apache dance
Definition
Noun: A fast, aggressive, and theatrical dance style that originated in French vaudeville, depicting a violent, dramatic struggle between a man and a woman. The name derives from the Parisian criminal underworld of the early 20th century, whose members were called "Apaches."
Usage
The term is used specifically to refer to this stylized performance dance. It describes the dance itself, not the music or the performers in a general sense. * The cabaret's finale featured a dramatic apache dance. * She studied the history and techniques of the apache dance.
Examples
- The couple rehearsed the lifts and mock slaps characteristic of an apache dance.
- In the old film, a thrilling apache dance illustrated the gritty life of the Parisian streets.
Advanced Usage
- The term can be used attributively (like an adjective) to describe related elements (e.g., apache dance routine, apache dance moves).
- It is a culturally specific term with historical connotations, often evoking a romanticized, dramatic view of urban danger and passion from a bygone era.
Variants and Related Words
- Apache (noun, historical): In this specific context, a member of a violent gang in early 20th-century Paris. (Note: This is distinct from and unrelated to the Native American Apache peoples.)
- Vaudeville (noun): A theatrical genre of variety entertainment popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, where the apache dance was often performed.
Synonyms
- Theatrical dance
- Dramatic dance (These are general synonyms; "apache dance" is a very specific term with no perfect synonym.)
Related Phrases/Idioms
- To dance the apache: A less common phrasing meaning to perform this specific dance.
- They were known to dance the apache with shocking realism.
Noun
-
a violent fast dance in French vaudeville (an apache is a member of the French underworld)
