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From Limbo to the Bunny Hop
Retro Dances for Fun and Fitness
By Charlene Torkelson
Retro – it's everywhere these days. Retro is present as well as past, and it's a great fun and fitness activity for the whole family. The music, the clothing and the dances make the '50s and '60s fads appealing to all ages. So get out your poodle skirt, put on your saddle shoes, tease your hair and roll up your carpet for a good old-fashioned sock hop. Put on the old 45s, and let's try some of the great dance moves from eras gone by.
One of the most entertaining group dances from the '50s is the Limbo – especially if you are short. "How low can you go?" You will need a yardstick or broom handle and two people willing to hold the ends. The dancers line up a few feet from the pole, each taking a turn trying to go under the stick without touching the floor with anything other than their two feet. The pole and floor are parallel starting about shoulder high (adult shoulder height!) and lowered after all dancers take their turn. If a dancer can't make it under the pole or touches the floor, they are asked to sit out until there is one final dancer remaining. The true '50s Limbo is danced with the dancer leaning back so their knees and feet slide under the pole first and the hips, back, shoulders and head following. But if you have young dancers, the real fun is to watch their innovative ways to get under that pole. Have your camera ready for this dance.
