Peabody

According to legend, New York City Police Captain William Frank (or John) Peabody, a popular, colorful character in Jazz Age dance circles, created this dance in the late ‘Teens (some sources cite 1915) or early ‘Twenties. He was a portly man who accommodated his girth by dancing with his partner to his side. The Peabody was basically a unique, fast fox-trot, done to ragtime music. The One Step and Peabody went on to become the (modern) Quick-step. The Quickstep bears very little resemblance to the dance of the Peabody today, however some of the steps remain the same.

The Peabody is kinda a corny little dance, that is lively and fun spirited to watch, It looks like the participants are having a good time doing it. The music is ragtime (50mpm+) and so is the dress. (Suits and Bowler derby's for the man and long full dresses for the lady.) The basic step is a Cross-Step and Lock step (1920) and the body position is that of "Right-Outside Position" (almost a promenade?).

Our dance was great! People commented that we were like Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers out there."