Java (dance)

The Java is a dance developed in France in the early part of the 20th century. The origin of its name is uncertain, but it probably evolved from the mazurka.

It was mainly performed in the bal-musette between 1910 and 1960 in France.

The origin of java is popular. People looked for a type of waltz easier, faster, more sensual and not requesting a large dance hall.

It is a fast waltz, with the dancers very close together, walking by small steps. In fact, some men place their hands on their partner's buttocks while dancing it. This of course led some of the more respectable bal-musette dance halls to ban the java.

Titles

• Georgius - La plus bath des javas, 1925
• Georgette Plana - la java bleue, 1938
• Edith Piaf - L'accordéoniste, 1942 :

Elle écoute la Java (She listens to the Java)

Mais elle ne la danse pas (but she doesn't dance it)

Elle ne regarde même pas la piste (She doesn't even look at the dance floor)

Bibliography

• Henri Joannis Deberne, Danser en société, Christine Bonneton editor, 3/1999, Paris ISBN 2-86253-229-0 p. 144-145