twist. While it didn’t stop The Twist’s rise, it did earn approval from the influential Ed Sullivan.
Frank Rocco is credited with starting The Hully Gully in Miami Beach around 1959 or 1960. It’s considered the first line dance to incorporate quarter turns, changing direction with each repetition. The disco dance The Hot Chocolate simplified The Hully Gully, and “The Electric Slide” closely resembles it, meaning many have unknowingly performed a version of The Hully Gully at family weddings.
