History of Dance Marathons

Endurance contests and record-setting came into vogue in the United States in the so-called Jazz Age of the 1920s. Competitors sat on flagpoles to earn small cash prizes, and pilot Charles Lindbergh made the first solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean. The dance marathon was born in this era, becoming a media sensation and a minor industry, earning desperate dancers a few bucks during the dark days of the Great Depression.

Beginning

The dance marathon fad in the United States is thought to have originated with a 27-hour nonstop dance by Alma Cummings, 32, who successfully broke the previous record, which was held in Great Britain, according to the U.S.A. Twenties Encyclopedia. The marathons became organized, commercial spectator events that drew huge audiences to ballrooms to see couples dance till they literally dropped. Sometimes they were referred to as "bunion derbies," "walkathons" or "corn and callus carnivals," since dancing was considered sinful in some sectors of society. Dances could go on for several weeks. The winners of larger-profile marathons could win hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Most contestants went home with only the spare change thrown by spectators.

Great Depression

The craze's popularity peaked in the 1930s during the Great Depression. Couples competed not only for the chance of winning cash, but for the 12 simple but filling meals served around the clock at most dances, according to HistoryLink.org.

The Event

Some marathons required dancers to do a particular step, such as the Charleston, for the duration. Others required only that dancers remain upright, their feet always moving, and their knees never touching the ground. Dancers were often permitted a 15-minute rest or sleep break for every 45 minutes of dancing. Each event had at least one judge and nurse. Organizers brought in bands and floor shows to draw more spectators in the evenings.

The events drew as many as 2,500 spectators a night, who paid 25 cents apiece and could stay as long as they wanted. One partner was allowed to hold up the other, as long as both partners kept "dancing." During interludes called "floor showers," according to the New York Times, spectators threw change at the dancers, who often groveled to scoop up as many coins as they could.

Marathon Bans

The craze was frowned upon as sadistic and immoral by proper society, and was actually banned in some municipalities. HistoryLink.org notes that Seattle passed an ordinance banning the practice in 1928, after a woman tried to kill herself after coming in fifth in a contest after dancing for 19 days. The entire state of Washington prohibited the contests in 1937.

Reality or Rigged?

Marathon emcees invented rich stories about the dancing couples to hold the interest of the paying crowds. A lot of the small-town sweethearts they described, however, were professional marathoners who worked the circuit. The contests were often weighted toward particular pro pairs who had the greatest ability to endure the brutal marathons while also wowing the crowds.

Dance Marathons Today

The dance marathon has survived into the 21st century. Colleges, fraternities and charities hold them to raise money for various causes.

References

• Dance Marathons of the 1920s and 1930s
• U.S.A. Twenties Encyclopedia: Dance Marathons
• New York Times: Dance Marathons Article

Resources

• Dance Marathon at the University of Florida
• Children's Miracle Network Dance Marathon