[Dixielandjazz] What's a "danceable" tempo?

[Brian Towers]

We have played a few "swing" dances  for younger folk and the instructors 
have sometimes said that 180 bpm (beats per minute) is about the maximum 
desirable speed , when they are trying to teach the Charleston, Lindy Hop 
etc.   If you have "Band In A box" on your computer, it is easy to know how 
this feels.
While on stage, count how many beats per 10 seconds and mutiply by six - 
that will tell you your speed.   180 is not really very fast.  Quiite a bit 
slower than the average up-tempo number played by dixieland bands.

On the other hand, if you want to fill the dance floor and get the oldsters 
shuffling around, stay around 110 bpm for a lot of the numbers.

Brian Towers
Leader, Hot Five Jazzmakers
Toronto
http://hotfivejazz.tripod.com
http://jazz_cruise0.tripod.com/19March05


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dick Miller" <Dick_Miller at pmug.org>
To: <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Saturday, July 09, 2005 10:56 AM
Subject: [Dixielandjazz] What's a "danceable" tempo?


> Listmates:
>
> A number of posters have referred to the term "danceable tempo" in our
> discussions about what draws and keeps an audience for OKOM. I'd like to
> hear opinions (especially from the prolific and thought-provoking Steve
> Borbone) about where that comes out on a metronome. I realize there are
> slow, medium, and fast dances, but what would you say is the range that
> fills the dance floor? I  realize, too, that a series of hot tempos all in
> a row will clear the floor but, given an intelligent variety, what's your
> idea of slow, medium, and fast?
>
> --Dick Miller
>
>
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