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About the Lindy Hop:
 Lindy Hop is the original swing dance from the 30's, 40's, and 50's danced to Big Band Swing, Jump Blues, and early Rock 'n Roll.
The Lindy is a blend of West African dance movements with European
social dancing. Lindy Also incorporated the Charleston, the Cakewalk,
the black bottom, and other popular dances of the era.
Characteristics of "the lindy" include swivels, aerials (air steps), kicks, rhythmic footwork, and energetic turns. The look of Lindy Hop is down low with bent knees and waist and open arms. One can pike forwards or backwards depending on style. Lindy Hop can be danced very fast (300bpm) or very slow (90bpm) and everything in between.
Lindy Hop evolved into West Coast Swing during the 60's and 70's and changed as the music changed. In the late 80's and 90's Lindy Hop was rediscovered and made
popular again with the help of original Lindy Hopper Frankie Manning, vintage video clips, neo-swing bands,
movies like Swing Kids, Malcolm X, Swingers, and the Gap Commercial
"Khakis Swing". Today, Lindy Hop survives because of the
dedication of instructors and Lindy exchanges that are held in different
cities around the world.
Other terms for Lindy Hop are Jitterbug, Jive, Jump, and East Coast Swing. East Coast Swing is the 6 count pattern that Lindy Hopper's do that many ballrooms teach as a separate dance. There are also some swing line dances and routines that are known worldwide such as The Shim Sham, The Big Apple, Dean Collin's Shim Sham, The California Routine, and The Jitterbug Stroll.
Lindy Hop is a street dance in that it's ever changing, done mostly socially, and is open to lots of inspiration and new steps.
ALL DANCE LEVELS
ALL AGES NO PARTNER NEEDED |
