Turkey trot

Turkey trot

The turkey trot was a dance made popular in the early 1900s. The Turkey Trot was done to fast ragtime music popular in the decade from 1900 to 1910 such as Scott Joplin's Maple Leaf Rag. It lost favor to the Foxtrot in 1914.

The basic step consisted of four hopping steps sideways with the feet well apart, first on one leg, then the other with a characteristic rise on the ball of the foot, followed by a drop upon the heel. The dance was embellished with scissor-like flicks of the feet and fast trotting actions with abrupt stops.

It has been said that dancers John Jarrott and Louise Gruenning introduced this dance as well as the Grizzly Bear at Ray Jones Café in Chicago, IL. around 1909. Irene and Vernon Castle raised its popularity by dancing the Turkey Trot in the Broadway show The Sunshine Girl.

It achieved popularity chiefly as a result of its being denounced by the Vatican. It was thought that the positions assumed by the dancers was offensively suggestive. Conservative members of society felt the dance was demoralizing and tried to get it banned at public functions, which only served to increase its popularity.

There were news reports of dancers being fined because "their Turkey Trots were interpreted by the courts as disorderly conduct." In another instance, fifteen working girls were fired from their jobs with the Philadelphia song publisher Curtis Publishing when they were caught doing the turkey trot; even though the dancing took place during their lunch break.

One of the means to combat "offensive" dances was the 1913 song, Anti-Ragtime Girl: "…She don’t do the Bunny Hug, nor dance the Grizzly Bear / She hasn't learned the Turkey Trot / …She can't tell a Tango from a Can Can or a Jig / …She's my little Anti-Ragtime Girl…".


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  • Turkey-trot — Tur key trot , n. An eccentric ragtime dance, danced with the feet well apart and with a characteristic rise on the ball of the foot, followed by a drop upon the heel. The original form, owning to the positions assumed by the dancers, is… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • turkey-trot — (izg. tárkitrōt) m DEFINICIJA glazb. vrsta plesa za koji je karakteristično hodanje poput purana; nastao u SAD u 1910. i smatra se najranijim »rag« plesom ETIMOLOGIJA amer.engl …   Hrvatski jezični portal

  • turkey trot — ☆ turkey trot n. a ballroom dance to ragtime music, popular in the early 20th cent …   English World dictionary

  • turkey-trot — ˈ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷ intransitive verb Etymology: turkey trot : to dance the turkey trot * * * /terr kee trot /, v.i., turkey trotted, turkey trotting. to dance the turkey trot …   Useful english dictionary

  • Turkey Trot — A Turkey Trot is a fun run or footrace that is held on or around Thanksgiving Day in the United States. Americans anticipate indulgent Thanksgiving feasts and run in turkey trots to burn off calories before the big meal.In many parts of the… …   Wikipedia

  • turkey-trot — /terr kee trot /, v.i., turkey trotted, turkey trotting. to dance the turkey trot. * * * …   Universalium

  • turkey trot —  A turkey trot is “ the practice of transferring a marginal, incompetent, or problem employee from one department or job to another.” (Across the Board, Nov./Dec. 1994, p. 52) …   American business jargon

  • turkey trot — tur′key trot n. mad a ragtime dance marked by a springy walk, shoulder movements, and little bending of the knees • Etymology: 1830–40, amer …   From formal English to slang

  • turkey trot — /ˈtɜki trɒt/ (say terkee trot) noun a round dance popular during World War I, danced by couples, properly to ragtime, the step being a springy walk with little or no bending of the knees, and accompanied by a swinging motion of the shoulder… …  

  • turkey trot — noun Date: 1908 a ragtime dance danced with the feet well apart and with a characteristic rise on the ball of the foot followed by a drop upon the heel …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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