cakewalk

A 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.

Cakewalk music is generally more animated than a march, but contains less syncopation than a true rag. The format was designed to accompany a popular high-stepping dance of the day. An evening of cakewalk dance was typically a great social gathering, at which all in attendance wore their finest and brought their canes or umbrellas, which were used as an accessory of the dance. The winner of the dance contest literally was awarded a cake as a prize.

Alabama Dream(1899) by George D. Barnard is a cakewalk.

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