Simple movements: twerk, waltz and other most depraved dances of the world

Dancing is as old as time itself. Our ancestors moved in the silent rhythm of nature by burning bonfires, then whirled in graceful waltzes and watched the cancan dance.

And then came twerk. In 2013, Miley Cyrus, who overnight turned from a modest girl into a beauty from the cover of a magazine, caused a real furor with her megatance. Previously little-known movements instantly became one of the most discussed memes of the network.

The word twerking itself even received a registration in the Oxford English Dictionary, and the dance rolled around the planet, sometimes causing admiration, but more often condemnation of the puritan public.

But this is not the first time when an ordinary dance causes such a public outcry. We did a little research and compiled a list of dance techniques that have shocked people at all times, from reggaeton and cancan to that notorious twerk.

1. Background. The beginning of the Middle Ages

Dancing for pleasure has a long, really long history of misunderstanding and disapproval of society. Classical early Christian writings forbid dancing directly, calling close physical contact between men and women sinful. In the Middle Ages, the attitude to dancing changed a little: round dances, dances with the exchange of partners directly pointed to the near-polygamous structure of society.

Wars, slavery, political and economic migration have made dancing multicultural. New influences spread very quickly, changing depending on the cultural characteristics of the area.

2. La Volta. Year of origin: 1556

The royal courts of England and France were shocked when this Italian dance literally captured the minds and bodies of the youngest nobles. Unlike the sedate and unhurried dances of that time, La Volta demanded from the dancers not only speed, but also dexterity. At some point, the man had to grab the girl by the waist and, pushing with his hips, lift her into the air. Did it look immodest? You bet.

3. Csiop. Year of origin: 1698

During the Xiop dance, its participants could choose and kiss a partner right on the dance floor. It was the blessed 17th century in the courtyard - witches were burned in packs, and a girl who risked picking up a skirt above the limit could well end the day in shameful stocks on the main square.

Naturally, the new dance attracted the attention of the Puritans. Kyushon was called the machinations of supporters of Roman Catholicism, and in sermons it was called nothing else than "an obscene lascivious dance leading straight to hell!".

4. Waltz. Year of origin: 1816

At the beginning of the 19th century, a new dance conquered the whole of Great Britain. At that time, the rules of decent society simply forbade a man and a woman to be alone before the wedding — and here is a waltz.

"This is infinitely far from the modesty that we all respected in real English ladies" (The Times).

The couple, clasping each other in their arms, circles around the hall, their faces are separated by only a few centimeters. It's a shame, of course.

5. Cancan. Year of origin: 1868

Somewhere in the late 1820s, representatives of the working class, who had never been particularly strict in morals, began to dance the quadrille in a slightly different way - raising their feet high in the air. And so the cancan was born.

"No woman should undress to the applause of men" (Pall Mall Gazette).

The townspeople of the middle class did not accept the dance: it was not graceful enough for them. But cancan went to various variety shows with a bang and remains there to this day.

6. Tango. Year of origin: 1913

The Edwardian era turned out to be very relaxed. This was also expressed in the ubiquitous lightness of morals. Tango arrived in the UK from France, although its roots are in Buenos Aires. At first, the puritan press presented tango as a dance of cowboys, pimps and prostitutes: you know, after such an annotation, tango was doomed to success.

7. Charleston. Year of origin: 1925

Like jazz, Charleston originated in the USA, somewhere in the middle of the "roaring twenties". For the first time in the history of dance, a woman could dance without a partner — but in pairs. This dance, with waving arms and sharp movements of the hips, was especially liked by the most conservative states of the USA, where it was called "the machinations of black Satan."

8. Jitterbug. Year of origin: 1934

Jitterbug traces its lineage back to the African-American lindy hop dance. Having quickly conquered the whole of North America, the jitterbug on the shoulders of American soldiers of World War II jumped to other continents.

"A dance conceived in hell, grown up in a brothel, shows its immoral essence!" (Dan Gilbert)

The exception was England, where the local star dancer Alex Moore called the jitterbug disgusting, degrading, not rhythmic nedotanets.

9. Twist. Year of origin: 1964

Chubby Checker, who jumped on the stage like the devil out of a snuffbox, turned the twist into a worldwide phenomenon in a few movements. It is interesting that already at this time the society was quite ready to accept even such frank dances, so there was no special wave of indignation of the Puritans.

"Just pretend that you just got out of the shower and then suddenly decided to put out your cigarettes with both feet at once" (Chubby Checker).

But there were well-founded fears of doctors. Orthopedists reported an increase in knee injuries and warned about mandatory warm-up before dancing.

10. Lambada. Year of origin: 1989

Lambada was a sensitive, exotic dance that came from Brazil and drove the whole of Europe crazy for a while. Lambada is a straight, extremely sexy dance: a guy stands behind a girl and presses his hips against her, moving to the rhythm of the music. Puritans all over the world were simply horrified by this.

11. Twerking. Year of origin: 2013

The homeland of twerking is West Africa. The dance was living quietly, mostly in African communities — but then Miley came and released the demon. From discos and mass concerts, twerking moved first to the streets, and then to schools around the world. Whether it's good or bad is up to you to decide.