3 flapper girls you must know

In the 1920s flappers girls broke the image of what a traditional woman should be. They cut their hair short, wore make-up and are what many considered the "modern" woman, breaking away from victorian womanhood.  Flappers Josephine Baker, Clara Bow and Louise Brooks are maybe the most famous three from the era but what made them stood out and stand the test of time?

Josephine Baker

JOSEPHINE BAKER
Josephine Baker was born in Missouri in 1906. Originally she was named Freda Josephine McDonald, but after immigrating to France she was known as Josephine Baker.
She is one of the most famous Charleston dancers of the era and her career began as a street dancer, which attracted attention and helped her being recruited as a dancer for the St. Louis Chorus Vaudeville show at the age of 15. Not long after this, she moved to New York City where she performed at the Plantation Club and in the Broadway chorus line of Shuffle Along and The Chocolate Dandies.
After New York, she moved to Paris in France where she stayed until she died. Her Danse Sauvage brought her success overnight, because her skirt was consisting only of a griddle of artificial bananas. It’s one of her most famous pictures and a symbol of the Jazz of the 1920s, and it also gave birth to the term “Art Deco”.
Baker was not only an entertainer but also an activist. During World War Ⅱ, she aided the Red Cross, the French Forces and the French Resistance. And in the United States she refused to perform for segregated audiences and is noted for her involvement in the Civil Rights Movement. In 1975 Josephine Baker died in France.

Louise Brooks

LOUISE BROOKS
Louise Brooks, who was born in 1906, has one of the most iconic flapper looks: Her bobbed hair, The American was a famous dancer, an actress and later in her life an author. She came into the spotlight as Lulu in the film Pandora’s Box.
Her career began at the age of 15, when Brooks dropped out of school to move to New York City to join the Denishawn dance troupe. She performed two seasons with Denishawn, but was dismissed at the end of her second season, because St. Denis, one of the most renowned artists of that time, thought that Brooks was possessed by a superior attitude.
After this, she found work as a Broadway chorus girl and became a Zeigfeld showgirl.
Brooks travelled to England, where she found work at the city’s famed Café de Paris and became the first person to dance the Charleston in London. This helped her get noticed by film star Charlie Chaplin, with whom she had an affair that lasted one summer.
When Brooks was 18 years old, she signed a five-year contract with Paramount, which is still a leading film studio, but in her days, she was never really considered a major star in the film industry. In 1985 Louise Brooks died of a heart attack.

Clara Bow

CLARA BOW
Clara Bow, born Clara Gordon Bow in 1905 was an American actress which became famous through silent films during the 1920s.
At the age of the 16 she participated at the nationwide acting contest, because previous winners got film roles, and Bow wanted to be an actress. She won an evening gown and a silver trophy, but the breakthrough never came after the competition.
In 1921 Bow was introduced to the director Christy Cabanne, who cast her in Beyond the Rainbow and was really impressed by her, but she was cut out in the final print. Bow dropped out of school after this incident and worked a normal job.
But her father encouraged her to keep looking for a film role because it was a huge dream of her. In 1923 she was featured in the silent film Down to the Sea by Elmer Clifton, which helped her getting known as an actress.
One year later Bow got her first lead role in the film Poisoned Paradise.
The appearance in the film It brought her global fame and the name “The It Girl”. Now she is still the personify to the Roaring Twenties and is often described as its leading sex symbol.
In 1965 she died of a heart attack.

3 flapper girls you must know

In the 1920s flappers girls broke the image of what a traditional woman should be. They cut their hair short, wore make-up and are what many considered the "modern" woman, breaking away from victorian womanhood.  Flappers Josephine Baker, Clara Bow and Louise Brooks are maybe the most famous three from the era but what made them stood out and stand the test of time?

