Foundations of 'American' style Dance
Excerpt from Hickock Sports History
Excerpt from Hickock Sports History
A distinct American style of roller dancing began to develop just before World War II, mainly because of Perry Rawson, a retired stockbroker, who was an avid skater. The first chairman of the RSROA's Dance Committee, Rawson brought the British and European dance champions, Jimmy and Joan Lidstone, to the United States for a tour.
The Lidstones were not typical of European skate dancers at the time. They skated in a much more upright posture and were much smoother that most competitors. Rawson liked their style, because he felt that skate dancers should be able to develop power and speed with little apparent effort, as the smooth-stroking Lidstones did. Rawson built a rink at his estate in Asbury Park, New Jersey, where he often hosted instructors and skaters for demonstrations and discussions. To advance his ideas, Rawson published a newsletter and a magazine and wrote several books. During World War II, U. S. skate dancers were cut off from any European influence and the American dance style evolved. The Americans skated upright, with unusual speed. That style didn't impress European judges, though, so Americans didn't do well at the world championships. |
Thank you Chuan Fa for this comment
In case you do not have a link to the primary home of Perry Rawson and his "lab" for the development of how dancing on roller skates should be, you might want to view the following link ... (scrolling down) as his barn is the 'birthplace' of what the RSROA would establish, support and promote, for Artistic dancing on roller skates. [This link is to Historic Wayside - Township of Ocean Historical Museum, showing where Perry Rawson lived and developed the 'American Style of roller dance] http://tohmhistoricwayside.blogspot.com/p/1001-deal-road-wayside-nj-wayside.html Keeping in mind that while Perry Rawson did much to promote the 'art' of dancing on roller skates it is most likely--what ended up in the RSROA was--due to the entrepreneurial energy of Fred Bergin who incorporated the classical (most often overlooked) talent of Emily Melville. |
The Art of Plain Skating Perry B. Rawson ca.1942
contents thanks to Arizona Sk8 Champs
contents thanks to Arizona Sk8 Champs
artofplainskating_rawson_ca_1942.pdf | |
File Size: | 5960 kb |
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