Learn to dance Swing/Jitterbug; Dance Lessons: Riverside Arthur Murray Ballroom Dance Studios

Swing/Jitterbug: Perhaps the most uniquely American of all dances, the Swing brings forth a buoyant carefree movement. It's one of the dances that becomes contagious.

History:

The Lindy (Swing) picked up where Charleston left off. It had "swing-outs", "breakaways" and "shine-steps". With the birth of "Swing" music in the mid 1930's the Lindy climbed the social ladder. In August of 1935, at the Palomar Ballroom, bandleader Benny Goodman played a Fletcher Henderson arrangement of "Stompin' at the Savoy". The rest, as they say, is history. The dance craze swept the nation, and depending on where you lived, it was the Jitterbug, the Lindy Hop or the Swing. Since those days, each successive generation has "discovered" the fun of Swing. this most uniquely American dance is enjoyed all over the world.

Music:

Swing, Jitterbug, Jive, Shag, Lindy Hop, etc are normally written in 2/4 or 4/4 time with the musical accents occurring on the second or second and fourth beats of a measure. Swing includes two general rhythms: Swing Rhythm - 1, 2, 3 & 4, 5 & 6 or it's equivalent; Lindy Rhythm - 1, 2, 3 & 4, 5, 6, 7 & 8 or it's equivalent. Swing may be danced comfortably over a wide range of tempos.

Characteristics:

A side step or a triple step (shuffle) followed by a rock step done to lively music is the fundamental pattern for this dance.

Teaching Elements:

Basics--Turns and position changes
Open Breaks--Fingertip lead and follow; arm control
Maneuverability--Learn how to move comfortably in all directions
Footwork--Weight changes in rotation
Swing Motion and Accents--Stress the use of beats to steps and body to music
Various Timings--Single, double, and triple timing as well as Lindy timing to adjust to different music tempos
Compare/Contrast--Lindy Hop, West Coast Swing, Fox Trot

Rumba songs and artists include:

In The Mood - Glenn Miller
Rock Around the Clock - Bill Haley and the Comets
Start Me Up - The Rolling Stones
Jump, Jive, An' Wail - Louis Prima or the Brian Setzer Orchestra

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