Deadly Dancing: The Dance Marathons of the American Dust Bowl

Most people watch reality TV or follow internet drama, often with the desire to see people in challenging and sometimes humiliating situations. In the days of the Dust Bowl, American audiences could watch people dance for survival. ‘Dance for your life’ and ‘dance till you drop’ weren’t just phrases but a way of life for the desperate and near-destitute of the 1930’s. Crueler than any reality TV show, these dance marathons can reveal something about the voyeuristic nature of humans and our need for sinister and exploitative entertainment.