Home > Baker's Student Encyclopedia of Music > Cakewalk

An African-American dance in quick time which became popular in blackface MINSTRELSY in the latter part of the 19th century. Its vogue soon spread all over the world. The cakewalk was used in the walk-around finale in the minstrel show and, later, VAUDEVILLE and BURLESQUE. Its syncopated rhythm is essentially that of RAGTIME. It was called a cakewalk because the best performer would "take the cake" (i.e., win the grand prize, a freshly baked cake).