Rabbits and Toasters was founded in 2010 and features manually selected articles from the best dance blogs on the web. The site is updated several times a day, check back often. Do you run a blog you think should be apart of the network? Send us an email.

Dance History Archives

Step from foot to foot, tread and progress with the same foot From: followervariations.wordpress.com | October 20, 2011 This video had me in a fit of giggles, it’s so British and old fashioned, “Step from foot to foot, tread and progress with the same foot…”

Joyce James AKA Joyce “Little Stupe” Daniels ISDFNKA #5 From: swungover.wordpress.com | September 23, 2011 When most people talk about incredible solo jazz dancers among the original jitterbugs, the names Al and Leon are probably the most mentioned. Next, perhaps Pepsi Bethel or even Frankie Manning, though there’s very little footage showcasing his solo jazz, especially compared to Leon, Al, and Pepsi. A name you probably haven’t heard is Joyce James, or Joyce Daniels, her married name. However, I’d argue she’s one of the greatest original Jazz dancers, based on the only film footage we have of her: The original Big Apple clip from Keep Punching.

How to Do the LOOK Hop From: vforvintageblog.blogspot.com | July 18, 2011 Rita Rio is back! This time she teaches you to dance the LOOK Hop. I dare you to try this at the next dance you go to!

RIP Terry Monaghan, Lindy Hop Historian From: www.rikomatic.com | June 27, 2011 I regret to pass along the sad news that Mr. Terry Monaghan, longtime historian of lindy hop from the UK, has passed away. Terry was co-founder of the legendary Jiving Lindy Hoppers dance troupe in the 1980s and a long-time chronicler of the history of swing dancing.

A Tidbit Of History: Penn State Dance Cards From: taintwhatyoudo.wordpress.com | June 26, 2011 One of the items I frequently came across in scrap books whether it be a military man or an architectural engineer was a dance card. In the case of Penn State these are often small but elegantly designed booklets with a pencil attached to the side that had information such as; location of event, time of event, name of event, theme of event, distinguished guests, contributors to the event, name of band or entertainment, and lastly but certainly not the least a list of numbers followed by lines for names to be penciled in.

Savoy Style vs. Hollywood Style: A Fight to the Death (Hopefully?) From: swungover.wordpress.com | June 15, 2011 I have nothing against the person who asked this question—many people have been exposed to the terms “Hollywood” style and “Savoy” style, and it’s not their fault that the vocabulary still survives in the culture and makes people think weird things, like the idea that one should follow one differently than another. **

Genevieve Grazis, the lost follower ISDFNKA #4 From: swungover.wordpress.com | June 07, 2011 I’ll start the story of today’s Incredible Followers That No One Knows About with a recent phone call to an original swing dancer named Johnny Duncan. Johnny is quite possibly the second most famous swing dancer to have existed, behind Malcolm X*, and probably the most famous filmed jitterbug to have existed. This is because Johnny Duncan got a kick start into acting by doing his dancing in jitterbug pictures. By 1949, he was playing the part of Robin in the first Batman and Robin screen serial. He later had additional parts alongside many of the leading actors of his day.

International Shim Sham Day – May 26, 2011 From: www.atomicballroom.com | May 24, 2011 In honor of what would have been Frankie Manning’s 96th birthday, this Thursday, May 26, 2011 is International Shim Sham Day.  Get your dancing shoes on, suit up, and celebrate Frankie’s life in dance by Shim Shamming the night and day away.

Tiro to Tranky Doo? From: taintwhatyoudo.wordpress.com | May 20, 2011 This past week with a couple of friend at Penn State I spent about 3+ hours polishing up my Tranky Doo. It is a jazz routine that I have taken a lesson on the first third of the routine from Shesha Marvin and learned the rest half-assing it in public online. However like most people in the world with the second half of the Big Apple, I could get through it albeit looking at someone more experienced and presenting it myself sloppily at best.

Slow it down with Slow Drag From: www.atomicballroom.com | May 17, 2011 The first time this American dance appears in history is in the late 1890s in the juke joints and barrel houses of New Orleans.  During these shows faster music would be played early in the evening and as the night went on, the music would get slower and more blues-inspired.

The Swingeroo (International Jitterbug Championships) From: taintwhatyoudo.wordpress.com | May 15, 2011 With ILHC and Camp Hollywood fast approaching, the idea of competition is in the air. This prompted me to share with you all about one of the biggest competitions back in the actual swing era besides the Harvest Moon Ball, The International Jitterbug Championships also known as the The Swingeroo.

LA: Back In The Day From: taintwhatyoudo.wordpress.com | April 24, 2011 A few days ago I wrote a post about a flier which was handed out as part of the efforts to quell the tensions during the “Style Wars” in the late 90′s/early 2000′s. However without context it is a far reach to not see the people getting involved in this debate without seeming a bit loony. So to help put you in the shoes of a late 90′s LA swing dancer I have this article written by John Cooper for Swivel Magazine.