Draft:Essence of Old Virginia

Essence of Old Virginia, also referred to as Virginia Essence, is a traditional minstrel song and dance routine. It likely originated in the southern Appalachia region. Dan Bryant performed it in the 1850s.

According to Hampshire College professor emerita and historian Constance Valis Hill, "a rapid and pigeon-toed dance performed on the minstrel stage" the dance "was slowed down and popularized in the 1870s by the African-American minstrel Billy Kersands. It "would later be refined by the Irish-American minstrel George H. Primrose into a graceful Soft Shoe, or Song-and-Dance" and became the "most elegant style of tap dancing on the musical stage." Advertisements touted Kersanda performing the dance and watermelon eating contests.

Seth Kinman performed it on the fiddle for U.S. president Abraham Lincoln. According to IMDb a 1903 short film was made with this title. A brand of whiskey used the name and was adorned with picture of black people dancing.