Lindy Hop, or simply Lindy, is an old/new Swing style which continues to be an innovative part of the American culture.

History

Originally named by Ray Bolger after Colonel Lindbergh’s historic first flight across the Atlantic, this popular Swing style had as much “getting into the air” as possible. The more acrobatic versions were limited to ballrooms, of which the most famous was New York’s Savoy Ballroom in Harlem. Popular musical groups of today have revived interest in the musical styles from the original Lindy Hop era and have fired the imagination and enthusiasm for a whole new generation of Lindy Hop dancers. The acrobatic style used for exhibitions and competition is not necessary for today’s good dancers to enjoy this perennial favorite. The rhythmic patterns take place over two measures of music and can be danced to a variety of musical interpretations.

Note

Related dances are the Charleston, Black Bottom, Shag, Jitterbug, and more recently, East Coast Swing and West Coast Swing. Many Lindy Hop patterns are used in other Swing styles to add variety or provide a change of pace.

Music

Lindy Hop, Swing, Jitterbug, 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. Lindy Hop has a general rhythm of 1, 2, 3 &4, 5, 6, 7 & 8 or its equivalent. Lindy Hop may be danced comfortably over a wide range of tempos.

Characteristics

Usually danced to faster swing music, Lindy Hop is danced with kicks and flicks of the foot. The more energetic, acrobatic dancers may add “air steps” to their dancing which were first created in 1935 by a young dancer named Frankie “Musclehead” Manning.

Swing artists include

Benny Goodman
Louis Jordan
Big Bad VooDoo Daddy
The Flying Newtrinos
Squirrel Nut Zippers
Flipped Fedoras