Posts

Styles of Swing

/in /by

istock_000001582768xsmallWith the, what seems to be, endless amount of Swing dance styles, it is sometimes hard to keep them all straight. Dances that can be referred to as Swing dancing include the Lindy Hop, Charleston, West Coast Swing, East Coast Swing, Jive, Shag, and many other dances developed around the 1940’s. To help you identify some of the key identifiers of these dances, a few of the Swing dances will be discussed further.

You may recognize the first Swing dance, the Lindy Hop, by its basic move, the swingout. The swingout involves one partner pulling the other into a closed position from an open position. While doing so, they pivot 180 degrees, and then the other partner is swung back into the original position. The Lindy Hop also has characteristics similar to the Charleston because it was based off of it. Just as the Lindy Hop was developed from another dance, it helped to inspire the East Coast Swing, Balboa, Shag, and Boogie Woogie.

The next dance listed as Swing dancing is the Charleston. As stated previously, the Charleston was the inspiration for the Lindy Hop. However there were different styles of Charleston dances, the one from the 1920’s is quite different than the one in the 1930’s that the Lindy Hop is associated with. If you are wondering, the first one, the 1920’s Charleston, is the dance that became popular and associated with flappers. One key feature of the Charleston, apart from other Swing dances, is the swaying arms and quick foot movements that the dancers have that helps to spot this dance.

Another dance associated with the Lindy Hop is the West Coast Swing. This form of Swing dancing is distinguished by having an elastic feel to it. Dancers in West Coast Swing use an extension and compression partnership, which gives that elastic appearance. Additionally, West Coast Swing is more linear and slower than other Swing dances.

The last form of Swing dance we will cover is the East Coast Swing. To distinguish itself from the other forms of Swing dancing, especially the West Coast Swing from California, East Coast Swing was appropriately named. The East Coast Swing is going to have a little more bounce and pep to it than some of the other forms of Swing dances. It is also more standardized as it was originally developed for instructional purposes.

No matter what type of Swing dancing you choose, you are going to have a blast. Some may be easier to start out with than others, but Swing dancing is a great dance to learn for any occasion. To start your Swing dance lessons today, come into Dance FX Studios located in Mesa, Arizona. Dance FX Studios has private Swing dance lessons and group Swing dance classes for your enjoyment. See YOU on the dance floor!

Learn the “Jitterbug” Swing Basics

/in /by

istock_000014389223mediumThe Jitterbug is a fun and easy variation of Swing dancing if you are just learning how to dance. It is fun for all ages and is a great way to relieve stress. In the next couple paragraphs we will cover some of the dance steps for the Jitterbug just to give you an idea of what it is like.

The Jitterbug can be danced in either an open or closed dance position. An open dance position is where you are primarily connected to the other dancer at the hands. The closed dance position is where you hold your partner’s hand in one hand and have your other hand around their shoulder blade or shoulder. This depends on if you are the leader (usually male) or follower (usually female).

Surely you have heard of dance steps referred to as slow and quick steps. In the Jitterbug the steps are as follows: slow, slow, quick, quick. The first step uses two beats of the music and has men stepping with the left foot and women stepping with their right foot. This first move is going to be done with your feet about shoulder width apart and you will be stepping onto that first foot in place. The second step will also be in place, men with their right and women with their left. This step will also take two beats to the music. The third step is where it gets fun. Men are going to take their left foot and step backwards, the placement should almost be in line with the back of their right heel. Women will do the same with the right foot and place it in back of their left heel. It does not have to be touching the other foot, but place it comfortably behind the other foot. The final basic step is to step in place with the right foot, for men, and left foot, for women. Both of the last two steps, the step back and the step in place, take up one beat of music each, so it is rather quick.

Those are the four basic steps that make up the Jitterbug basic. They are going to be the foundation of your dance and will repeat often. Other moves will be added in, but these four are the basics. After you have completed all four steps, when you go to repeat your first step again you will have to move the left foot (men) or right foot (women) back under you from the rock step to the position where your feet are about shoulder width apart.

This is merely the beginning of the Jitterbug.  If you would like to learn all of the tricks, spins, and dips, you will need to take a  Swing dance class. After all that is what makes the dance really fun! Learn about Jitterbug Swing dancing with private lessons at Dance FX Studios in Mesa, Arizona. The fun of Swing dancing is just about to begin!