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1960s Discothèque Dances

Upper Body Dances

The Jerk: Cross fists in front of chest (1), then open out to sides with elbows at right angles (2) [DB65].

Variation: Raise right arm in front of body, relaxing left arm at side (1), then Jerk with both hands (2). Repeat with opposite hands (3, 4) [DB65].
Syncopated Variation: One with the right, one with the left, then two with the right. Then one with the left, one with the right, and two with the left [DB65].

The Hitch-Hiker: Hitchhike right thumb across body to right side three times (1, 2, 3), then clap (4), while lower body does the The Frug. Repeat opposite with left thumb [DB65].

Sightseeing: Same as The Hitch-Hiker, but scouting to the right and left with hand above eyebrows [DB65].

The Swim: Repeatedly pop left hip out to the side, with the following hand movements:

Overhand Crawl: Bring right hand straight forward (1), and hold (2, 3, 4). Repeat with left hand. [DB65].
Back Stroke: Raise right hand straight up (1), and circle it down behind you (2, 3, 4). Repeat with left hand. [DB65].
Breast Stroke: Bring both hands forward (1), and open them out to the sides (2, 3, 4). Repeat. [DB65].
Side Stroke: Swing right arm forward (1), and carry arm to side (2, 3, 4). Repeat with left arm. [DB65].
Dog Paddle or Mud Crawl: Circling forearms around each other (toward body), bring right arm down sharply (1), then circle forearms quickly (2, 3, 4). Repeat with left arm. [DB65].
Underwater: Hold nose with right hand, raise left hand, bend knees and slowly lower yourself in a rhythmic jerk, swinging knees side to side until almost sitting on the floor. "A good way to end the dance." [DB65].

The Frug: Move hips to left four times, then move hips to right four times. The leg under the moving hip is straight, the other leg bent [DB65].

Variation: Bend forward at a 45° angle with hands behind back for first four counts, then straighten up for the next four [DB65].

Uncle Willie: Swivel from toes in and heels out to toes out and heels in four times, moving to the left. Then repeat to the right [DB65].

The Bug: "The first participant holds an imaginary bug which he throws on anyone he chooses. The victim contorts his body in search of the fast-traveling insect. As the bug is thrown from person to person, the postures created by these antics can be hilarious, provocative, eccentric, and entertaining to viewers as well as fun to the dancers" [DB65].
The Shampoo: The dancers "pass the soap from one to another," "wash each other's backs," "wash that man right out," or "come up with any number of ludicrous contortions charging the air with electricity." Agile dancers "inject a sliding technique reminiscent of slipping on the soap," which is an excuse for "splits and other acrobatic gyrations." The basic step is the Watusi, with the Pony being used to change partners [DB65].
The Temper Tantrum: The dancers throw a temper tantrum. They may also include thumb-sucking and other children's gestures. According to the description, "in dancing of this kind everyone can let off steam the way children sometimes do and the resulting relaxation helps to reduce accumulated tensions and pressures" [DB65].

For more dance descriptions, see our three books on dancing:
The Book of Mixers: 100 Easy-Teach Dances for Getting Acquainted (2022) by Richard Powers and Nick & Melissa Enge,
Cross-Step Waltz: A Dancer's Guide (2019) by Richard Powers and Nick & Melissa Enge, and
Waltzing: A Manual for Dancing and Living (2013) by Richard Powers and Nick Enge.

For full-length teaching videos, visit: University of Dance.

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