Question:
1.I just got an interesting set of real photo cards showing a dozen teams (and
one individual woman) who had danced at a 1932 Springfiled Massachusetts
dance marathon. According to the back of one card, they danced for 127 days
(Oct. 26,1932-March 3,1933) Did they go home to change? To sleep? To brush
their teeth? The cards showed people wearing evening finery. Did they stay in
those spats and satin dresses for 127 days? Anyone know the rules of marathon
dances? One card shows the night nurse at the marathon, so I assume there was
also a day nurse. Any info. gratefully received
Answer:1.You might want to look at my "Dance Till You Drop: Dance Marathons and
the Postcard," in , September 1992, pp. 22-25. You
can get a photocopy--free I think--from the publisher at 121 North Main
Street, Iola, WI 54945.
No, they didn't go home. They slept, ate, and did everything else there.
They obviously did not dance 24 hours a day--they did take specified
breaks. The cards were promotional devices that were often sold by the
contestants. Much more information in the article. Do rent "They Shoot
Horses" since it is fairly accurate in its portrayal of the life of a
dance marathoner.
2.Hava Nagila means in Hebrew "let's rejoice, let's be joyful"
"Hora" comes from a Romanian word meaning "circle"
Hope this helps a bit...
