The Stroll Dance Mixer How To

The Fabulous fifties are a great period. From race cars to poodle skirts, this is a fun era. Films like “American Graffiti” and “Grease” paid tribute to the stroll dance mixer. After doing an “American Graffiti” photo shoot for the Historic Elitch Theatre, I thought I would share how to dance the stroll.

History of the Stroll

The stroll was reported in 1957 by Billboard as a new dance craze. That same year the Diamonds had a hit song named the “Stroll.” By 1958 the stroll was featured on a local TV show in Idaho as one of the biggest dance crazes from American Bandstand. From there It became the feature dance on the TV show “Soul Train.”

The stroll begins with two lines of dancers, gentlemen on one side and ladies facing them. While in line they keep time with the basic stroll movement described below. When they get to the top of the line, facing partners will “stroll” to the bottom of the line improvising their favorite dance moves.

Stroll basic movement

Gentlemen

Side left foot tap right foot 3 times, (Step left foot side, tap right foot in front, side, front. Count 1,2,3,4,)
Side, cross behind right (Step side right foot, cross left foot behind right foot count 5,6)
Side right foot tap left foot 3 times. (Step right foot side, tap left foot in front, side, in front Count 1,2,3,4,)
Side cross behind left (side left foot, cross right foot behind left foot count 5,6)
Repeat from the top until you are at the top of the line
At the top of the line improvise your favorite moves down the line
At the bottom get back in line and repeat the basic movement.

Ladies

Side right foot tap left foot 3 times. (Step right foot side, tap left foot in front, side, in front Count 1,2,3,4,)
Side cross behind left (side left foot, cross right foot behind left foot count 5,6)
Side left foot tap right foot 3 times, (Step left foot side, tap right foot in front, side, front. Count 1,2,3,4,)
Side, cross behind right (Step side right foot, cross left foot behind right foot count 5,6)
Repeat from the top until you are at the top of the line
At the top of the line improvise your favorite moves down the line
At the bottom get back in line and repeat the basic movement.

Song:

“The Stroll” by the Diamonds.

Film Locations

We filmed in two locations. The dance demonstration was filmed in front of Local 46 on Tennyson street in Denver with the friends of Historic Elitch Theatre. Dancers included Tim Nikkel, Tawyna Studdard Sarah Mares Angelic O’Halloren, Collette Susman, Jessica Virgo, Craig & Holly Tomazin.

The dance tutorial was filmed in front of the historic Olinger Moore Howard Chapel on Tennyson street Denver. The narrator is Holly Tomazin, sporting her great aunt Nelle’s blue dress she wore as miss Trinidad in 1950. Holly is assisted by her handy husband, Craig.

Last of all is a photo from the American Graffiti shoot taken on the lawn of the Historic Elitch Theatre by Aaron Virgo. Featured in that photo were Michael Bliss, Tim Nikkel, Tawyna Studdard Jesse Lockwood, Amanda Blackwood, Sarah Mares, Ruiari Sussman, Jimmy & Angelic O’Halloren, Collette Susman, Jessica Virgo, George the poodle, Craig & Holly Tomazin.

Thank you to everyone for all you do.

Holly Collins
WEDDING DANCE instruction
DANCE LESSONS.
author of
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