What is “Lindy Hop”
The Lindy Hop (or Lindy) is a partner dance that originated in 1920's and 30's Harlem, New York. It consists of both 8 and 6 count steps and includes footwork borrowed from the Charleston and Rhythm Tap. Lindy can be wild and spontaneous, with frenzied kicks and body movements, or it can be cool and sophisticated, depending on the style of swing music and the inclination of the dancers. The most important aspects are that it is danced with a partner, to the music, for fun!
The original Lindy Hop virtually died out with the advent of Rock and Roll in the 1950s but in the mid 1980s some of the original members of a famous dance troupe of the 1930s, “Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers” were rediscovered by new dancers inspired by old film footage in movies such as “A Day at the Races” and “Hellzapoppin”.
The Lindy Hop is arguably bigger now than it was in its heyday, thanks to the internet, videos, workshops and classes across the world. Whitey's Lindy Hoppers would never have believed it!
Why “Lindy Hop”
The story goes that during one of the dance marathons that used to take place in the 1930s a great dancer called “Shorty” George Snowden was asked by a reporter what the name of this crazy new dance was. At the time, Charles Lindbergh had just completed the first ever solo flight from New York to Paris and newspaper headlines across the USA read “Lindy Hops the Atlantic”. Shorty replied “I’m doing the Lindy Hop” and the name stuck.
(Taken from Shona Smiths’ article on the lindy circle website, and reproduced with kind permission.)
View the whole article on www.lindycircle.com
Watch Lindy Hop on YouTube
What is “Balboa”
Balboa is an 8 count partnered dance which developed on the West Coast of America in the 1920s and 1930s and takes its name from the Balboa Peninsula at Newport Beach – home of the Rendezvous Pavilion and later, Ballroom where it was first danced. When danced in a completely closed position, it is known simply as “balboa or pure balboa”. At times the dancers “break away” to perform more flamboyant moves and then the dance is referred to as Bal-Swing. Most balboa dancers today incorporate both pure Balboa and Bal-Swing figures in their dancing.
The dance's simplicity and economy of movement make it very well suited to fast tempo music. This fact has meant that Balboa is often mistakenly thought of as just a fast dance. Indeed many of the original dancers could dance at amazing speeds. However, they also liked to dance to slower music and the dance has always been done to music of all tempos including some improbably slow tunes.
(Taken from Dan Guest’s article on the lindy circle website, and reproduced with kind permission.)
Watch Balboa on YouTube
Website Links
Dance Clubs and Classes
The Lindy Circle - Lindy Hop and Balboa in London
Gloster Jive and Swing - Lindy Hop and Jive in Gloucester
Sussex Swing - Lindy Hop in the Brighton Area
Swingland - Lindy Hop in London
London Swing Dance Society - Lindy Hop in London
Oxford Swing Dance Society - Lindy Hop in Oxford
Mad About Swing - Lindy Hop in Plymouth & the South West
Rock the Block - Lindy Hop in the Norfolk area
Edinbop - Lindy Hop in Edinburgh
Edinburgh Swing Dance Society - Lindy Hop in Edinburgh
Balboa North - Balboa in & around the North
The Balboa Bunch - Balboa in Gloucester & Cheltenham
Lindy Hop Solent - in the Southampton Area
NE1 Can Swing - Lindy Hop and Balboa in the Newcastle Area
Simply Balboa - Balboa classes in Portsmouth and surrounding area.
Dance Bands
The Ding Dong Daddios - Jump Jive and Swing
Quorum Jazz Quartet - Swing Band
DJs
Events
The Reading Real Ale and Jazz Festival (RAAJ) is a warm summer evening of great jazz and a huge selection of real ale and wine. Held every year in July at the Christchurch meadow in Reading.