The Evolution of Dance Music in America

Originally Aired: August 26, 1936 In Cavalcade of America #46, "The Evolution of Dance Music in America," conductor Don Borges guides listeners through the fascinating transformation of American dance music from its humble beginnings to the jazz age. The narrative traces the journey from 1880s square dances and Victor Herbert waltzes through the seismic cultural shift that occurs when Irving Berlin's "Alexander's Ragtime Band" electrifies the nation in 1912, launching an unprecedented dance craze. The Original Dixieland Jazz Band, formed in New Orleans in 1909, becomes the revolutionary force that changes everything, though their initial New York debut at Reisenweber's Cafe proves unexpectedly challenging. The dramatic centerpiece unfolds at Reisenweber's, where nervous patrons face the bewildering new jazz sound for the first time. The dance floor remains empty as confused guests hesitate, leaving the frantic manager pleading with the crowd to try the revolutionary music. Only after the manager himself takes to the floor does the ice break, and New York finally embraces jazz. The episode then follows Paul Whiteman's mission to refine and elevate jazz into an art form, transforming it from raw energy into sophisticated beauty and establishing the modern dance orchestra tradition.