In 1927, the Yales Blues (the song) by Vivian Ellis and Collie Knox was published, alongside a description of the Yale Blues (a sequence dance) by Major Cecil H. Taylor, the President of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing in London. In the same year, Santos Casani published a description of the Yale Blues in his Self-Tutor of Ballroom Dancing, writing "Although of American origin, the Yale or Yale Blues as danced in England is to all intents and purposes an English production. It is made up of a combination of the steps of the old Blues, the Tango, Charleston, and Black Bottom." While Casani's basic concept of the steps was essentially the same as Taylor's, each described the steps slightly differently. In 1947, during the English revival of "Old Time Dancing," Major Taylor published a new version of his Yale Blues sequence, with revised and additional figures. The sequence presented below is an adaptation of Taylor's 1947 sequence by Nick and Melissa Enge that showcases the most satisfying versions of each of the Yale Blues figures over the years.
Closed position, Lead facing LOD.
Part 1A - The Forward Step: Back the Follow two steps, starting Lead's right (1, 2), then step side right (3), close left to right (and), step side right (4), and close left to right without weight, brushing it forward into a step forward left (and).
Part 1B - The Reverse Turn: A full turn of Reverse Waltz in QQS timing (5, and, 6, 7, and 8), the Lead slightly crossing the left foot in front of the right on the third step (and the Follow on the sixth).
Part 2 - The Side Step: Forward left (1), forward right, turning 1/4 right (2), swaying side step left along LOD (3), swaying side step right against LOD (4), step left along LOD (5), cross right in front along LOD (6), swaying side step left along LOD (7), and a swaying step side/back against LOD, regaining original orientation (8).
Part 3A - The Outside Tilt: Step diagonally forward left into Yale position (1), forward right past the right side of the Follow (2), point left forward without weight (3), step back left (and), and step back right, back in line with partner (4), closing the left foot without weight and brushing it forward into the next step (and).
Part 3B - The Reverse Turn: Repeat the Reverse Turn.
Part 4 - The Natural Turn: Forward left (1), forward right, turning 1/4 right (2), swaying side step left along LOD (3), swaying side step right against LOD (4), step left across LOD, turning to the right (5), step side right, finishing the half turn (6), close left to right (and), sway forward right along LOD (7), and back left against LOD (8).
Repeat from the the beginning.
"The Yale Blues" by Vivian Ellis and Collie Knox, played at 34 mpm (136 bpm).
There are many different recordings from 1927 and 1928.
© 2017 Nick Enge
For more dance descriptions, see our three books on dancing:
The Book of Mixers: 100 Easy-Teach Dances for Getting Acquainted (2022) by Richard Powers and Nick & Melissa Enge,
Cross-Step Waltz: A Dancer's Guide (2019) by Richard Powers and Nick & Melissa Enge, and
Waltzing: A Manual for Dancing and Living (2013) by Richard Powers and Nick Enge.
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