SWING DANCE STYLES / GENRES

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. Pattern: back, forward, forward, back.

JITTERBUG / EAST COAST / BOOGIE WOOGIE / JIVE
East Coast Swing is a simple 6-count pattern also known by many names: Single-Time Swing, Triple-Step Swing, 6-Count Swing, or Rockabilly. Each styles has its own unique characteristics based on the types of music being played. 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. Basic pattern is “Step, Step, Rock Step” or “Slow, Slow, Quick-Quick”.

LINDY HOP
Lindy Hop evolved in the late 1920s and is characterized by an 8-count “swingout” and has an emphasis on improvisation and the ability to easily adapted to include other steps in 8-count and 6-count rhythms. It has been danced to almost every conceivable style of music form jazz to blues, as well as non-traditional styles of music such as hip hop. This dance incorporates multiple combinations done to slow or fast music. Basic Pattern: step, step, triple-step, step, step, triple-step.

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, it deeply rooted in history and based off improvised steps. Pattern: step, collect.

BALBOA
Balboa is an 8-count dance that emphasizes a strong partner connection and quick footwork and is primarily danced in close embrace. Frequently danced to fast jazz (from 180 to 320 beats per minute) and done traditionally in closed position with intricate footwork. It is a smooth style dance great for up-tempo songs or for conserving space and energy on the dance floor. Incorporates lots of subtle, intricate footwork and body-leads. Pattern: step, step, hold, step, step, step, hold, step. Different Styles of Balboa.

Pure Balboa: In this form, dancers remain with their torsos touching, doing variations based on footwork. Main footwork variations include single-time Balboa, double-time Balboa, and triple-time Balboa.

Bal-Swing: In this form, dancers separate their bodies for 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.

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. Pattern: Step-Hop, Step-Hop, Step, Step or Slow, Slow, Quick-Quick.

WEST COAST SWING
West Coast Swing was developed as a stylistic variation on Lindy Hop. It is a slotted dance with 6-count and 8-count patterns. It is mainly danced as a smooth and sensual patterns emphasizing on rhythmic accentuations. It is danced to a wide variety of music including swing, R&B, blues, rock & roll, country western, and jazz.