During the times of 1880-1920’s dancing was beginning to reach its greatest height in social leisure. Many people when thinking of dance in earlier decades, usually depict it as classy girls in big fluffy dresses dancing the night away. However though that typical stereotype is true, getting to that certain time frame, happened after the creation of Open dance halls. Participating in dancing intercourses between men and woman did not come without social discrimination. The culture at the time did not always look highly upon those who danced. This was an era that revolved around individuals, looking for ways to entertain themselves. One way this succeeded was by forming public dance halls which led to ballroom dancing and opening many new doors during this era. By Americans discovering this time of leisure they were able to develop new dancing styles and open themselves to a diverse range of music.
The public dance hall was a place where the younger people could come together to escape their parents and the older individuals could take a break after a long day of work. The Upper and middle classes usually danced within their homes for more privacy until the 1890’s. Then the public dance halls began to welcome a diverse range of the lower working class to the upper wealthy people. Usually dance halls would be hosted at spacious bars, large rooms in homes, or rented space in saloons. A certain type of dance hall called the taxi dance hall, did have a fee to enter of a dime for a 2 minute dance, which the pay was then divided among the musician and the woman. A taxi dance hall was different than an average public dance hall , taxi dance halls were where men would pay money in order to dance with a young women dancer, each ticket you bought gave them one full song with the women, a “Dime a dance.” Public Dance halls were not only found in large cities like New York or Chicago but almost everywhere such as Louisville, Kansas City, Plymouth. Ethnic groups did form different dance halls, like the Czechs in Oklahoma forming the Czech hall. In the united states almost all dance halls were segregated under the “jim Crow laws”, which enforced black and white separation. Dance halls did not integrate because whites wanted to be separate from the rising blacks community. 
<----- a book about the trashy side of taxi drivers
a movie that came out based on Taxi dancers life-------------->
The Open dance halls began to form a bad repuatation , as being affiliated with drinking and taking part in being sexually inappropriate with one another. Dancing between different sexes and the vulgarity of the different styles made people view the dangers of such close, direct contact between a male and female. All over the United States people saw the act of partaking in dance to be a sin and satanic. There were many Antidance testimonies and manuals. One book written by a man named Mordecai Ham called The Modern Dance lured people to read it by stating that “To save many young men and women from one of Satans most fetching appeals to the lust of the flesh.” Ragtime music and dance steps that followed it was a very popular type of dance, that was first formed in the black community. Others such as the Grizzly Bear, Turkey trot, A couple that goes by Vernon and Irene were Americans, that wrote a book by the name of Modern dancing that adressed the idea for a sense of change in the dance styles and began to teach ballroom etiquette. ‘Do not wriggle the shoulders. Do not shake the hips. Do not pump the arms… Drop the Turkey-Trot, the Grizzly Bear the Bunny Hug etc. These dances are ugly, ungraceful and out of fashion.” These were all kinds of dances that could be picked up and learned by individuals in a matter of minutes. This kind of obscene dancing arose many issues, which led dancing switched its paths , onto a new classier, civilized dance style different from any other, ballroom dancing.
A book writen by Vernon and Irene
A book informing others on the evil ways of dancing
(This is an example of a open dance hall, located in rented space of a saloon)
The ballroom dance had many different variations and styles that were much more civilized and looked upon as being a little more appropriate then open dance halls. Ballroom dancing during the ragtime era had very diverse styles included waltzing, the 2-step, Foxtrot, Tango and many others. By taking up these different dances the people were open to new music. A very popular place for ballroom dancing was the Ritz where mainly upper class people could come together and show off their moves. Learning and practicing the different steps to ballroom dancing could be picked up in local dance halls. Some styles like the waltz were only socially acceptable to the upper classes. In the early 1920's competitive ballroom dancing was starting to trend throughout cities. The etiquette required to partake in balroom dancing included both sexes to be on their best behaviors. The gentleman must ask the women to dance first and should do whatever the women asked of him without hesitation. The dress for ballroom dancing is how everyone today recalls it. Big, fancy
dresses for women and men dressed for the occasion as well. Ballroom dancing did not however come without complete judgement from the rest of society. The Moddern Manner of Dancing a piece of literature that viewed ballroom dancing as "massing together of a jostling crowd of mute or merely gibbering animals." However Ballroom dancing did show a much more elegant and classy way of dancing.
Dancing in general was massively popular in the late 19th and early 20th century. It was what many individuals viewed as a great way of leisure. These different styles of dance helped relationships, between the different sexes and a fun activity for people to get dressed up for. It brought people much joy, despite the constant critique of the rest of society. People were able to get out of their comfort zone and spend quality time with one another. Dancing has been part of Americas culture from then until today. It is something that though their maybe new styles and movements the old ones will always be remembered as it grows and moves forward.
