What was originally known as the Charleston has developed over the years into the Lindy, the Jitterbug, the Lindy Hop and the Jive. The Swing originated and thrived in the mid 1930’s thanks to the like likes of Benny Goodman and his fellow swing bands. It is a dance that when mastered you will find to be exciting, fast paced, and fun to learn and practice.
East Coast
Back in the good old days of Elvis Presley and Chuck Berry, the East Coast Swing originated as a simplified 6-count triple step dance. The East Coast Swing dance pattern moves smoothly either forward/back or side to side while circling freely around the floor with a very playful, effervescent nature. The basic step is triple step, triple step, rock step.
West Coast
The West Coast Swing originated from the Savoy Style Lindy dance. This dance soon became popular in California nightclubs during the 1930s and 1940s thanks to Dean Collins, a famous movied dancer and choreographer who is said to have brought the dance to Hollywood.
The official state dance of California, it incorporates slot movements, taps and shuffles, coaster steps, and push and pull action of the dancers. It is known for its “dancing in a slot” appearance where the man dances in place while the woman travels back and forth giving the dance a very “groovy” sinuous feel.
Lindy Hop
The Lindy Hop was named by Ray Bolger, after Colonel Lindbergh’s flight across the Atlantic. This Swing had as much “getting into the air” as it could possibly have. It may be danced with highly acrobatic lifts and throws like you’d find in the ballrooms of Savoy Harlem, or as the quietly rhythmic Lindy which is more commonly danced on ballroom floors. The Lindy Hop, always fun to dance, is wild, spontaneous, jumpy, and jazzy!
Jive
The Jive is an international competitive Swing dance with elements of the Lindy Hop and Jitterbug. It is characterized by uptempo single time music danced with triple steps which are done predominantly on the toes with very little movement.
Hustle
“Do the Hustle” as they say or said in the 1970s! John Travolta’s Saturday Night Fever brought acclaim to this disco dance during a time when flashing lights, mirrors everywhere, loud throbbing music, and platform shoes were the fashion! The Hustle is a high-speed, energetic dance characterized by its continual turns. The lady seems to always be spinning, as the man stays cooly in place sending her in and out.
Bolero
The Bolero, originating in Spain, is danced to a very slow Rumba rhythm. The Bolero has a very romantic and silky feel to it, with its slip pivot and body rise which is danced to dreamy music usually accompanied by vocals in 4/4 time. In Bolero you become one with your partner with slow, sweeping motions which are combined with whsubtle percussion effects, and usually implemented with Conga or Bongos.
Samba
Although introduced in 1917, it was only adopted by Brazilian society in 1930 as a ballroom dance. The jovial Samba was introduced in the United States in 1939 by the late Carmen Miranda.
It is sometimes referred to as a Samba, Carioca, a Baion or a Batucado, differing only in tempos as the dances are very similar. The style is to bounce steadily and smoothly in 2/4 meter while flexing and straightening the knees as weight is transferred from the ball to the flat of the foot.
Polka
The Polka, coming from Bohemia in the 1800s, was said to have been originally created by a Bohemian girl. The name is Czech for “half-step,” much used in the dance. The Polka is danced in pairs either face-to-face or standing side-by-side. Polka music has a 2/4 beat, and consists of preparatory hop followed by a chasse done first to left then to the right. It is notable for its boisterous energy and charm.
Two Step
The “Texas Two-Step” or as some call it a Foxtrot with a swagger started as a simple barn dance! The Two-Step originated in the 1800′s by people who arrived here from Europe. It was an offspring of the minuet and they danced it as QQSS. It is a simple Western dance, more or less double quick march with a skip in each step done as rapidly as a couple can go!
International
Paso Doble
The Spanish March or One Step. This is not a social dance. It is more of an exhibition routine as the man styles his body movements to look like a bullfighter and leads his partner in and out of the patterns as if she were a cape. It is danced in 2/4 time
Quickstep
The English version of the Fast Fox Trot, which has quick hopping steps set in with the smoother gliding figures. It is very popular in Europe as a competition dance.
