That sounds thrilling! The Charleston really exploded in the 1920s, born in Harlem’s nightclubs, with syncopated jazz thumping from the piano. Men and women were shaking hips and snapping fingers to the rhythm of the 4/4 beat, and it was considered scandalously provocative. I’ll pull up the exact dance steps and the social context—why it was banned in some places, how it reflected the flapper’s freedom. Get ready to stomp those jazz feet; history will be our soundtrack.

Absolutely, let’s spin back to 1925 in a speakeasy where the piano blares a syncopated 4‑beat, and every footfall is a declaration of freedom. The Charleston starts with a quick hop to the beat, a kick of the right foot to the left, then a snap of the fingers—each movement echoing the jazz rhythm. Flappers added a shimmy: a subtle shoulder shake, a flick of the wrist, almost as if they were trying to outshine the music. In those days, dancing like that was a bit of a rebellion, especially under the watchful eye of the Puritanical standards still hanging over town. Now, picture the city lights reflecting off the polished wooden floor, the perfume of roses and cigarette smoke swirling, and you’ve got the full scene. Let’s lace your hips and knees with that history and bring the floor to life.