The term "swing dance" commonly refers to a group of dances that developed concurrently with the swing style of jazz music in the 1920s, '30s and '40s, although the earliest of these dance forms predate swing jazz music. Juke joint (or jook joint) is the Vernacular term for an informal establishment featuring music dancing gambling and drinking primarily operated by Swing music, also known as swing jazz, is a form of Jazz music that developed in the early 1930s and had solidified as a distinctive style by 1935 in the United Jazz is an American Musical art form which originated in the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States The best known of these dances is the Lindy Hop, a popular partner dance that originated in Harlem and is still danced today. Lindy Hop is an African American dance that evolved in New York City in 1927 While the majority of swing dances began in African American communities as vernacular African American dances, a number of forms (Balboa, for example) developed within Anglo-American or other ethnic group communities. African Americans or Black Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have origins in any of the black populations of Africa African American dances in the vernacular tradition (academically known as "African American vernacular dance" are those dances which have developed within African Balboa today is commonly used as a general term for dances that come from southern California during the 1920s and 1930s right|250px|right|thumb|Anglo-America dark green indicates countries traditionally included in the region ([[Canada]] and the [[United States]]
The earliest forms of swing dance, such as the Black Bottom, charleston and tap dance, are associated with Dixieland jazz, which developed in New Orleans in the south of the United States. Black Bottom refers to a Dance which became popular in the 1920s during the period known as the Flapper era The Charleston is a Dance named for the city of Charleston South Carolina. Tap dance was developed in the United States during the nineteenth century and is popular nowadays in many parts of the world Dixieland or Dixie is a name for the southeastern portion of the USA; see Southern United States, Dixie. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Black Bottom, Charleston, and tap are not swing dances, they are the Black Bottom, Charleston and tap. All dances that existed before swing. Dixieland is a contemporary terminology for jazz from the 1920's. No such term was used during the time. These sorts of dances traveled north with jazz to cities like New York, Kansas City, and Chicago in the Great Migration that began in the 1920s, where rural blacks traveled north to escape persecution, Jim Crow laws, lynching and, later, high unemployment in the South during the Great Depression. The City of New York Kansas City Missouri only Items for the metro area Kansas City Kansas or North Kansas City MO should go on their respective pages Chicago (ʃɪˈkɑːgoʊ is the largest City by population in the state of Illinois and the American Midwest of the United States. See also Second Great Migration (African American The Great Migration was the movement of approximately seven million African-Americans out of the The Jim Crow laws were state and local laws enacted primarily but not exclusively in the Southern and border states of the United States between 1876 and 1965 Lynching is an Extrajudicial punishment meted out by a mob Lynching an enumerated Felony in some states in the United States, is defined by some
Swing jazz features the syncopated timing associated with African American and West African music and dance — a combination of crotchets and quavers (quarter notes and eighth notes) that many swing dancers interpret as 'triple steps' and 'steps' — yet also introduces changes in the way these rhythms were played — a distinct delay or 'relaxed' approach to timing. In Music, syncopation includes a variety of Rhythms which are in some way unexpected in that they deviate from the strict succession of regularly spaced A quarter note (American or "German" terminology or crotchet (British or "classical" terminology is a note played for one quarter of the duration
Today there are swing dance scenes in many developed countries throughout the world. Lindy Hop is often the most popular, though each city and country varies preferences various dances in different degrees. Lindy Hop is an African American dance that evolved in New York City in 1927 Each local swing dance community has a distinct local culture and defines "swing dance" and the "appropriate" music to accompany it in different ways.
