What is charleston?
The Charleston is the signature dance of the Roaring Twenties: swiveling feet, kicks forward and back and swinging arms. Twenties (solo) Charleston, partnered Charleston and the 1930s swing Charleston used in Lindy Hop are all danced today.
History
The dance grew from African American dances in the South and exploded after the 1923 Broadway show Runnin' Wild introduced James P. Johnson's song The Charleston. Flappers made it a symbol of the Jazz Age.
Basic technique
- Basic Charleston — kick forward, step, kick back
- Swivels and knee knocks
- Side-by-side and tandem Charleston
Music & tempo
Hot jazz and up-tempo swing, often 200 BPM or more.
Songs for charleston
| Song | Artist | BPM | Key | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hurt | Parov Stelar | 100 | D# major | 2009 |
| Jack, I’m Mellow | Jamko | 100 | D# minor | 2012 |
| Oklahoma Hills | Jack Guthrie | 100 | D# major | 2000 |
| Cuban Pete | Louis Armstrong and His Orchestra | 100 | C minor | 1990 |
| Songe d'automne | Django Reinhardt | 100 | C minor | 2003 |
| Jumpin' in Havana | Chinese Man feat. Bionic Man | 101 | A minor | 2009 |
| Si tu savais | Django Reinhardt | 101 | B minor | 1959 |
| Bye Bye Blues | Benny Goodman Sextet | 101 | A# major | 1986 |
| I Just Dropped By to Say Hello | Johnny Hartman | 101 | A# minor | 1964 |
| He May Be Yours | Blue Harlem | 101 | G major | 2005 |
BPM as measured by audio analysis; some tracks read at half or double the danced tempo.
All 254 charleston songs by BPM →
What to wear
Smooth-soled shoes; 1920s costume optional.
How to get started
Solo jazz classes at swing studios teach Charleston from the first lesson.
We list 14 studios that teach charleston, or browse all dance studios by state.
Charleston in historic images
Three Manchester United soccer players work out at Wingate Institute last Saturday, traini
Three Manchester United soccer players work out at Wingate Institute last Saturday, traini
Openly licensed images via Europeana; rights statements on each item page.
Recent research
- Joint action aesthetics. — PloS one, 2017
- Special Issue: Autoimmune Diseases: A Swing Dance of Immune Cells. — International journal of molecular sciences, 2025
- Can Samba and Forró Brazilian rhythmic dance be more effective than walking in improving functional mobility and spatiotemporal gait parameters in patients with Parkinson's disease? — BMC neurology, 2020
- The Energy Expenditure of Recreational Ballroom Dance. — International journal of exercise science, 2014
- A kinetic analysis of the triple step in recreational swing dancers. — Sports biomechanics, 2024
Books about charleston
- Charleston, anyone? by Aurora S. Villacorta (1978)
- How to Charleston correctly by Bemis Walker (1926)
- Lindy made easy (with Charleston) by Dance Guild, inc., New York. (1956)
- Shimmy und Charleston by Inga van der Wees (1993)
Encyclopedia summary
The Charleston is a dance named after the harbor city of Charleston, South Carolina. The rhythm was popularized in mainstream dance music in the United States by a 1923 tune called "The Charleston" by composer/pianist James P. Johnson, which originated in the Broadway show Runnin' Wild and became one of the most popular hits of the decade. Runnin' Wild ran from 28 October 1923 through 28 June 1924. The Charleston dance's peak popularity occurred from mid-1926 to 1927.
Frequently asked questions
What song is the Charleston dance named after?
The Charleston by James P. Johnson, from the 1923 Broadway show Runnin' Wild.
What BPM is Charleston?
Charleston is usually danced to music between 200 and 280 beats per minute. Browse 254 songs that fit on our Charleston music page.
How many calories does charleston burn?
About 404 calories per hour for a 155-lb (70 kg) person, based on a MET value of 5.5 from the Compendium of Physical Activities. See calories burned charleston for every body weight.
Related styles
Lindy Hop
Harlem, New York — the Savoy Ballroom
Swing & Vintage Jazz DanceBalboa
Southern California (Balboa Peninsula, Newport Beach)
Ballroom & DanceSportQuickstep
England (from the fast foxtrot and the Charleston)
Ballet & Theatrical DanceTap Dance
United States — African rhythmic traditions meet Irish and Scottish step dancing
Swing & Vintage Jazz DanceEast Coast Swing
United States (simplified from Lindy Hop by dance studios)
Swing & Vintage Jazz DanceWest Coast Swing
California
Swing & Vintage Jazz DanceCarolina Shag
Myrtle Beach and the Carolina coast
Swing & Vintage Jazz DanceHustle
New York City discos
Last reviewed October 2026 · Editorial policy