Perhaps the most uniquely American of all dances, the Swing brings forth a buoyant carefree movement. It's one of the most contagious dance styles, which you'll quickly come to learn yourself as you take Swing dance lessons at our Virginia Beach studio!

History of Swing

The Lindy (Swing) picked up where the Charleston left off. It had “swing-outs”, “break-aways” and “shine-steps”. With the birth of “Swing” music in the mid 1930’s the Lindy climbed the social ladder. In August of 1935, at the Palomar Ballroom, bandleader Benny Goodman played a Fletcher Henderson arrangement of “Stompin’ at the Savoy”. The rest, as they say, is history. The dance craze swept the nation, and depending on where you lived, it was called Jitterbug, the Lindy Hop or the Swing. Since those days, each successive generation has “discovered” the fun of Swing. This most uniquely American dance is enjoyed all over the world.

Music for Swing dancing

Swing, Jitterbug, Jive, Shag, Lindy Hop, etc are normally written in 2/4 or 4/4 time with the musical accents occurring on the second or second and fourth beats of a measure. Swing includes two general rhythms: Swing Rhythm – 1, 2, 3 & 4, 5 & 6 or its equivalent; Lindy Rhythm – 1, 2, 3 & 4, 5, 6, 7 & 8 or its equivalent. Swing may be danced comfortably over a wide range of tempos.

Characteristics of Swing

A side step of triple step (shuffle), followed by a rock step done to lively music is the fundamental pattern for Swing dancing.

Songs and artists for Swing dancing include

In The Mood – Glenn Miller
Rock Around The Clock – Bill Haley and the Comets
Start Me Up – The Rolling Stones
Jump, Jive, An’ Wail – Louis Prima or the Brian Setzer Orchestra