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Forms of Swing
In many scenes outside the United States the term "Swing dancing" is used to refer generically to one or all of the following swing era dances: Lindy Hop, Charleston, Shag, Balboa and Blues. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Lindy Hop is an African American dance that evolved in New York City in 1927 The Charleston is a Dance named for the city of Charleston South Carolina. Balboa today is commonly used as a general term for dances that come from southern California during the 1920s and 1930s Blues dancing is a modern term used to describe a family of historical dances that developed along side and danced to blues music or the contemporary dances that are danced in that aesthetic This group is often extended to include West Coast Swing, East Coast Swing, Hand Dancing, Jive, Rock and Roll, Modern Jive, and other dances developing in the 1940s and later. West Coast Swing ( WCS) is a Partner dance derived from Lindy Hop. East Coast Swing ( ECS) is a form of social Partner dance that evolved from the Lindy Hop with the work of the Arthur Murray dance Hand dancing, also known as "DC hand dancing" or "D Jive is a Dance style in 4/4 time that originated among African-Americans in the early 1940s Rock and roll (also known as rock 'n' roll) is a form of Music that evolved in the United States in the late 1940s and early 1950s with roots in mostly African Modern Jive is a dance style derived from Swing, Lindy Hop, Rock and Roll, Salsa and others the main innovation being to simplify A strong tradition of social and competitive boogie woogie and acrobatic rock and roll in Europe add these dances to their local swing dance cultures. Boogie-woogie is a form of Swing dance and a form of blues piano playing In Singapore and other scenes, Latin dances such as salsa and Tango are often taught and danced within the "Swing scene", and for many scenes tap dancing and a range of other jazz dances are considered key, as are hip hop and other contemporary African American street dances. Singapore The term Latin dance has two meanings depending on whether the context is social or ballroom Dance. Salsa refers to a fusion of informal dance styles having roots in the Caribbean (especially in Cuba and Puerto Rico) Latin and North America Tango is a Musical genre and its associated dance forms that originated in Buenos Aires, Argentina and Montevideo, Uruguay and Tap dance was developed in the United States during the nineteenth century and is popular nowadays in many parts of the world Jazz dance is an umbrella term that can refer to several related dance styles Hip hop is a Subculture, which is said to have begun with the work of DJ Kool Herc, Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five, and Afrika Bambaattaa African Americans or Black Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have origins in any of the black populations of Africa Street dance, also called vernacular dance is an umbrella term used to describe Dance styles that evolved outside of Dance studios in everyday spaces The variations continue, dictated by local dance community interests.
Many swing dancers today argue that it is important to dance many styles of partner dance to improve technique, but also to reflect the historical relationship between these dances in the swing era of the 1920s and 1930s. In the Savoy Ballroom, for example, bands would often play waltzes, Latin songs and so on, as well as swinging jazz. The Savoy Ballroom located in Harlem, New York City, was a medium sized ballroom for Music and public Dancing that was in operation from 1926 Dancers were often familiar with a wide range of popular and traditional dances.
Early forms from the 1930s and 1940s
- Lindy Hop evolved in the late 1920s and early 1930s out of Partnered Charleston. Lindy Hop is an African American dance that evolved in New York City in 1927 It is characterized by an 8-count break away or "swing out" and has an emphasis on improvisation and the ability to easily adapt to include other steps in 8-count and 6-count rhythms. It has been danced to almost every conceivable style of music with blues or jazz rhythm (with the exception of jazz waltzes), as well as non-traditional styles of music such as hip hop. The Blues is a vocal and instrumental form of Music based on the use of the Blue notes It emerged as an accessible form of self-expression Jazz is an American Musical art form which originated in the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States Hip hop is a cultural movement which developed in New York City in the 1970s primarily among African Americans and Latinos.
- Balboa is an 8-count dance that emphasizes a strong partner connection and quick footwork. Balboa today is commonly used as a general term for dances that come from southern California during the 1920s and 1930s A product of Southern California's crowded ballrooms, Balboa (or "Bal") is primarily danced in close embrace. Close embrace is a term used in Partner dances It refers to a position where the leader and follower stand facing each other chest-to-chest A library of open figures, called Bal-Swing, evolved from LA Swing, another Southern California dance that was a contemporary of Balboa. While most dancers differentiate between pure Balboa and Bal-Swing, both are considered to be part of the dance. Balboa is frequently danced to fast jazz (usually anything from 180 to 320 beats per minute), though many like to Balboa to slower tempos. Jazz is an American Musical art form which originated in the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States Beats per minute ( BPM) is a unit typically used as either a measure of Tempo in music or a measure of one's Heart rate. 2266-Tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl or TEMPO is the Chemical compound with the formula (CH23(CMe22NO
- Collegiate Shag was danced in the early thirties to dance music that emphasized a 2-beat rhythm, and was danced in the varieties of single, double, and triple shag. The Collegiate Shag is a form of Swing dancing, which has some visual similarity with balboa (another swing dance but with different footwork. The variety of names describe the amount of slow (step, hop) steps executed before being followed by a single quick, quick rhythm. The most common form recognized as Collegiate Shag is double shag rhythm.
- St. Louis Shag done in the "side-by-side" Charleston position. St Louis shag is a swing dance that evolved from Charleston. As its name suggests it is recognized as being started in St The steps are: rock step, kick forward, step down, kick forward (other leg), stag, step, stomp (repeat). The "stag" is bringing the leg up with the knee bent. As a variation, when repeating, one can do two forward kicks (or "switch, switch", referring to switching feet) in place of the rock step.
