What were dance marathons in the 1920s?

Dance Marathons (also called Walkathons), an American phenomenon of the 1920s and 1930s, were human endurance contests in which couples danced almost non-stop for hundreds of hours (as long as a month or two), competing for prize money.

What was the longest dance marathon in the 1920s?

The longest dance marathon during the 1920s and 1930s was almost 6 months. The longest dance marathon by an individual is 126 hours, and was achieved by Bandana Nepal (Nepal) in Kathmandu, Nepal, from 23 to 28 November 2018.

What were the popular dances in the 1920s?

Popular 1920s Dance Styles

• The Charleston. Without a doubt, The Charleston is one of the most iconic 1920s dance styles.
• The Fox Trot. You can’t talk about popular 1920s dance styles without mentioning the Fox Trot.
• The Texas Tommy.
• The Black Bottom.
• The Shimmy.
• The Brazilian Samba.

When did dance marathons become popular?

Although dance marathons are most readily remembered as a popular form of American entertainment during the years of the Great Depression (1929-1939), the fad originated in 1923 and continued to evolve throughout the 1920s and 1930s.

What to expect at a dance marathon in the 1920s?

Contestants were expected to dance full-out during the heavily attended evening hours. A live band played at night, whereas a phonograph often sufficed during the day. The longer the marathon wore on, the more endurance events the contestants found themselves subjected to.

What was the name of the dance marathon?

Dance marathons opened with as great a fanfare as the promoter’s press agents could muster. Each major promoter had a stable of dancers (known as horses, since they could last the distance) he could count on to carry his event.

What did people do in the 20’S for fun?

To make the 20’s competitive, Dance Marathons beginning in 1923 saw couples dance for as long as they could in the hope they would win the prize money. However, as these became more popular, a new rule announced that the couples were given 15 minutes in every hour to do tasks such as sleep, eat, change clothes or use the washroom… wow.

What foods were served at the dance marathon?

Most marathon promoters fed contestants 12 times a day — oatmeal, eggs, toast, oranges, milk, etc. Couples had to continue the shuffling dance motion while they ate the humble but filling meals. These meals were served at a chest-high table since the contestants ate standing up.