Josephine Baker

JOSEPHINE BAKER
Josephine Baker was born in Missouri in 1906. Originally she was named Freda Josephine McDonald, but after immigrating to France she was known as Josephine Baker.
She is one of the most famous Charleston dancers of the era and her career began as a street dancer, which attracted attention and helped her being recruited as a dancer for the St. Louis Chorus Vaudeville show at the age of 15. Not long after this, she moved to New York City where she performed at the Plantation Club and in the Broadway chorus line of Shuffle Along and The Chocolate Dandies.
After New York, she moved to Paris in France where she stayed until she died. Her Danse Sauvage brought her success overnight, because her skirt was consisting only of a griddle of artificial bananas. It’s one of her most famous pictures and a symbol of the Jazz of the 1920s, and it also gave birth to the term “Art Deco”.
Baker was not only an entertainer but also an activist. During World War Ⅱ, she aided the Red Cross, the French Forces and the French Resistance. And in the United States she refused to perform for segregated audiences and is noted for her involvement in the Civil Rights Movement. In 1975 Josephine Baker died in France.

Louise Brooks

LOUISE BROOKS
Louise Brooks, who was born in 1906, has one of the most iconic flapper looks: Her bobbed hair, The American was a famous dancer, an actress and later in her life an author. She came into the spotlight as Lulu in the film Pandora’s Box.
Her career began at the age of 15, when Brooks dropped out of school to move to New York City to join the Denishawn dance troupe. She performed two seasons with Denishawn, but was dismissed at the end of her second season, because St. Denis, one of the most renowned artists of that time, thought that Brooks was possessed by a superior attitude.
After this, she found work as a Broadway chorus girl and became a Zeigfeld showgirl.
Brooks travelled to England, where she found work at the city’s famed Café de Paris and became the first person to dance the Charleston in London. This helped her get noticed by film star Charlie Chaplin, with whom she had an affair that lasted one summer.
When Brooks was 18 years old, she signed a five-year contract with Paramount, which is still a leading film studio, but in her days, she was never really considered a major star in the film industry. In 1985 Louise Brooks died of a heart attack.

Clara Bow

CLARA BOW
Clara Bow, born Clara Gordon Bow in 1905 was an American actress which became famous through silent films during the 1920s.
At the age of the 16 she participated at the nationwide acting contest, because previous winners got film roles, and Bow wanted to be an actress. She won an evening gown and a silver trophy, but the breakthrough never came after the competition.
In 1921 Bow was introduced to the director Christy Cabanne, who cast her in Beyond the Rainbow and was really impressed by her, but she was cut out in the final print. Bow dropped out of school after this incident and worked a normal job.
But her father encouraged her to keep looking for a film role because it was a huge dream of her. In 1923 she was featured in the silent film Down to the Sea by Elmer Clifton, which helped her getting known as an actress.
One year later Bow got her first lead role in the film Poisoned Paradise.
The appearance in the film It brought her global fame and the name “The It Girl”. Now she is still the personify to the Roaring Twenties and is often described as its leading sex symbol.
In 1965 she died of a heart attack.

Tell Me I'm Forgiven: The Story of Forgotten Stars Gwen Farrar and Norah Blaney

Hove couple Rosie Wakley and Ali Child began performing as their heroes, Gwen Farrar and Norah Blaney in 2014. They took their show about them to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival to great acclaim.  Since then Ali has written a 90,000 word biography of the forgotten pair of lesbian variety stars who were household names in 1924.

She has uncovered a story that mirrors her own. Like Norah Blaney, Ali entered into a conventional marriage and retired from performing. This happened young, and it was not until she was fifty and the mother of three grown up children that she came out as gay and started acting again.

Ali Child and Rosie Wakley

For Norah Blaney the process happened in reverse. She was living with Gwen Farrar in fashionable King's Road, Chelsea, partying alongside Tallulah Bankhead, Noel Coward  and the notoriously decadent Bright Young Things, starring with Gwen in West End revues and making hit recordings. The 1930s ushered in a more critical age and her relationship with Gwen came under closer scrutiny. She became ill and, when a surgeon saved her life on the operating table, she accepted his proposal of marriage. However, as Ali has found, this was not the end of her love affair with Gwen.

Ali Child's book "Tell Me I'm Forgiven:The Story of Forgotten Stars Gwen Farrar and Norah Blaney" is published by Tollington Press on 22nd October 2019. Copies can be ordered here:

https://www.behindthelines.info/tell-me-i-m-forgiven-gwen-farrar-norah-blaney/

A party to celebrate the launch took place at 7p.m. on Friday 25th October at Horatio's on Brighton's Palace Pier where MyCharleston co-founders Elena and Fiona took to the stage to teach audience members the Charleston.

