Figure 1.--This cabinet card portrait shows two unidentified children in a dancing pose. In the 20th century one might think that they were participating in a dancing competituin, but performance dancing dfor children was not common at the time. Rather we think this is a portrait of children taking social dancing dancing lesons at a school. The children may or may not be related. The girls wears a white dress and flower garland in her hair. The noy wears a Fauntleroy suit which was popular at the time. Most American boys, however, did not have added sashes, Notice the bows on the shoes. The portrait is undated, but looks like the 1890s to us. The studio was P. Cl. Johnson in Cumberland. Wisconsin.

There are two basic types of dancing schools, the popularity of which varied over time. First were the schools teaching social dancing. They were not very common in the early-19th century. America was still very rural and the small middle-class and limited urban populations was not a situation in which dancing schools thrived. This changed with industrialization and in the second have of the century we do see dancing schools opening. These were schools attended by ordinary children and in the case of many of the the boys, often with no real interest in dance. Usually the boys were sent to these schools, in many cases rather unwillingly o rat least disinterested, It was usually at the insistence of their mothers. Second, the other type of dance school is the schools teaching different type of performance dance (classic, modern, and ethnic) to children, mostly girls, with a real interest in dance. These schools were not very common throughout the 19th century as performance dancing was not seen as appropriate for children by many parents. This was a problem because normally to be an outstanding dancer one has to begin as a child. As America became more sophisticated we see more performance dancing schools opening. This was especially true in the 20h century with he rise of the movie industry. Suddenly the stage mother arose with parents wanting to get their children in the industry. While dancing school was mostly for girls. But mother with boys wanted to increase their sons marketability with skills like dancing. Again this was mostly for girls. Although there was some interest in tap among the boys. Some boys were interested in dance, but a small minority. And for the girls who stuck with it into their teens, an abiding interest.

Social Dance

There are two basic types of dancing schools, the popularity of which varied over time. First were the schools teaching social dancing. They were not very common in the early-19th century. America was still very rural and the small middle-class and limited urban populations was not a situation in which dancing schools thrived. This changed with industrialization and in the second have of the century we do see dancing schools opening. These were schools attended by ordinary children and in the case of many of the the boys, often with no real interest in dance. Usually the boys were sent to these schools, in many cases rather unwillingly or at least disinterested, It was usually at the insistence of their parents, normally mothers. Penrod Scofield is today a lesser-known American boy literary hero. But what wonderful Americana the Penrod novels are! The 1914 book, Penrod. was written by Booth Tarkington. It chronicled the travails of an American boy, duly outfitted in knickers--usually buckled above the knee. Penrod is confronted with the normal trials of pre-World War I American boyhood. He has to dress up in an embarrassing pagent costume, attend dancing school, face bullies, and many other problems.

Performance Dance

Second, the other type of dance school is the schools teaching different type of performance dance (classic, modern, and ethnic) to children, mostly girls, with a real interest in dance. These performance dace schools were not very common throughout the 19th century as performance dancing was not seen as appropriate for children by many parents. Acting in the 19h century had a social taint and for the most part lacked responsibility. The modern celebrity status of actors did not exist with the exception of a few leading actors and actresses. The heater was not seen as a place fr children. This was a problem because normally to be an outstanding dancer one has to begin as a child. As America became more sophisticated we see more performance dancing schools opening. This was especially true in the 20h century with the rise of the movie industry. Suddenly the stage mother arose with parents wanting to get their children in he industry. While dancing school was mostly for girls. But mother with boys wanted to increase their sons marketability with skills like dancing. Again this was mostly for girls. Although there was some interest in tap among the boys. Some boys were interested in dance, but a small minority. And for the girls who stuck with it into their teens, an abiding interest. When the movie industry moved to California, were this activity there. With Broadway there was also interest in New York.

Created: 6:29 PM 12/30/2017
Last updated: 6:18 PM 1/14/2025