"There may be one hundred and sixty different Tango steps, but I doubt it. I have never seen so many, and Mrs. Castle and I do not dance anything like that number."
-- Vernon Castle, in Modern Dancing, 1914
I certainly don't dance anything like that number myself, but it's always interesting to look at the myriad variations that one finds in different manuals of the 1910s, and today I'll spotlight some of the more unusual ones found in Bert Milton's How to Behave in a Ballroom, published in Boston in 1914. Along with a fascinating history of the tango and many useful etiquette tips, Milton includes twelve genuinely unique moves which truly reflect the joyful spirit of pre-World War I American culture.
Fans of animal dances will be pleased to note their intrusion into the tango via moves such as the Shrimp Wiggle and the Kitten Kuddle, while those familiar with the Lame Duck will find a fascinating new version herein. Enjoy!
Gent walks agilely eight steps forward, lady walking backward in front of him. Spin around a couple of times and do the grapevine backwards. Dip somewhere near the end. Repeat. Gent and lady now take positions of persons ready for a race. At any accented part of the orchestra's syncopation, make a crouching dash like a thirsty pickle on a still hunt for a pint of vinegar. Run thirty paces, abruptly stop, assume a satisfied look, and then repeat.
The Anti-Skid
The orchestra substitutes an automobile horn for the fiddle. Gent takes atomizer from his breast pocket and primes himself with gasoline by spraying his necktie. Lady and gent both remove gum from mouth, divide each piece accurately and stick firmly on soles of shoes. Each takes three steps forward and seven backward -- multiply by nine, add four and carry eight. Go at high speed. Take all corners as rapidly as possible and release your clutch as desired. Do this until tired. It's a nobby tread.
The Hero's Hug
Orchestra plays martial music. Gent looks stern like U.S. soldier. Gent first gets rid of a leg, lost in war, by placing left foot in trousers pocket. Lady acts glad to see him. Gent places arm back of lady in proper dancing position. Then, keeping perfect time to the music, gent places a modest hug around lady's waist and repeats every fourth heart beat. In this dance the feet do not move. This makes it unusual.
The Lame Dame
Lady first grits teeth, then turns head away from gent. Gent then steps on lady's toe, lady, meanwhile, apparently not noticing it. Lady gives a bluff faint and falls. Gent catches her and returns her to vertical position. Separate and chassé forward and back. Lady limps gracefully every third step or so. Gent places right hand on partner's belt line in rear in imitation of Mr. Redfern. Both do grapevine and then gent spins lady until both are satisfied.
The Shrimp Wiggle
This dance is usually explained to the crowd by the leader of the orchestra and is done to any lively tango music. Each couple endeavors to show their own appreciation of how a shrimp wiggles. The results are entrancing. Zest can be added to dance by lady making noise like pebbles on the beach and gent making a wave-like swish. Dance until seasick.
The Kitten Kuddle
Lady and gent assume regular dancing position. Raise disengaged arm as though about to scratch, lower arm and mew vehemently. Separate, jump high as though trying for altitude. Land together as near as you can, Raise one knee as though about to dash away, then lower it as though you had changed your mind. Now dance some lovely dance as pussy-footed as possible. The quiet will make it dreamlike. After you are thoroughly satiated, go to your seats and sit close together in a good friendly manner and talk of love, etc.
Special thanks to Irene Urban for finding me a copy of the rare manual these variations were taken from!
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