Everything you need to know about a Charleston Hen Party

Planning a hen party for your best friend or yourself can be a lot of hard work. Many things starts to crop up such as budget, location and accommodation not to mention what the activities are going to be. Having just organised my own hen party, the most important thing is to find an activity which is inclusive and breaks the ice. There will be groups of girls who may have never met each other before so finding an something which gets everyone participating in, and most importantly having a good laugh, is ideal. 

Our Charleston hen parties tick all the boxes in terms of getting the party started. A vintage dance lesson is the perfect afternoon activity as they are inclusive, you can dress up, you will have a giggle and learn something new - maybe even a routine to perform on the wedding dance floor?

If the bride to be loves all things vintage then this is also the perfect opportunity to transform her into iconic flapper girl. Grab your pearls, bring headbands and pull on your gloves. Of course, if dressing up is not your thing, you can wear whatever you feel comfortable in but it’s a nice touch to add a spot of glamour to your day especially if you are planning a vintage hen party. At the dance class we will factor in some short breaks so you can take snaps and videos of you in your finery and the teacher can take some group shots at the end of the session.

At the Charleston hen party, your packages include an hour and half dance class including warm up, fun games and a simple Charleston routine. We ensure that the routine is something that can be done at whatever your level and always includes the most iconic steps of the era.. We have 4 packages on offer which include learning the Charleston, a Chorus line routine or a dance inspired from the musicals Chicago. We put a lot of effort in putting together a great playlist to match to get your toes tapping and knees knocking!

MyCharleston hen party

MyCharleston hen party

MyCharleston hen party

Our most popular slots are straight after lunch and perfect if you are wanting to combine it with other vintage activities. 

We host all our hen parties in public venues, in the best dance studios in the centre of city which we can source for you making sure you have exclusive use of the space for the afternoon making you feel as comfortable as possible.

Prices vary depending on group size so please get in touch for a quote as we would love to host a Charleston hen party for you!

Make an enquiry

Everything you need to know for our 1920s Afternoon Tea

This weekend we are hosting 1920s Afternoon Tea at the Hilton Brighton Metropole, and because it's just around the corner we wanted to share with you everything you need to know including how to get the 1920s look to what’s on the menu.

First thing to remember, this is not just a regular Afternoon Tea. Throughout the afternoon we have Sam and the Jazz Cats who be playing our favourite Charleston tunes so we can dance the afternoon away. we will be running mini Charleston lessons where you can learn the basic steps and Our MyCharleston dance troupe is also going to perform for you.

If you have not seen the menu yet, take a peak at what is in store. Veggie and vegan options are also available:

What to wear

As this is a 1920s themed Afternoon Tea we would love to see you dressed up in the 1920s style. So we have put together a short 1920s fashion guide.

Women
Fancy 1920s dresses were sleeveless, shapeless, ankle to knee length slip gowns accented with beading, sequins, fringe, and some feathers. Rich jewel tones and soft pastels made the simplest of gowns look expensive. Top it your outfit off with some lavish accessories, such as a diamond tiara or headband, silk shawl, feather fan, long pearl necklace, and gold arm bangles, and you will look like silent movie stars!

Outfits from our past 1920s Afternoon Tea

1920s fashion inspiration from our past 1920s Afternoon Tea

Men
Men found relief in slightly more comfortable dinner jackets (tuxedos) instead of stuffy tailcoats. Many men cast off formal attire all-together and embraced the colourful life of striped suits, flashy neckties, Homburg hats, and gold capped walking sticks.

Hair and Make-up
If you want the complete 1920s look you can have a look at our blog, which we recently wrote, or head over to our Pinterest Board to find some inspiration.

Click here for the hair and make-up blog.

Seating Plan

Our tables are cabaret style which seat six.

Directions

 

The event starts at 1.30 pm on the 24 Nov at the Hilton Brighton Metropole, Kings Rd, Brighton BN1 2FU which is on the Seafront in between of the i360 and the cinema ODEON.