- Jitterbug is often associated with one form of swing dance, but is in fact a general term for all swing dances and is more appropriately used to describe a swing dancer rather than a specific swing dance (i. Jitterbug can be used as a Noun to refer to a swing dancer or various types of Swing dances e e. a jitterbug can dance Lindy Hop, Shag, or another swing dance). The term was famously associated with swing era dancers by band leader Cab Calloway because, as he put it, "They look like a bunch of jitterbugs out there on the floor" due to their fast, often bouncy movements. Cabell "Cab" Calloway III ( December 25, 1907 &ndash November 18, 1994) was a famous American Jazz Singer
Later forms from the 1940s, 1950s and later
- Lindy Hop continued into the 1940s and 1950s and is featured in many movies of the era featuring Whitey's Lindy Hoppers with Frankie Manning, Dean Collins (whose style would lead to the creation of West Coast Swing), and Hal Takier and the Ray Rand Dancers. Lindy Hop is an African American dance that evolved in New York City in 1927 Whitey's Lindy Hoppers was a professional performing group of Savoy Ballroom swing dancers started in 1935 by Herbert "Whitey" White Frankie Manning (b May 26, 1914) is an American Dancer instructor and Choreographer.
- Boogie-woogie developed originally in the 1940s with the rise of boogie woogie music. Boogie-woogie is a form of Swing dance and a form of blues piano playing Boogie-woogie is a style of Piano -based Blues that became very popular in the late 1930s and early 1940s but originated much earlier and was extended from piano It is popular today in Europe, and was considered by some to be the European counterpart to East Coast Swing, a Six count dance standardized for the American ballroom industry. East Coast Swing ( ECS) is a form of social Partner dance that evolved from the Lindy Hop with the work of the Arthur Murray dance It is danced to rock music of various kinds, blues or boogie woogie music but usually not to jazz. Boogie-woogie is a style of Piano -based Blues that became very popular in the late 1930s and early 1940s but originated much earlier and was extended from piano As the dance has developed it has also taken to 8-count variations and swing outs similar to Lindy Hop, while keeping the original boogie woogie footwork.
- Eastern Swing is an evolution of Fox Trot and the precursor to the more modern East Coast Swing. East Coast Swing ( ECS) is a form of social Partner dance that evolved from the Lindy Hop with the work of the Arthur Murray dance FoxTrot is an American Comic strip written and illustrated by Bill Amend. East Coast Swing ( ECS) is a form of social Partner dance that evolved from the Lindy Hop with the work of the Arthur Murray dance
- East Coast Swing is a simpler 6-count variation. East Coast Swing ( ECS) is a form of social Partner dance that evolved from the Lindy Hop with the work of the Arthur Murray dance It is also known as Single-Time Swing, Triple-Step Swing, 6-Count Swing, or Rock-a-billy. East Coast Swing has very simple structure and footwork along with basic moves and styling. It is popular for its simple nature, and it is often danced to slow, medium, or fast tempo jazz, blues, or rock and roll. Jazz is an American Musical art form which originated in the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States
- Imperial Swing is a cross between East Coast and West coast as it is done in slot and in the round. It started at the Club Imperial in St Louis. George Edick, who owned the club, let teenagers dance on the lower level and the swing dancers of the time taught them what was learned from their trips to the east coast. As people traveled around they added parts of west coast,bop and Carolina shag to complement the dance and make it distinctive. People can tell the difference between St Louis dancers and dancers from other parts of the country. "The Imperial" has elements of "East Coast", West Coast", "Carolina Shag", and "Bop".
- Carolina Shag originated along the strands between Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and Wilmington, North Carolina, during the 1940s. The shag is a form of swing dancing that evolved from the Jitterbug and Jump blues of the Big band Jazz era and originated along the It is most often associated with beach music, which refers to songs that are rhythm and blues based and, according to Bo Bryan, a noted shag historian and resident of Beaufort County, is a term that was coined at Carolina Beach, North Carolina.
