One piece of sheet music gave these instructions for the dance (It would make a good morning workout!):
Hop down front then doodle back (doodle means "slide")
Mooch to your left then mooch to the right (mooch means "shuffle forward with both feet - hips go first, then feet")
Hands on your hips and do the mess around,
Break a leg until you're near the ground (break a leg is a hobbling step)
Now that's the old black bottom dance
History: It seems that the black bottom dance originated in New Orleans at the turn of the 20th century and became the rage after the Charleston of the early 1920's. But the origins are muddied because, as one professional dancer said at the time "That dance is as old as the hills." In any case, its popularity in the late '20s amongst the American public drew on the popularity of the Charleston.
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Hop down front then doodle back (doodle means "slide")
Mooch to your left then mooch to the right (mooch means "shuffle forward with both feet - hips go first, then feet")
Hands on your hips and do the mess around,
Break a leg until you're near the ground (break a leg is a hobbling step)
Now that's the old black bottom dance
History: It seems that the black bottom dance originated in New Orleans at the turn of the 20th century and became the rage after the Charleston of the early 1920's. But the origins are muddied because, as one professional dancer said at the time "That dance is as old as the hills." In any case, its popularity in the late '20s amongst the American public drew on the popularity of the Charleston.
Have photos that you'd like to see included? Share your photos or click "next page" below to see photos of 1920's fashion.
AncientFaces 
