What makes this dance recognizable? What is typical, distinctive or characteristic?

Characteristic of the rock & roll dances are many kicks.

Examples

Rock around the clock - Bill Haley

BPM:

Rock - n-roll means cradle and wobble.

Video: as it may look ...
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Better suggestions are welcome.)

With rock 'n' roll is meant an in the early fifties emerging variant of the rhythm and blues and the accompanying dance, who would later form the starting point for the international rock and pop.

The father of the concept of rock 'n 'roll is the American radio host Alan Freed, who with the support of records vendor Leo Mintz baptized in 1953 his music broadcast "The Moondog Rock and Roll House party ". He confronted his predominantly white radio listeners with the black rhythm and blues. That was then picked up by more and more white singers and imitated initially.

With the now classic hit "Rock Around the Clock" by Bill Haley (such as a soundtrack for the movie), this new music was an identification form for the youth. The rebellious new generation now had with guys like James Dean and Elvis Presley found her samples. The former truck driver now became the icon of the music and therefore earned the nickname " King of Rock ' n Roll."

Besides these popular variant of rock 'n'roll were also created regional entities, including the Chicago rock 'n 'roll of Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley.

"One of the most basic characteristics of rock and roll is that it should annoy your parents. " (Mike Edwards)