Swing Dance

HISTORY OF SWING DANCING

A direct descendant of Charleston born in the 1920s swing incorporates many of the moves that its parent dance began with. It had “swing outs”, “break-aways” and solo movements. With swing music developing in the mid 1930’s  the Lindy, a type of swing , climbed the popular dance ladder. In August of 1935, at the Palomar Ballroom , bandleader Benny Goodman played a Fletcher Henderson arrangement of “Stompin’ at the Savoy”. This began the rein of swing as America’s care free dance of choice. Swing swept the nation and was called jitterbug, the lindy hop, Swing, and rock and roll. Since then every generation has found the fun of Swing. This dance is now done all over the world.

SWING DANCING STEPS

A side to side movement with one or three steps followed be a Rock step, or step away and then back toward your partner is the basic in this dance. Swing is best known however for its turns and bop in the knees. Swing dancers almost always have smiles as they move to this energetic dance.

WHAT WILL LEARNING SWING DO FOR MY DANCING?

Swing teaches turning for the man and lady as well as position changes. Fingertip leading and following. Musicality, which is learning to stress the use of beats to accents steps to look like your dancing to that music.

SWING MUSIC

Swing is done to the widest variety of music of any dance. Rock and Roll, country, Jazz, Big bands, pop, and folk all use the swing rhythm. The accent in swing is on the 2nd beat meaning if you were tapping to the music you would tap harder on the 2nd beat.  The basic step is danced either slow slow quick quick or 1a2 3a4 5 6 and a common alternate rhythm is slow quick quick slow quick quick or 1a2 3 4 5a6 7 8

EXAMPLES OF SWING MUSIC

Jump, jive, an’ Wail-Louis Prima or the Brian Setzer  Orchestra
Start me up – The Rolling Stones
Rock Around the Clock- Bill Haley and the Comets
In The Mood – Glenn Miller
Come by me-  Harry Conic Jr.

WHERE WOULD I USE IT?

You would use swing in country places, jazz establishments, formal events and casual get to gathers Swing is the most commonly danced fast dance in the country., Of course you could use it at our Friday or Saturday dance here at Arthur Murray’s