A Deliberately Shocking Swedish One-Step 1915

In Sweden in 1915, the modernist painter Isaac Grünewald set out to shock society in a new medium by making a film demonstrating the most provocative American style Ragtime dancing he and his friends could muster. His film "Är dansen på förfall? : En aktuell fråga i kinematografisk belysning", which I would roughly translate: "Is dancing becoming decadent? An actual question in cinematic form" was indeed a shock to Stockholm society, and is a great snapshot of the naughtier aspects of Ragtime era dancing.

Added 25 Mar 2026