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Dance with History 1900 to 1920

1900s A New Era

Franks describes a progression from courtly steps as a democratic and fun-seeking society expresses the emotions of a new era by interpreting music in smooth flowing dances based on the natural walk.

1900 James Finnigan of Manchester

"James Finnigan devises the Military Two Step. He is also the first President of the Manchester and Salford Association of Teachers of Dancing, founded in 1903, and his grand-daughter still teaches dancing.

1911 Jazz, Syncopation and Ragtime

Irving Berlin composes Alexander's Ragtime Band.

1911 Tango

"... it became fashionable in Paris, and later in London, to have 'Tango parties' in drawing-rooms. They also began introducing dancing couples into restaurants, and [George Grossmith] was one of the first among the ordinary people watching to get up with a lady and dance between the tables. Other spectators followed suit."

1914 Vernon and Irene Castle

"People can say what they like about rag-time. The Waltz is beautiful, the Tango is graceful. One can sit quietly and listen with pleasure to them all; but when a good orchestra plays a rag one has simply got to move."

1914-1918 Foxtrot

"1914 - The Foxtrot first danced in UK, described by a contemporary as 'very rollicking, and has a tendency to put everyone in a good humour'."


"When war came, the most popular form of relaxation for the men on leave was a dance... The fascinating lilt of the Foxtrot tunes and the informal nature of the steps appealed so much that in a few months the Foxtrot swept all other dances except the Rag off the ballroom floor.

"Foxtrot has an eponymous hero, Harry Fox, who was among the first to introduce it to the vaudeville stage, but the suggestion it was named after the gait or pace of the horse, known in the West as 'Foxtrot', is more plausible.

"...one prominent teacher, in reply to a request for a definition of the basic Foxtrot steps, wrote at the time: 'There are but two things to remember; first a slow walk, two counts to a step; second a trot or a run, one count to each step.'"