DANCE STYLES / GENRES

LINDY HOP
Referred to as the Granddaddy of all swing dances, the Lindy Hop is a couple's dance that originated in the early 1920s. Lindy Hop evolved from the Charleston and influenced by several other dance forms. Often described as the original Swing dance, Lindy Hop is a fast-paced, joyful dance with a flowing style that reflects its music. The Lindy Hop grew up with great Swing bands of the era: the bands inspired the dancers and the dancers inspired the bands. Resulting in advances in both dance and musical expression that would eventually evolve into Rock 'n Roll. Whether referred to as Lindy Hop, Jitterbug, or Jive, the inspiring music was Swing, with a tempo of 120-180 beats per minute. Swing rhythms exist throughout rock, country, jazz and blues, making all of these music styles perfectly acceptable for dancing the Lindy Hop.

EAST COAST SWING / JITTERBUG / BOOGIE-WOOGIE
This simple 6-count pattern (also known by many names: Single-Time, Doupble-Time, Triple-Step, 6-Count Swing, or Rockabilly) has its own unique characteristics based on the types of music being played. It is the easiest style to learn and a great building block for all swing dance styles. Fast, slow, rock, jazz, swing, and everything in between. It’s structure and footwork along with basic moves and styling is popular for its simple nature, and it is often danced to all sorts of music.

BLUES DANCE
Though this style primarily is danced to Blues music, it is known for the passionate and emotional connection between the dancers and to the music and can be “fused” into several styles. The main focus is on the connection between the dancers. How the dancers interprets the music, and then turn that interpretation into their dancing is the key to Blues dance. It can be danced slow & groovy, or fast & syncopated. As one of the oldest versions of dance datign back to 1890s, it deeply rooted in history and based off improvised steps.

BALBOA
Balboa is a form of swing dance that started as early as 1915 and gained in popularity in the 1930s and 1940s. It is danced primarily in close embrace, and is led with a full body connection. The art of Balboa is the subtle communication between the lead and follow, like weight shifts, that most viewers cannot see. Balboa came from Southern California during the 20's and increased in popularity until World War 2. Balboa is danced to a wide variety of tempos. Because the basic is so small, Balboa can be danced to fast music (over 300 beats per minute). Balboa is also danced to slow music (under 100 beats per minute), which allows more time for intricate footwork and variations.
Different Styles of Balboa: Pure Balboa & Bal-Swing.
Pure Balboa: Dancers remain with their torsos touching, doing variations based on footwork. Bal-Swing: Dancers add spins and turns, much like in swing dance, returning to pure Balboa on occasion. Basic Balboa: Timing holds on the four and eight. Break Time Balboa: holds on the three and seven.

CHARLESTON
Social dance of the United States popular in the 1920s. These 8-ct patterns has three styles of Charleston: 20’s, 30’s and Tandem. 20’s Charleston has partners in open position facing each other doing the basic patterns. 30’s Charleston - also called “side-by-side” - which in fact has partners side-by-side with contact at the hips. Tandem Charleston has partners in front of each other facing same way doing patterns simultaneously.

COLLEGIATE SHAG
Collegiate Shag was danced in the early thirties popularized by the collegiate youth and danced to music that emphasized a 2-beat rhythm, and was danced in the varieties called single, double, and triple shag incorporating 6-count and 8-count patterns. The most common form recognized as Collegiate Shag is double shag (6-count) rhythm. It was hugely popular with the college-aged kids in the 1930s, hence the name, all across the United States. Two styles were created: Wild & Crazy and Smooth & Quiet. Collegiate Shag can be anything you want it to be, and that’s the fun of it. Collegiate Shag is fun to learn and is impressive to watch because of the fast footwork at high speeds and uses moves and turns similar to Jitterbug or Lindy Hop. The main characteristic is keeping the upper body motionless while the feet are moving fast (similar to Balboa), but also steadily hopping to the beat.

CAROLINA SHAG
Nicknamed "Beach Dancing," the Shag is an offshoot of Jitterbug Swing. Shag originated on the beaches of South Carolina, particularly Atlantic Beach and Myrtle Beach, in the 1940's. It is danced to Motown, Blues, Oldies, R&B, and slow to medium tempo Swing music. The Shag showcases fancy footwork and spins with a smooth, flowing feeling Involving 6 & 8 count patterns mostly danced in a slot.The Shag is reminiscent of the West Coast and East Coast Swing styles. This dance was named the official state dance of South Carolina in 1984, and has remained popular in the South. You don't have to find a beach for this dance, but you could easily dance the Shag with a drink in your hand and pretend. Music preferences: Blues, Motown, Oldies, Beach.

WEST COAST SWING
Shortly after World War II, when movie studios began cranking out Hollywood musicals, the West Coast Swing was born when choreographers replaced the circular movement of the Jitterbug with movement along a straight line or "slot" so they could place more couples on the floor without losing their faces to the camera. West Coast Swing is considered the "Cadillac of Swing". There is a lot of freedom to improvise in this dance. Greater emphasis is placed on footwork and music syncopation. WCS is danced to Blues, R&B, Funk, Latin Rhythms and Beach Music. Because the music tempos are slower than ECS and Lindy Hop, generally 80-140 BPM, the dancers have more time for interpretation and can fancy up their stylings.