Swing Dance Styles
About Swing Dancing
“Swing Dance” is a broad term that covers many, many styles of dancing that dance to, or originally danced to Swing Jazz music. Some of the styles originated from swing dancing and have moved into a different music genre. Take a look at the Swing Dance Pallet below to see just some of the types of Swing Dancing out there.
If you would like to know a little history of swing dance in Japan, check this out!
History of Swing Dance in Japan
What is Lindy Hop?
Lindy Hop is the Grand-Daddy of swing dance. The very first “Swing” dance was probably the “Texas Tommy” around 1913. This later became the “Break-A-Way.” In the 1920’s, when Charleston was becoming all the rage, dancers in Harlem, New York City were inventing a fusion of these dances which was given a name and called the “Lindy Hop” around 1927.
This dance swept the world by storm. Danced to jazz music, Lindy Hop features pair dance elements in closed position and break-aways to open position. There are also solo and aerial (flips and throws) elements in the dance. Lindy Hop is considered by many to be the most difficult pair dance to master. It is also considered by many to be the most fun pair dance ever invented!
Lindy Hop – Hollywood Style
NYのハーレムで踊られていたリンディホップ（今では違いをつけるためにSavoy Style （サボイ スタイル）と呼ばれています）を、ハリウッドの映画撮影用に当時のダンサーであるDean Collinsが独自に開発したスタイル。撮影用のカメラにどう見えるかを意識したスタイルのため、スムーズで映像カメラのアングルから美しく見えるように外見にこだわったものでありました。それが後に”ハリウッドスタイル”と呼ばれるようになりました。
Dean Collins & Jewel MacGowan
What are Aerials?
An “aerial” or “air step” is a lift or throw where a dancer’s feet leave the ground. It may involve a throw, flip or catch. Aerials can be anywhere from simple and calm to extreme and acrobatic (see the picture above!).
What is Charleston?
Charleston is the dance that took America (and the world) by storm in the 1920s and 1930s. Said to have originated near Charleston, South Carolina as early as 1903, the Charleston is a fun dance with a simple, basic step.
The Charleston can be danced solo, as a pair, or in combination with authentic jazz steps to create infinite movement variations. Charleston can be (and often is) easily mixed into the Lindy Hop. Charleston is traditionally danced to Ragtime Jazz or faster Swing Jazz. Some Charleston Styles include: 1920s, 1930s, Jump Chaleston and Lindy Hop Charleston.
What is Balboa?
Balboa is an dance which emerged independent of the Lindy Hop in California in the 1930s. We now classify two types of Balboa: Balboa and Bal-Swing. Balboa or “Pure Bal” is danced completely in the closed position, chest to chest. Bal-Swing (originally called just “Swing”) includes break-aways and turns.
Balboa is usually danced to faster swing jazz music. Balboa can, however, be danced to ANY style or kind of music. Balboa is characterized by its fast, shuffling footwork. It is a dancer’s dance!
What Is Blues?
Blues is a historical jazz dance associated with and danced to blues music.
Early Blues dances often contained very simple one-step or two-step patterns; some examples of such early Blues dances are the “Cake Walk” and the “Black Bottom.” Other Blues dances such as the “Slow Drag,” and the “Mooche” have also been passed down to us relatively unchanged from the original forms.
These days, blues dance incorporates many aspects of these original dances as well as incorporating ideas from modern concepts and other pair dances (Argentine tango, waltz, west coast swing, etc.). Blues dancing focuses in on partner connection, improvisation, and natural body movement.
Blues is also an emotion that you bring to your dancing. Your emotional reaction to the music drives the dance. Blues is an amazing and exciting dance. Your other dancing will also improve by learning how to dance blues!
Swing dancing is fun, energetic, and social. It’s a great way to exercise and meet people at the same time.
What is Jitterbug?
Originally, Jitterbug was just another name coined for the Lindy Hop. Perhaps it came from the fact that to some stiff members of society, it may have looked like the Lindy Hoppers had ants in their pants. C’mon, admit it, sometimes we do. At some point in history, every single Swing Dance has been called Jitterbug.
NOTE: In Japan, the Jitterbug or “Jiruba” denotes a (now) Japanese version of East Coast Swing brought to Japan by US Soldiers.
What is Jive?
Jive is the international version of Jitterbug/East Coast Swing. Originally the U.K. version of the American dances, it is now taught in ballroom dance studios worldwide. Competition only teaching in the US usually teach the international Jive rather than the authentic jazz dances such as Lindy Hop and Charleston.
What is West Coast Swing?
West Coast Swing is term for a swing dancing style that emerged in California. West Coast Swing was inspired by the “HollyWood Style” of Dean Collins. Dean had a beautiful, smooth style that was his own version of the Savoy Style being done in Harlem, New York a the time.
These days, generally, West Coast Swing is danced to Rhythm and Blues, Jump Blues or slower Swing Jazz. The West Coast Swing is notable for its smooth style which is danced in a slot, with less circular movement. In general, WCS does not use the Charleston steps like Lindy Hop does.
What is East Coast Swing?
East Coast Swing is the supposed “Cleaned Up” version of Lindy Hop which the American Society of Teachers of Dancing created in the 1930s-40s to teach to the public. This was done to make the dance acceptable to the ballroom “white America.” The quality of dancing and teaching of ECS varies wildly. Most of it looks very…um… ballroom, robbing the dance of its spontaneity and craze. ECS done well, however, can look very good!
What is Shag?
There are many versions of the Shag! The Shag is a simple to learn dance which was extremely popular with the college kids in the 1920s and 1930s. Some forms of the Shag are: the Collegiate Shag, Flea Hop, Arthur Murray Shag, Saint Louis Shag, and the Carolina Shag.
Some Shag steps influenced the development of the Balboa, specifically Jump Balboa. The shag can be danced smooth as in the Carolina Shag or Jumpy as in the Collegiate Shag. Whatever Shag you do, it is fun.
What is Boogie Woogie?
Boogie Woogie is a type of swing dancing (sometimes called Jump) danced to well, you guessed it, Boogie Woogie. Boogie Woogie is a type of Blues music, mostly piano, characterized by a repeated bass progression in the left hand of the piano player.
The dance is similar to 6-count swing with the difference being that the dancers lift the knees. Characteristic movments are jumps, stomps, hops, etc. This dance is extremely energetic!
What is Hand Dancing?
Hand Dancing is a type of Swing Dancing which was developed from the Lindy Hop from in the mid 1950s in the Washington D.C. area. It is characterized by continuous floor contact with sliding, shuffling feet. The turns that are executed are hand turns. The dance is mostly danced to Rhythm and Blues.
