Born in the dancehalls of late 1920s Harlem, New York City, and taken to its
greatest heights during the 1930s (particularly at the legendary Savoy Ballroom
- 'the home of happy feet'), the dance was taken world-wide - on stage and in
film - by performance groups like Whitey's Lindy hoppers. Over
time, Lindy hop eventually gave rise to all forms of Swing, Jive and Rock 'n'
Roll dancing.
Characterised by a smooth, fluid, horizontal motion - at times wild and crazy
too - it is a dance inseparable from the music that developed with it - the
Big Band Swing of the 1930s and 40s. (Having said that, it is a measure of the
versatility of Lindy hop that it can be - and is - danced in one way or another
to anything from the original Big Band Swing through Jump-Jive, Boogie-Woogie,
Rock 'n' Roll, Lounge Swing and more. At a modern swing dance club you will
see people dancing to everything from 1930s originals like Jimmie Lunceford,
Count Basie and Benny Goodman to the neo-Swing sounds of bands like Royal Crown
Revue and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and the Lounge Swing of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin
et al - depending on the band, DJ and tastes of the crowd.)
Lindy hop is well known for it's association with amazing air-steps, where one
or other partner (usually the follow) flies through the air over or around her
(or his!) partner. Unlike the later adaptations like Rock 'n' Roll though, even
these steps are done rhythmically in Lindy hop - rhythm is the essence of the
dance.
The true Lindy hop is also characterised by breakaway Jazz steps where each
partner executes his/her own improvised steps as an interpretation of the music.
It is a very free, informal dance style, hugely dissimilar from Ballroom Jive
for example.
As with partnered dance in general, Lindy hop is currently enjoying a world-wide
resurgence and is a living, evolving dance form as relevant today as ever -
and most of all it's great fun!! It is a fantastic way to stay in shape too!
Lindy hop is featured in countless films, videos and stage shows - a wild and
crazy, smooth and cool swinging style, we'll show you how to do it!