Tea dance

Tea dance

A tea dance, or "thé dansant" ( _fr. "literally" dancing tea) is an afternoon or early-evening dance. The function evolved from the concept of the afternoon tea, and traces its origin back to the French colonization of Morocco. [Pettigrew, J., 2001. "Waltz Around a Tea Table." "TeaMuse", [online] . July 2001. Available at : http://www.teamuse.com/article_010702.html] Books on Victorian Era etiquette even included instructions for hosting such gatherings. A frequent feature of tea dances was the presence of a live orchestra – often referred to as a palm court orchestra – playing light classical music. The types of dances performed during tea dances included Waltzes, Tangos and, by the late 1920s, The Charleston [ibid.]

Tea Dances in Pop Culture

Tea dances are a common cultural reference in early 20th century fiction as a staple of genteel society, where people normally attend these receptions while visiting resort towns (like Brighton or the Hamptons). One example can be seen in the 1925 hit Broadway musical "No, No, Nanette." A tea dance provides the setting for the plot's climax when the main characters travel to Atlantic City [the same musical also features the famous song "Tea for Two" which is sung prior to this scene] .

In the United States, the term has been broadened to refer to any casual afternoon dance event. An infamous example was the 1981 Hyatt Regency walkway collapse in Kansas City, Missouri, that occurred during an afternoon dance which killed 114 people and injured 200. The incident inspired the song "Rockin' at the T-Dance" by The Rainmakers.

Gay Tea Dances

This term – sometimes spelled "T-dance" – is also used within gay culture to designate similar dances: particularly those held on weekends (especially Sunday evenings) in night clubs, or at the end of the day at gay resorts (usually beside a pool). A live DJ typically plays recorded club music at these tea dances. It originated at the Blue Whale hotel/club/restaurant on Fire Island, NY, as a way to entice visitors to spend additional time (and money) before taking the Ferry back to the mainland to prepare for their workweek.

ee also

* I-Beam Gay nightclub in San Francisco that had a popular tea dance on Sunday nights from 1978 to 1992.

Notes


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • tea dance — tea dances N COUNT A tea dance is a social event that takes place in the afternoon, where people meet to dance and have tea. Tea dances are especially popular with older people …   English dictionary

  • tea dance — ► NOUN ▪ an afternoon tea with dancing …   English terms dictionary

  • tea dance — tea′ dance n. a dance held during afternoon teatime • Etymology: 1880–85 …   From formal English to slang

  • tea dance — ☆ tea dance n. a dance held in the late afternoon, at teatime …   English World dictionary

  • tea dance — noun : a dance held in the late afternoon * * * a dance held at teatime. [1880 85] * * * tea dance noun A thé dansant • • • Main Entry: ↑tea * * * tea dance UK US noun [countable] [ …   Useful english dictionary

  • tea dance — UK / US noun [countable] Word forms tea dance : singular tea dance plural tea dances an occasion where people have tea and dance in the afternoon …   English dictionary

  • tea dance — n. dansant, type of social event of drinking tea and dancing held in late afternoon, dance that takes place at teatime …   English contemporary dictionary

  • tea dance — noun a) A late afternoon or early evening dance, typically with a live orchestra (often referred to as a palm court orchestra) playing light classical music. b) Any late afternoon or early evening dance …   Wiktionary

  • tea dance — noun an occasion consisting of afternoon tea with dancing …   English new terms dictionary

  • tea dance — noun Date: 1885 a dance held in the late afternoon …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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