- Washington Hand Dancing originated in the Washington, D. Hand dancing, also known as "DC hand dancing" or "D C. , Area in the mid-1950s as D. C. ’s own version of swing dancing. From its very beginning, D. C. Hand-dance was referred to and called “D. C. Hand-Dance/Hand-Dancing”, “D. C. Swing”, “D. C. Style” (swing) and “fast dance” (meaning D. C. Hand-Dance). This is the first time a version of “swing” dance was termed “hand-dance/hand-dancing”. D. C. Hand-Dance is characterized by very smooth footwork and movements, and close-in and intricate hand-turns, danced to a 6-beat, 6 to 8 count dance rhythm. The footwork consists of smooth and continuous floor contact, sliding and gliding-type steps (versus hopping and jumping-type steps), and there are no aerials.
- Jive is a dance of International Style Ballroom dancing. Jive is a Dance style in 4/4 time that originated among African-Americans in the early 1940s It initially was based on Eastern swing brought to England by Americans Troops in World War II and evolved before becoming the now standardized form of today.
- Push and Whip are Texas forms of swing dance. Whip is a kind of swing dance popular in Texas, USA, which is danced to Rhythm and Blues music Texas ( is a state geographically located in the South Central United States and is also known as the Lone Star State.
- Western Swing, also called Country Swing or Country/Western Swing (C/W Swing) is a form with a distinct culture. This article is about the Musical genre. For the popular western swing Steel guitar tuning see E9 tuning. It resembles East Coast Swing, but adds variations from other country dances. It is danced to country and western music. Country music is a blend of popular musical forms originally found in the Southern United States and the Appalachian Mountains.
- Skip Jive A British variant, popular in the 1950s and 1960s danced to trad jazz. Trad jazz short for "traditional jazz" is a Music genre popular in Britain and Australia from the 1940s onward through the 1950s and which still
- West Coast Swing was developed in the 1950s as a stylistic variation on Lindy Hop. West Coast Swing ( WCS) is a Partner dance derived from Lindy Hop. It is a slotted dance which is danced to a wide variety of music including: blues, rock and roll, country western, smooth and cool jazz. The Blues is a vocal and instrumental form of Music based on the use of the Blue notes It emerged as an accessible form of self-expression Rock and roll (also known as rock 'n' roll) is a form of Music that evolved in the United States in the late 1940s and early 1950s with roots in mostly African Country music is a blend of popular musical forms originally found in the Southern United States and the Appalachian Mountains. Smooth jazz, also sometimes referred to as new adult contemporary music is generally described as a genre of music that utilizes instruments (and at times improvisation Cool jazz is a Jazz style that emerged in the late 1940s in New York City. It is popular throughout the United States and Canada but is uncommon in Europe and much of Asia. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page West coast swing communities are developing in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located
- Rock and Roll - Developing in the 1950s in response to rock and roll music, rock and roll is very popular in Australia and danced socially as well as competitively and in performances. Acrobatic Rock'n'Roll refers to a very sporty competitive form of Dance that originated from Lindy hop. Rock and roll (also known as rock 'n' roll) is a form of Music that evolved in the United States in the late 1940s and early 1950s with roots in mostly African For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. The style has a long association with Lindy Hop in that country, as many of the earliest lindy hoppers in the early 1990s moved to Lindy Hop from a rock and roll tradition. There are ongoing debates about whether rock and roll constitutes swing dancing, particularly in reference to the music to which it is danced: there is some debate as to whether or not it swings. Despite these discussions, many of the older lindy hoppers are also keen rock and roll dancers, with rock and roll characterised by an older dancer (30s and older) than Lindy Hop (25 and under).
- Acrobatic Rock and Roll Popular in Europe, acrobatic rock and roll is popularly associated with Russian gymnasts who took up the dance, though it is popular throughout Europe today. It is more a performance dance and sport than a social dance.
- Modern Jive - also known as LeRoc and Ceroc - developed in the 1980s, reputedly from a French form of Jive. Modern Jive is a dance style derived from Swing, Lindy Hop, Rock and Roll, Salsa and others the main innovation being to simplify LeRoc is a form of Modern Jive, a dance style that was derived in the 1980s from dances including Swing, Lindy Hop and Rock and Roll, the main Ceroc (səˈrɒk short for the French "C'est le roc!" Ceroc Enterprises describe their dance as "a fusion of Salsa, Ballroom, Modern Jive is not technically of the Jive family which typically use a 6 count pattern of various combinations of walking and triple steps (Ballroom Jive - back/replace triple-triple; Swing Jive - triple-triple back/replace) etc. It is pared down to a simple box step and constitutes the simplest form of couples dance style gauged to provide a social atmosphere rather than technical aptitude.
