Black Bottom 1926, and The Black Bottom Dance

The Varsity Drag introduction is an error. The Black Bottom replaced “The Charleston“ as the next most popular dance of the 1920’s. Released June 28, 1926. Written by Buddy De Sylva, Lew Brown and Ray Henderson. In 1925, DeSylva became one third of the songwriting team with lyricist Lew Brown and composer Ray Henderson. De Sylva, Brown and Henderson became one of the top Tin Pan Alley songwriters of the era. Black bottom dancing was for the young and energetic. This song and style of dancing were popular in the1920’s. The dancers performing, and the orchestra are from 1956, Rod Alexander Gemze de Lappe and The Dance Jubilee Troupe. Billy Pierce (14 June 1890 – 11 April 1933) was an African American choreographer, dancer and dance studio owner who has been credited with the invention of the Black Bottom dance that became a national craze in the mid-1920s. ORIGINS OF 1920’S DANCES. THE ORIGIN OF THE BLACK BOTTOM DANCE. %