Gapac, Krisha Loraine D.
1BSA-6
A Brief History of Swing Dancing
With the evolution of Jazz music, Swing dancing emerged in the 1920’s through the
1950’s Swing in African American communities, most notably in Harlem, New York.
Swing dancing grew from a combination of African dancing, tap, ballroom dancing and
sheer creativity from some of its founders, most notably Dean Collins, Frankie Manning
and “Shorty George” Snowden.
The first of the Swing dances included Lindy Hop and the Charleston and developed
into over 24 variations including Shag, Balboa, West Coast and Jive. With stylistic
differences from bouncy and hoppy to smooth and subtle, the Swing was versatile and
exciting!
In the late 1930’s, the Jitterbug, with it’s big movements and fast footwork, brought
Swing dancing into the mainstream. By the 1940’s Swing dancing was offered in
schools of dance and was recognized among the American Society of Teachers and
dancing as a style that was here to stay.
The Jitterbug, a common term representing several styles of Swing dancing, was
named after the way alcoholics acted while drunk? The “jitters” suffered by alcoholics
reminded trombonist and drummer Harry Alexander White of the lively movements that
he saw on the dance floor as he coined the term “Jitterbug” in the early 1900’s.
While Mr. White named the Jitterbug, Cab Calloway often receives credit for title of the
dance because of his 1934 song titled “The Jitterbug”. This song made the swing a
household dance from that point on.
Here are 5 of the basic steps you need to know to dance SWING:
#1. Basic 6-Step Swing Step
The key to the basic swing step is the swing.
The swing has a basic 6-stroke step and a basic 8-stroke step. Next, we explain the
basic step of 6 beats and then the 8 beats.
Make a setback with two beats, then mark step 3 and 4 with the same foot forward, and
then mark step 5 and 6 with the opposite foot backward and repeat the series
successively.
2# - 8-Step Basic Swing Step
After you have learned the 6-stroke step you can learn the 8-stroke step so that you can
combine them on the track. Here's the basic 8-stroke step.
The basic 8-stroke step is marked in the same way as the 6-stroke step, but after the
first four steps another setback is marked on the opposite side and then two steps back
are marked by 6 and 7.
The chain of this 8-stroke basic is setback (1 and 2), step forward (3 and 4 with the
same foot), setback starting with the opposite foot (5 and 6) and two more steps
backwards marking the (7 and 8).
3# - Single Step of Swing
First, two steps are marked, one on the left and one on the right and then the setback,
and so on.
It is very important to be able to internalize this step well as it is used constantly in the
different combinations of swing steps, and especially when marking step changes.
So you know, start practicing in front of the mirror in your house or while you're walking
down the street.
#4 - Girl's turn at the basic pass
After learning the basics they play the twists and turns and is that the twists are one of
the most popular figures in any dance style.
It marks a setback, and then the boy marks a twist to the 2-stroke girl with the same
foot and 2 more steps are marked with the opposite foot to back off.
As you can see, the steps are very simple, and in all the figures you always have to keep
the basic count of 6 or 8 depending on the figure.
#5 - Displacement at the waist or what are called "promenades"
You start by marking a setback and then the couple goes around with 2 steps and
sliding their arms around the waist, and to finish the series you mark another setback
and you can chain it with the basic swing step.
As we have already mentioned, the grace in marking the steps of the swing is the
swinging, and this will always be in accordance with the musicality.