We will be dancing in the Clarence Suite, a converted Chapel from 1819, within the hotel.

If you are planning on coming by car, there are plenty of car parks around such as the Regency Square Car Park (4-minute walk to our venue) or the Churchill Square Car Park (3-minute walk to the venue).

Or you could come to the Afternoon Tea with the bus number 77 which has a stop directly at the i360, called British Airways i360. From the stop to the Hilton Brighton Metropole it is just a one minute walk.

If you now want to book for our Afternoon Tea just follow the link below.

Strictly The Best

Sadly we didn’t get to see a Charleston number this week on Strictly Come Dancing so we have picked out two of our favourite routines from a previous series. This week we are looking at the best Charleston dances from 2016.

Claudia Fragapane & AJ Pritchard Charleston to 'You Give a Little Love' - Strictly 2016: Week 3

We’ve picked this out as a highlight routine for a couple of reasons. Firstly the set up is perfect in terms of the music and costume. It is not fancy dress flapper girl at all. Claudia’s costume is really nice, they have put together a beautiful playsuit with a lovely back and AJ’s outfit also matches the era.

The music also plays a big part in making this routine works. Sometimes Strictly picks some really ‘mass appeal’ songs which we understand they are trying to do to capture the audience of a really broad demographic but sometimes it really misses the mark and makes the dance really awkward as the song doesn’t fit the right time signature or style.

It has a nice story line, with the dancing peaking in the Charleston side to side and then a funny ending, it’s a bit clumsy but who has ever been glamorous with a custard pie?

In terms of content, we see heaps of Charleston along with variations :
20s Charleston - at least 3 sections
30s Charleston
Around the world Charleston

Other classic moves include:
Bunny hops
Trucking
Side to side Charleston
A ‘smack the baby’ variation
Flapper walks

So in terms authentic we see tons of classic steps.

It also has what we sometimes call some ‘Wow steps’ the pair do some really complicated lifts which are all done really beautifully. 1920s Charleston doesn’t really have any lifts but obviously this is TV and it has to have some ‘wow’ moment for the audience which is executed really well.

We think this is a really solid and strong performance and excellent for Week 3.

Danny Mac & Oti Charleston to ‘Puttin’ On The Ritz’ by Gregory Porter - Strictly 2016: Blackpool

Similar to week 3 routine, this dance has a nice storyline but it’s quite similar to Claudia’s at the start. Table, chair, fur thing around her neck but it is jam packed full of content. Sometimes Strictly fills a routine with quite a lot ‘fluff’ in the storyline (Which Vick and Granziano were marked down for this week in their Cha Cha Cha) but this cuts straight in and they really challenge Danny to keep up with Oti starting with some tricky footwork with a Charleston squat variation into flapper walks and Charleston squats on a table.

There is some basic Charleston into flapper walks which has a great swivel to it and then we see the Charleston in hold and then they break out into a tick tock from those formations.

What we really like about this routine which a lot of dances lack is you can really see the inflexion in the move so if you watch Oti’s feet they really have a swivel and flick which makes the steps so recognisable.

Again, it is a great song choice. A classic swing song which suits the routine and the storyline is very clear - maybe a bit repetitive, we have seen quite a few tables and chairs in the Charleston  - remember Brendon and Sophie Ellis Bextor? Strictly often falls short of this. How many times have we seen the lonesome street light wheeled out for the Argentine Tango? However, they fill the space and once again have plenty of wow moments with some great lifts.

The steps to look out for in this one are:
20s Charleston - both solo and in hold
20s Charleston with kicks and taps down to the ground
Squat Charleston with variations and on tables

Other classic moves include:
Flapper walks
Hitchhikers on the spot
Some Lindy steps
Trucking
Grapevine
Tick Tock
Fall on the log variation with a jump

Next week the Charleston is back and we can’t wait to see what Ashley Roberts and her pro Pasha Kovalev deliver for the Halloween special.

Move of the Week: Apple Jacks

Apple Jacks is a dance move which is full of joy, so much so that I would guess this move has gospel routes.

