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From Limbo to the Bunny Hop
Retro Dances for Fun and Fitness
By Charlene Torkelson
This great dance is fun for all. You will be doing your swim arm movements out of the water and to the beat of the music. Begin with the front stroke. Alternating your arms, stroke forward with one arm and then the other. Now try the backstroke. Again, stroke one arm at a time back and around, back and around. Everybody into the pool! Plug your nose with one hand, raising the other straight up over your head and take the plunge. Down and up (again!) dunking to the beat of the music. Now front crawl – arms stroking across in front and circling to the side.
With a few fun dances for your sock hop and a bit of music from Chubby Checker, now let's get your wardrobe. A must is the poodle skirt. The poodle skirt is a full circle skirt that twirls when dancing. It's also easy to make:
Measure your dancer from waist to just above th ankle for the proper length. An easy way to make a pattern for your skirt is to tape together several sheets of newspaper. Begin in the center and measure out the same distance in all directions from the center point creating a large circle. Cut out the circle checking to make sure your circle is really symmetrical by folding over at the center – both sides should be equal. Use a medium to light weight felt for your skirt because the edges don't need to be finished – they are perfect when cut with a scissors and will not fray. Felt also comes in wider widths to fit your whole pattern with one piece.
