The once popular hip-swiveling Twist Dance has existed for nearly 62 years. The Twist is among the most popular dance crazes of the 60s alongside “The Loco-motion,” “The Mashed Potato, ” “The Monkey, ” and many more. While some say this dance craze was short-lived, many still remember how they jammed and grooved to the music they can’t forget.
So, in this post, let’s talk about the person behind The Twist Dance and learn some fun facts about this 60s dance craze. Shall we?
Who invented the Twist Dance?
Hank Ballard first introduced the Twist Dance before being popularized by Chubby Checker. However, the dance itself was inspired by several dance crazes of the 1960s.
Twist Dance key contributors
- Joseph “Jo Jo” WallaceHe’s the mind behind The Twist song
Unlike what most people know, the origin of the Rock ‘n’ Roll song “The Twist” is in gospel music and not Rock & Roll. The gospel guitarist and singer Joseph “Jo Jo” Wallace got the idea of the lyrics “Come on baby, let’s do the twist” from his sister’s childhood dance.
- Bill WoodruffHelped Wallace finish “The Twist” song
The collaboration between the two resulted in the birth of the popular song. Likewise, Woodruff belongs to the Sensational Nightingales with Wallace, a popular gospel group in Philadelphia.
- Hank BallardThe first person to record The Twist song
Before the Twist Dance became popular, Hank Ballard recorded the song entitled “The Twist” together with the Midnighters. The song became a nominal hit in the 60s before it gradually rose to #28 on the Billboard Hot 100.
- Chubby CheckerThe singer made the Twist song popular even among adults
Known initially as Ernest Evans, Chubby Checker made a cover of the Twist song. His unique style and celebrity influence allowed the Twist to achieve immense popularity. His cover even led the adults across the country to join the Twist Dance craze in 1962 and allowed the song to enjoy a second reign at the top.
- Bill Haley & His CometsThe ones to popularize the Twist in Latin America
The Twist gained popularity in Latin America thanks to Bill Haley & His Comets. Success followed their recordings of “The Spanish Twist” and “Florida Twist,” especially in Mexico. In interviews, Haley gave Checker and Ballard credit.
When was the Twist Dance invented?
In the 1960s, the Twist song became popular, and soon after, people in the US started doing the Twist Dance. This dance was so easy that people of all ages could dance to it.
A brief history of the Twist Dance
Unlike what most people know, the origin of the Rock ‘n’ Roll song “The Twist” is in gospel musicians. In 1926, gospel guitarist and singer Joseph “Jo Jo” Wallace wrote the lyrics “Come on baby, let’s do the twist” after being reminded of the dance his sister used to do as a child in his native North Carolina.
The song was written by Wallace and another group member, Bill Woodruff, but because they did not think it was suitable for their gospel group, they started selling it to rhythm and blues musicians in the middle of the 1950s.
At first, the song achieved only a minor hit in the 60s. Then in 1959, Hank Ballard and the Midnighters first recorded the song. The song then gradually rose to #28 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Chubby Checker, known initially as Ernest Evans, re-records the song. Later that summer, he released it, and everything changed. On September 19, 1960, Chubby Checker’s cover of “The Twist” climbed to the top of the charts.
On January 13, 1962, the Twist craze finally reached adults nationwide, thanks to celebrity influence, and they began to enjoy a second reign at the top.
The Twist gained popularity in Latin America in the early 1960s thanks to Bill Haley & His Comets. Success followed their recordings of “The Spanish Twist” and “Florida Twist,” especially in Mexico. In interviews, Haley gave Chubby Checker and Hank Ballard credit.
Checker starred in two musicals with titles inspired by Haley’s 1950s films: Don’t Knock the Twist (inspired by Don’t Knock the Rock) and Twist Around the Clock (inspired by Rock Around the Clock).
At the height of the craze in 1961, guests at New York City’s Peppermint Lounge were doing the Twist Dance while the house band, Joey Dee and the Starliters, a local group from Jersey, played. In January 1962, their song “The Peppermint Twist (Part 1)” made it to number one in the U. S. for three weeks.
Twist Dance timeline
- 1926Part of the lyrics for the Twist song was written
Unlike what most people know, the origin of the Rock ‘n’ Roll song “The Twist” is in gospel music and not Rock ‘n’ Roll. In 1926, gospel guitarist and singer Joseph “Jo Jo” Wallace wrote the lyrics “Come on baby, let’s do the twist” the moment he was reminded of a dance his sister used to do as a child in his native North Carolina.
