Many of us know of The Charleston, the world-renowned dance created in Charleston, SC. But have you heard of The Big Apple?
Named after an African American dance hall in Columbia, SC, called The Big Apple Club, the dance featured circles of 8 to 10 people following a series of jazz steps called out by the bandleader. It is thought to have originated from the Ring Shout, a religious dance from the African American cultural tradition.
The historic building where the dance was created still bears the name Big Apple and is listed on the National Register.
This has been Rapp on Jazz, a co-production of the ColaJazz Foundation and SC Public Radio. Support for this program is made possible in part by Fox Music House of Columbia and Charleston.