Dance Friday: The Evolution of the Jitterbug

I feel bad that I didn't post a single book recommendation this week and it is once again time for Dance Friday.  I know this is a blog about kid's books, don't worry. This week I was all wrapped up in writing progress reports.  I will post a book recommendation as soon as I am done with this.  I am also waiting for some special correspondents on the east coast to send me an update on their author visit...so stay tuned!


As I left work, my co-worker Jill and I stopped to get gas.  We carpool twice a week because gas prices are so outrageous here.  East Coast friends, take your snow...our gas is $4.50 a gallon!  Anyway, back to the story.  I kid you not, the radio at the gas station was playing Jitterbug (also known as Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go).  For those of you who aren't familiar with the serendipity of this moment, there is a fabulous scene in the movie Zoolander featuring a gas station and the song by Wham!

I already had a few videos in the queue for tonight's dance Friday but this was too good to pass up.  After a yummy dinner at Currywurst, I hopped on the YouTubes and looked up the Jitterbug.

Folks, what I have for you tonight is PURE GOLD!  Of course I started by watching Wham!'s (seriously, does the exclamation come before or after the apostrophe?? Bronlea, a little help?!?!)  Next week I will be attending an 80s Prom Night fundraiser for my school so this got me in the mood.

And then, THEN, I found an old jitterbug instructional video produced by MGM in 1944.  This is the real deal folks, the for real jitterbug dance.  The narrator and dancers are hysterical.  He describes the moves, they are done on screen, and then he adds, "You'll now forget them completely!"  This is quickly followed by advice to, "Swing the wing and flip the hip" with suggestions on good facial expressions to use while dancing. Then I discovered Cab Calloway's Jitterbug Party. It got me thinking. I wonder if the jitterbuggers (new word... the word jitterbug actually should be the word to refer to the person) of the olden days feel about Wham! and Zoolander how I feel about the new Harlem Shake?  Now that is some Dance Friday deep thinkin' for ya!

So, shake off your rusty dusty and hit that jive!  (P.S. I am also giving you Wham! and Zoolander so you can see the full evolution.)