Uploaded March 2009 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
June 19, 1902.
American Mutoscope & Biograph Studios, Bronx, New York
Starring: Kid Foley and Sailor Lil
Camera: Robert K. Bonine
Kid Foley and Sailor Lil were the self professed ''tough dance'' champs of the Bowery in the early part of the twentieth century. This dance was also a popular vaudeville routine.
Seen here is the 'Bowery Waltz' or 'Apache Turn,' also known as the ''Apache Dance,'' ''Tough Dance,'' and ''Tough Dance at McGurk's.'' The dance reportedly has its origins in a street fight between two men and a woman. It took place in the ''Montmart section' of Paris outside of a night club indirectly responsible for the name ''Apache,'' pronounced 'ah-posh' or 'ah-po-shay.' A local Parisian gazette journalist wrote about the incident reporting that: ''The fury of a riotous incident (a fight) between two men and a women rose to the ferocity of savage Apache Indians in battle.''
The story of this fight was the seed of French underworld lore as the underworld clubs (''Caveau des innocents''), of nineteenth century Paris picked up on it.
The dance is very physical and rather passionate as the partners pantomime an escalating domestic fight. The spin in the dance is known as the 'Apache spin,' (a.k.a. the 'Texas Tommy' in Lindy Hop), and is an integral part as is the 'slow drag.' The pace starts slow working its way up to a violent frenzy, all the while alternating between a slow drunk dance and a wild domestic blowout, usually culminating with the woman feigning unconsciousness and being carried out. The interpretation is commonly based on one of two motifs: a low class drunken couple or a pimp and his whore.
''The dance is very brutal to the woman, and sometimes said to reenact a ''discussion'' between pimp and prostitute. It includes mock slaps and punches, the man picking up and throwing the woman to the ground, or lifting and carrying her while she struggles or feigns unconsciousness. In some examples, the woman may fight back.''
- excerpt from wikipedia
''Valse Chaloupee'' (or ''Apache Dance'') was first created in 1909 by Mistinguett with partner Max Dearly. Here is an example of the complete dance. A British Pathé film from 1934 featuring ''Alexis and Dorrano the celebrated Adagio Dancers in their famous 'Danse Apache,''' no doubt this kind of dancing leaves room for lots of interpretations:
youtube.com/watch?v=s48wDOalMLw
(Thanks to Wallygreeninker for some of the information)
June 19, 1902.
American Mutoscope & Biograph Studios, Bronx, New York
Starring: Kid Foley and Sailor Lil
Camera: Robert K. Bonine
Kid Foley and Sailor Lil were the self professed ''tough dance'' champs of the Bowery in the early part of the twentieth century. This dance was also a popular vaudeville routine.
Seen here is the 'Bowery Waltz' or 'Apache Turn,' also known as the ''Apache Dance,'' ''Tough Dance,'' and ''Tough Dance at McGurk's.'' The dance reportedly has its origins in a street fight between two men and a woman. It took place in the ''Montmart section' of Paris outside of a night club indirectly responsible for the name ''Apache,'' pronounced 'ah-posh' or 'ah-po-shay.' A local Parisian gazette journalist wrote about the incident reporting that: ''The fury of a riotous incident (a fight) between two men and a women rose to the ferocity of savage Apache Indians in battle.''
The story of this fight was the seed of French underworld lore as the underworld clubs (''Caveau des innocents''), of nineteenth century Paris picked up on it.
The dance is very physical and rather passionate as the partners pantomime an escalating domestic fight. The spin in the dance is known as the 'Apache spin,' (a.k.a. the 'Texas Tommy' in Lindy Hop), and is an integral part as is the 'slow drag.' The pace starts slow working its way up to a violent frenzy, all the while alternating between a slow drunk dance and a wild domestic blowout, usually culminating with the woman feigning unconsciousness and being carried out. The interpretation is commonly based on one of two motifs: a low class drunken couple or a pimp and his whore.
''The dance is very brutal to the woman, and sometimes said to reenact a ''discussion'' between pimp and prostitute. It includes mock slaps and punches, the man picking up and throwing the woman to the ground, or lifting and carrying her while she struggles or feigns unconsciousness. In some examples, the woman may fight back.''
- excerpt from wikipedia
''Valse Chaloupee'' (or ''Apache Dance'') was first created in 1909 by Mistinguett with partner Max Dearly. Here is an example of the complete dance. A British Pathé film from 1934 featuring ''Alexis and Dorrano the celebrated Adagio Dancers in their famous 'Danse Apache,''' no doubt this kind of dancing leaves room for lots of interpretations:
youtube.com/watch?v=s48wDOalMLw
(Thanks to Wallygreeninker for some of the information)