- Blues Dancing today is an informal type of dance with no fixed patterns and a heavy focus on connection, sensuality and improvisation, often with strong body contact. Although usually done to blues music, it can be done to any slow tempo 4/4 music, including rock ballads and "club" music. "Blues dancing" is popular in many swing dance communities.
Competition, social dancing and music
Competition
Traditionally, distinctions are made between "Ballroom Swing" and "Jazz Dance Swing" styles. East Coast Swing is a standardized dance in "American Style" Ballroom dancing, while Jive is a standardized dance in "International Style"; however both of these falls under the "Ballroom Swing" umbrella. East Coast Swing ( ECS) is a form of social Partner dance that evolved from the Lindy Hop with the work of the Arthur Murray dance Ballroom dance refers collectively to a set of Partner dances which originated in Germany and are now enjoyed both socially and competitively around the
Jazz Dance forms (evolved in dancehalls) vs. ballroom forms (created for ballroom competition format) are different in appearance. Jazz Dance forms include Lindy Hop, Balboa, Collegiate Shag, and Charleston. Lindy Hop is an African American dance that evolved in New York City in 1927 The Collegiate Shag is a form of Swing dancing, which has some visual similarity with balboa (another swing dance but with different footwork. The Charleston is a Dance named for the city of Charleston South Carolina.
Types of Competition
Dance competitions specify which forms are to be judged, and are generally available in three different formats:
1) Strictly: One couple competing together in various heats, to randomly selected music, where no pre-choreographed steps are allowed.
2) Showcase: One couple competing together for a single song which has been previously choreographed.
3) Jack and Jill: Where leads and follows compete individually in various heats, where their partner is randomly selected.
Judging Criteria
Judging for competition is based on the three "T's" as well as showmanship (unless the contest in question designates the audience as the deciding factor).
The three "T's" consist of:
1) Timing - Related to tempo & rhythm of the music.
2) Teamwork - How well a lead and follow dance together and lead/follow dance variations.
3) Technique - How clean and precise the cooperative dancing is executed.
Showmanship consists of presentation, creativity, costumes, and difficulty.
Team Formations
Additionally a "Team Formation" division may also be specified at a competition. Under this category a minimum of 3 to 5 couples (depending on indivdual competition rules) perform a prechoreographed routine to a song of their choosing, where the group dances in syncronation and into different formations. This division is also judged using the three "T's" and showmanship; however this criteria now applies to the team as a whole.
Social swing dancing
Many, if not most, of the swing dances listed above are popular as social dances, with vibrant local communities that hold dances with DJs and live bands that play music most appropriate for the preferred dance style. Social dance is a major category or classification of Danceforms or dance styles where sociability and socializing are the primary focuses of the dancing A disc jockey (also known as DJ or deejay) is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience There are frequently active local clubs and associations, classes with independent or studio-/school-affiliated teachers and workshops with visiting or local teachers. Most of these dance styles — as with many other styles — also feature special events such as camps or exchanges. See also Lindy hop A lindy exchange is a gathering of Lindy hop dancers in one city for several days to experience the Dance venues and styles
Music
The historical development of particular swing dance styles was often in response to trends in popular music. Charleston, for example, was - and is - usually danced to 2/4 ragtime music, Lindy Hop was danced to swing music, which is a kind of swinging jazz. Ragtime (alternately spelled Rag-time) is an American musical genre which enjoyed its peak popularity between 1897 and 1918 Lindy Hop is an African American dance that evolved in New York City in 1927 Swing music, also known as swing jazz, is a form of Jazz music that developed in the early 1930s and had solidified as a distinctive style by 1935 in the United Jazz is an American Musical art form which originated in the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States West Coast Swing a modern evolution of Lindy Hop is usually danced to Pop, R&B, Blues, or Funk. Lindy Hop is an African American dance that evolved in New York City in 1927 Country & Western Swing, and Push/Whip are usually danced to country and western music. Country music is a blend of popular musical forms originally found in the Southern United States and the Appalachian Mountains. Hip hop lindy is danced to hip hop music, and blues dancing either to historical blues music forms, or to slower music from a range of genres (though most frequently to jazz or blues). Hip hop music, also referred to as rap music, is a Music genre typically consisting of a rhythmic vocal style called rap which is accompanied with Blues dancing is a modern term used to describe a family of historical dances that developed along side and danced to blues music or the contemporary dances that are danced in that aesthetic There are local variations on these associations in each scene, often informed by the local DJ's, dance teachers and bands. A disc jockey (also known as DJ or deejay) is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience
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