- 1950sThe lyrics for the Twist song were completed
The song was written by Wallace and another group member, Bill Woodruff, but because they did not think it was suitable for their gospel group, they started selling it to rhythm and blues musicians in the middle of the 1950s.
- 1959The Twist song was first recorded
The history of the Twist Dance started when Hank Ballard and the Midnighters first recorded the song. At first, the song achieved only a minor hit in the 60s before gradually rising to #28 on the Billboard Hot 100.
- 1960The Twist song was re-recorded and became more popular
It was when Chubby Checker, known initially as Ernest Evans, re-recorded the Twist song. He was a bit more popular than Hank Ballard then, so his cover achieved greater heights. His cover even led adults across the country to join the Twist Dance craze in 1962, and thanks to celebrity influence, the song began to enjoy a second reign at the top.
- 1961The Twist Dance became popular
At the height of the craze, guests at New York City’s Peppermint Lounge were doing the Twist Dance while the house band, Joey Dee, and the Starliters, a local group from Jersey, played. A year later, their song “The Peppermint Twist (Part 1)” made it to number one in the U. S. for three weeks.
Where was the Twist Dance invented?
In Philadelphia, USA, people couldn’t stop dancing to tTwist song because its dance steps are so easy to follow, and it was fun. The music itself is also a bop, so no wonder how the Twist Dance spread like wildfire even in other countries.
Why do people love the Twist Dance?
- It broke down age barriers
The Twist became famous as a dance, broke down age barriers, and became popular with adults. It inspired new freedom of movement that defied earlier dance forms’ traditional male-female roles.
- The dance was easy to do
The dance became popular because of its easy and fun steps. According to Chubby Checker, the Twist Dance is like putting out a cigarette using both feet and wiping your bottom with a towel. As easy as that.
- It was a way to socialize and have fun
The Twist Dance became a way for families and groups to have fun and meet new people. Once the song starts playing, people start to take over the dance floor and face a partner.
Twist Dance by the numbers
- 1962During this year, psychologists, religious leaders, and actors Peter Mann and Ann-Margret offered their opinions on the topic “Is the Twist Dance immoral?” while also demonstrating the dance.
- 67 millionIt is the number of US households who had a TV when a dance program in Philadelphia called Bandstand with Dick Clark made the dance more famous by showing shaking and grooving kids dancing while Chubby Checker performed the Twist song.
- 1959 to 1960sThe Twist Dance gained enormous popularity worldwide and spread like wildfire while inspiring controversy from those who thought it was too sexually suggestive.
- 62The hip-swiveling dance will turn 62 years old on September 24.
- 14You can learn the Twist Dance with just 14 steps.
Five facts about the Twist Dance
- Some people show disapproval of the dance at first
Even Jackie Kennedy reportedly held “Twist parties” at the White House despite some referencing that the dance was too flirtatious. Soon, everyone was twisting.
- African-American dance customs inspired the choreography
The Twist was a simple enough dance that just about anyone could perform. It was highly well-liked by white audiences when performed by an African-American artist and was based on African-American dance customs.
- A song was released to refer to parents’ objections to the Twist Dance’s pelvic motions.
Bo Diddley produced many Twist songs, including “Mama Don’t Allow No Twistin’,” which referred to parents’ concerns about the dance’s pelvic motions.
- Hank Ballard did not write the song
While both bands stayed at the same hotel in Tampa, Florida, around 1957, Hank Ballard and the Midnighters accepted the Sensational Nightingales’ offer to perform the song.
- Before Hank Ballard and the Midnighters, there’s Joe Cook
Before Hank Ballard, Joseph Wallace and Bill Woodruff approached Little Joe Cook of Little Joe & The Thrillers, a Philadelphia musician. His record label rejected the Twist demo that Cook had finished recording.
Twist Dance invention FAQs
- What style of dance is the Twist?
This dance style became popular from 1959 to the early sixties worldwide. Rock and roll music was the source of inspiration for the Twist Dance.
- Is doing the Twist Dance a good exercise?
Yes. The Twist Dance allows aerobic and anaerobic fitness as most dances do. It also helps improve flexibility, burn calories, improve blood circulation, and more.
- How long did the Twist last?
The song lasted for 2:34 minutes. The Twist was first released by Hank Ballard in the 1960s and covered by Chubby Checker in the same year.
