The conga line is a novelty line dance that was derived from the carnival dance of the same name and became popular in the US in the 1930s and 1950s. In order to perform the dance, dancers form a long, processing line, which would usually turn into a circle dance. It has three on the beat, followed by a kick that is slightly ahead of the fourth beat. The conga, a term sometimes mistakenly believed to be derived from the African region of Congo, is both a lyrical and danceable genre, rooted in the music of carnival troupes or .Davis, Pablo Julian. "Conga", People, History, Culture of Cuba. Luis Martinel-Fernandez, D.H. Figneredo, Louis A. Perez, Jr. and Luis Gonzales. London, Westpoint Connecticut: Greenwood Press, 2003. 396-397.
The basic dance steps start from left leg 1-2-3 kick then repeat, opposite. Originally, a band member wearing a drum would venture onto the dance floor and begin zig-zagging around while drumming out the rhythm. Dancers would start joining up behind the drummer, forming a line that moves like a snake in an open circle. The line (or the circular chain) would grow longer and the drumming more intense until it finally stopped. The dance has two styles, which is a single line form and partners. The single line is more popular in Cuba.
With its simple march step, the interlinking of dancers circling about in single file, and one-two-three-bump rhythm with the fourth beat strongly marked, the dance was not only attractive but also readily accessible to US and other foreign audiences. The dance started to gain a foothold in the US around 1929, when the original La Conga nightclub opened its doors in Manhattan. It is believed that the La Conga was at Broadway and 51st Street.Watson, Sonny. "Conga", Street Swing. 1999. Accessed August 6, 2006. By 1937, the conga was well known in New York.
The widespread popularity of the dance resulted in many cultural references in contemporary media. For example, the conga line was a recurring theme in Warner Bros. animated cartoons of the 1940s.
This music and dance form has become totally assimilated into Cuba's musical heritage and has been used in many film soundtracks in the US and Mexico. One of the earliest and most successful of 20th-century Cuban musical exports, the conga lacked the polyrhythmic sophistication of the son, mambo, or salsa music but served to nurture the future receptivity of an international public to the wider gamut of Cuban musical styles.
1940 “Strike Up The Band” starring Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney
In the 1950 Malayan movie entitled Twin Sisters (Kembar?), in the opening scene, a conga line is performed by the guests in a party scene.
The 1955 musical film adaptation of My Sister Eileen features a conga line as a recurring gag.
In the 1963 film Billy Liar, a scene at the Locarno Dance Hall in Manchester features the conga line.
In 1984 the British band Black Lace reached number ten in the UK charts EveryHit.com - search for "Black Lace" as "Name of artist" and "Do the Conga" as "Title of song". with the song "Do the Conga".
In 1985 the Cuban-American band Miami Sound Machine reached number ten on the US Billboard Hot 100 with the song "Conga".
The long-time jingle for Dad's Old-Fashioned Root Beer employed a conga beat.
The weekly fundraising event held by the charitable organisation Phone Credit For Refugees every Friday is based around the formation of a virtual conga line.
In the video game Team Fortress 2, players are able to form Conga lines using the in-game taunt system, by purchasing the taunt through the in-game store.
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