[Dixielandjazz] The Chicken Dance - not really OKOM

[Charlie Hull]

The Chicken Dance is, like the Hokey Pokey and the Bunny Hop, a bit of 
nonsense that people of all ages have fun with and some musicians detest 
because of it's inanity and lack of musical challenge. In Part "A", at 
the end of each short musical phrase the music breaks for three beats 
while the dancers flap their wings. In Part "B", more legato, the 
dancers do a kind of ring dance, as I recall.

It's a simple two-part polka-like thing usually narrated by someone 
showing the 'dancers' the wing-flapping movements. The first chorus is 
at a relatively slow tempo. Each following chorus is at a faster tempo 
until at the last folks laugh themselves silly trying to keep up. For an 
explanation of the 'moves', go to 
http://www.drwoolard.com/dances_elementary/chicken_dance.htm

It's kind of expected of the band at Oktoberfests, at least in N. 
California. We play it if requested  at dances and enjoy watching the 
audience having fun, but wouldn't honor the request if playing at a jazz 
concert.

I've worked with good OKOM musicians who don't want to play Muskrat 
Ramble, or What A Wonderful World, or The Saints, or whatever because 
they're tired of it, but never could really understand that attitude. 
We're paid to perform for people's enjoyment, and I don't mind playing a 
simple tune for the ten-thousanth time if it makes the customer happy. 
Not that I'd want to do a whole program of such requests.

For those interested in exploring advanced musical forms, I have a 
fake-sheet on Chicken Dance and will send as a .pdf, Encore or 
Band-In-A-Box form if requested off-list.

Charlie Hull