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Cakewalk





Cakewalk is a traditional African American form of Music and Dance which originated among Slaves in the US South . A Cake , or slices of cake, were offered as prizes for the best dancers — a rare treat during slavery — giving the dance its name.

The dance was invented as a satirical parody of the formal European dances preferred by white slaveowners, and featured exaggerated imitations of the dance ritual, combined with traditional Africa n dance steps. One common form of cakewalk dance involved couples (one male and one female, with their arms linked at the elbows) lined up in a circle, dancing forward alternating a series of short hopping steps with a series of very high kicking steps. Costumes worn for the cakewalk often included large, exaggerated bowties, suits, canes, and top hats.