The Ragtime dance craze began at the end of the 19th century and was the main style of dance in the first two decades of the 20th century. The music of this era developed from African slaves y combining their traditional chants with the traditional European music. It was then Americanized by American composers making the unique sound of ragtime. The new styles of dance originated in the southern and midwestern regions among the lower classes. Everyone was talking about this new style of dance, however, the upper class was mostly just talking about it because it had stemmed from the lower classes. It was Irene and Vernon Castle who spread ragtime not only across all levels of society but also across countries. This couple showed of their dance moves to this new music in a Parisian dinner club. This brought them fame throughout Paris and the rest of Europe. When they returned back to the states Ragtime was spread through all the classes. If this young, classy couple could dance to ragtime with elegance than so could everyone else. This couple helped to turn ragtime dancing into a dance mania! For the first time Europe imported the latest dance music and steps from America.
The moves of ragtime started out simple and grew to many different types and styles. In the beginning the traditional two-step was danced to this new music. As ragtime became more popular new styles of dance started to evolve like the one-step and "animal dances''. The animal dances consisted of the grizzly bear, the turkey trot, and the bunny hug. Also African American cake walk's became very popular among society. Irene and Vernon Castle danced a unique dance that became know as the Castle Walk. Many other styles evolved during this era including the Argentine Tango, the Hesitation Walk, the Maxixe, the Half-and half, and the Fox-Trot. The Argentine Tango became popular because it allowed a sensual flirtatiousness that was previously forbidden in public dancing. The Hesitation Walk was very graceful and look almost balletic. The Maxixe was a swaying two-step also known as the Brazilian Tango. The Half-and Half was a hesitation waltz in 5/4 time and some would make it more obscure by dancing to it in 7/4 time. The Fox-Trot style came about shortly before the Great War started. It was a dance that was slow with quick steps that was put together in a wide variety of patterns. The ragtime dance craze ended when World War I began. Although short lived the ragtime music and dance styles redefined social dancing and relationships in this new 20th century.
