Swing Ballroom Dance

When you hear the term Swing ballroom dance, it really refers to a group of dances that developed in the 1920s, 30s and 40s. Some of the earliest swing dances predate jazz music, but the advent of jazz is what brought swing to the forefront as a dance in the 30s and 40s.

Swing Ballroom Dancing

There are many different swing dances, but only a few are seen in true ballroom settings. Let’s look first at where swing comes from.

Lindy Hop is the most famous of the swing dances, and it’s from the Lindy Hop that many of the various swing dances have evolved. The lindy Hop evolved itself from the Charleston in the 1920s and early 1930s. It is identifiable by an 8-count breakaway or what’s called a “swing out”. Dancers are expected to improvise and adapt their dancing to include other steps, in the form of 8-count and 6-count rhythms.

The Lindy Hop has been danced to just about every style of music, with blue and jazz the most common.

Some of the swing dances that have evolved include:

The East Coast Swing, which is a simpler version of the Lindy Hop. The East Coast Swing became famous thanks to the efforts of the Arthur Murray dance studios in the 1940s to bring attention to the dance. It’s also commonly known as the Triple-Step Swing, 6-Count Swing, or Rock-a-Billy. This is a fairly easy dance to learn, thanks to its simple footwork, slower tempo and easy music.

Carolina Shag was developed in the Carolinas (both North and South) during the 1940s. It’s usually associated with beach music.

The West Coast Swing was developed in the 1950s. It’s considered a stylistic variation of the Lindy Hop and is called a “slotted dance”, which means it’s danced to a wide array of musical styles including rock and roll, country and western, smooth jazz, cool jazz and blues. It’s very popular in the United States and Canada and is becoming better known in other countries.

The Imperial Swing is considered a mix of East Coast and West Coast swing. It also has elements of the Carolina Shag and Bop dances as well.

The Jive is a hugely popular dance that’s danced in international ballroom competitions. It’s based on East swing that was brought to England by American troops in World War II. Over time, it’s evolved to the standardized form we know today.

The only two kinds of swing dance that are common in competition are the Jive (international ballroom competitions) and the East Coast Swing, which is considered an “American style” ballroom dance. Both, however, are considered ballroom dances.

Socially, most of the swing dances are appropriate for clubs, dance clubs and the like. There are special swing dance events held in many communities and local clubs that sponsor dances. Those who want to learn how to swing dance can usually find many community resources, and it’s not essential that the teacher or instructor have impressive credentials. An enthusiasm for the dance and a love of teaching will usually create solid dance instruction.