It start with a flick ball change on beat 8, as you do this the chest should open in a celebratory manner. The arms Swoop across the body to make a big circle or sunshine arms as I often say when teaching children.

The footwork is then a series of little steps which lead with the ball of the foot and follows through with the heel pressing down firmly as if crushing grapes (no one ever gets that analogy, I’ve never crushed grapes in my life either but hey it works for me.)  Another way to look at it, is it's as if you really need the toilet, so your crossing your legs in front of one another as if your really holding on. 

The challenging aspect of this move is that your feet should feel grounded whilst the upper body is light and lifted. It’s what I would call a yummy move and when you feel it come together you’ll fell immensely satisfied.

Good luck practicing and don’t fall over!

3 flapper girls you must know

In the 1920s flappers girls broke the image of what a traditional woman should be. They cut their hair short, wore make-up and are what many considered the "modern" woman, breaking away from victorian womanhood.  Flappers Josephine Baker, Clara Bow and Louise Brooks are maybe the most famous three from the era but what made them stood out and stand the test of time?

Josephine Baker

JOSEPHINE BAKER
Josephine Baker was born in Missouri in 1906. Originally she was named Freda Josephine McDonald, but after immigrating to France she was known as Josephine Baker.
She is one of the most famous Charleston dancers of the era and her career began as a street dancer, which attracted attention and helped her being recruited as a dancer for the St. Louis Chorus Vaudeville show at the age of 15. Not long after this, she moved to New York City where she performed at the Plantation Club and in the Broadway chorus line of Shuffle Along and The Chocolate Dandies.
After New York, she moved to Paris in France where she stayed until she died. Her Danse Sauvage brought her success overnight, because her skirt was consisting only of a griddle of artificial bananas. It’s one of her most famous pictures and a symbol of the Jazz of the 1920s, and it also gave birth to the term “Art Deco”.
Baker was not only an entertainer but also an activist. During World War Ⅱ, she aided the Red Cross, the French Forces and the French Resistance. And in the United States she refused to perform for segregated audiences and is noted for her involvement in the Civil Rights Movement. In 1975 Josephine Baker died in France.

Louise Brooks

LOUISE BROOKS
Louise Brooks, who was born in 1906, has one of the most iconic flapper looks: Her bobbed hair, The American was a famous dancer, an actress and later in her life an author. She came into the spotlight as Lulu in the film Pandora’s Box.
Her career began at the age of 15, when Brooks dropped out of school to move to New York City to join the Denishawn dance troupe. She performed two seasons with Denishawn, but was dismissed at the end of her second season, because St. Denis, one of the most renowned artists of that time, thought that Brooks was possessed by a superior attitude.
After this, she found work as a Broadway chorus girl and became a Zeigfeld showgirl.
Brooks travelled to England, where she found work at the city’s famed Café de Paris and became the first person to dance the Charleston in London. This helped her get noticed by film star Charlie Chaplin, with whom she had an affair that lasted one summer.
When Brooks was 18 years old, she signed a five-year contract with Paramount, which is still a leading film studio, but in her days, she was never really considered a major star in the film industry. In 1985 Louise Brooks died of a heart attack.

Clara Bow

CLARA BOW
Clara Bow, born Clara Gordon Bow in 1905 was an American actress which became famous through silent films during the 1920s.
At the age of the 16 she participated at the nationwide acting contest, because previous winners got film roles, and Bow wanted to be an actress. She won an evening gown and a silver trophy, but the breakthrough never came after the competition.
In 1921 Bow was introduced to the director Christy Cabanne, who cast her in Beyond the Rainbow and was really impressed by her, but she was cut out in the final print. Bow dropped out of school after this incident and worked a normal job.
But her father encouraged her to keep looking for a film role because it was a huge dream of her. In 1923 she was featured in the silent film Down to the Sea by Elmer Clifton, which helped her getting known as an actress.
One year later Bow got her first lead role in the film Poisoned Paradise.
The appearance in the film It brought her global fame and the name “The It Girl”. Now she is still the personify to the Roaring Twenties and is often described as its leading sex symbol.
In 1965 she died of a heart attack.

Ever fancied learning the Charleston? Check our our courses in studio and online