History

The Swing Era (1920s-1940s)

The birth of Swing dancing goes hand in hand with the birth of Jazz in America. Born out of the mixing of African tribal dance and European social dance, swing incorporated many dances that were mainly originated by African Americans in the early part of the century. These dances include the Charleston, Cakewalk, Black bottom, Texas Tommy and the Big Apple.

Between 1900 and 1930 Harlem was becoming the center of African American dance, entertainment and culture. White audiences began to crowd into Harlem looking to see shows and song and dance acts. This era is known as the Harlem Renaissance, and it was here during this time that the Lindy Hop was created.

There are many differing opinions about which dance evolved into the Lindy Hop. Some say it came from a dance called the Texas Tommy, which was popularized by Ethel Williams, who described it as ‘two basic steps, a kick and a hop three times on each foot, and then add whatever you want, turning, pulling sliding’. In the Texas Tommy, couples would break away and improvise steps on their own before coming back together, hence allowing individual expression within the context of social dancing with a partner, which is a major component of Lindy Hop as well.

The Charleston

Others claim that Lindy Hop came from the Charleston. During the time of the Harlem Renaissance,Vaudeville and Broadway shows were helping to evolve and popularize dancing in America. The performers themselves were constantly competing to come up with new routines and unique steps that hadn’t been seen before, and once the American public had taken in a new show many people would then try to copy and spread the steps they had seen. The most successful show of its time was Runnin’ Wild, and it is this show that made the Charleston the most prominent dance craze ever to hit America. With roots found in the Ashanti of South Africa, the Charleston became synonymous with the prohibition era and the “flappers” of the 1920’s.

One of the more important steps for American dance that the Charleston helped to evolve was the idea that anyone could learn to do it, blurring the line between the stage performer and the ballroom practitioner. Charleston contests were held all over the country, and many famous actors and dancers started out as stars of the Charleston, including Joan Crawford and Ginger Rogers! Despite its huge popularity though, the Charleston craze was fairly short lived, with Black Bottom taking its place as the next popular dance in America. The Black Bottom was made popular by a new show called Scandals, which happened to be produced by the same man who produced Runnin’ Wild, George White.

The Lindy Hop

The Lindy Hop is said to have been born in Harlem, New York, at the Savoy Ballroom in 1927. Many people credit Shorty George Snowden, a popular Savoy dancer, with inventing the dance. However, the style and movement of the Lindy Hop had been evolving in the many ballrooms and social clubs throughout America and especially in Harlem for the past decade. In June in 1928 the Manhattan Casino hosted a dance marathon where Shorty Snowden was dancing. His dancing began to draw a lot of attention from the journalists there, who eventually interviewed him, asking him what the dance he was doing was called. “The Lindy” is what he replied. Many people believe that he called it the Lindy Hop because of the newspapers that had recently read “Lindy Hops the Atlantic”, in lieu of Lindberg’s famous transatlantic flight. Whatever the reason, the name stuck, and became the most famous dance of the Jazz era.

The Savoy Ballroom

Harlem was host to a great many dance ballrooms, but it is the Savoy Ballroom which is accredited with being the home of the Lindy Hop. It is considered to have been the most important venue for the development of dance during the 1920’s and 30’s. It’s dancers called it the “home of happy feet”, and it is here that the Lindy was created, developed and refined. The Savoy was host to the best bands the country had to offer, and the dancers shared a very close connection with the musicians, playing back and forth, musicians pushing dancers and dancers pushing musicians to greater heights. Plus, the Savoy hosted two bandstands, and was famous for its “battle of the bands” in which two bands would alternate their performances, creating a friendly rivalry which helped to push the boundaries of swing music.

The Savoy was a huge ballroom, spanning an entire New York city block. One of the interesting facts about the Savoy was that it was open to both black and white people, during a time when most places where either one or the other. The northeast corner was known as the Cat’s Corner, where only the best dancers were allowed to dance, and by invitation. Once a week the Savoy held contests, in which its best dancers would compete against each other. It was during one of these contests that the first air step appeared.

The story goes that Shorty George had a very large partner, who would at the end of their performance carry him off the floor on her back. One evening one of the young new dancers, Frankie Manning, had the idea to get his partner on his back and roll her over his head, in time with the music in such a way that they could then go right on dancing. So he convinced his partner to drag out the mattress in his apartment and practice it. They eventually got it down, and the air step for which swing dancing is so well known, was born.

Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers

Of all the cats in the Cats Corner, the most famous of them were known as Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers. Herbert White, an ex-bouncer at the Savoy, began recruiting the best talent on the floor to form a professional Lindy Hop troupe in 1935. He began booking his dancers in public and private venues all over town, and eventually all over the world. Whitey’s dancers were the best of the best, winning contests every year such as the Harvest Moon Ball contests, and performing at World Fairs, Shows, and in Hollywood films. Some of the most famous of these films include A Day at the Races and Hellzapoppin. Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers brought the joy and excitement of the Lindy Hop to people all across America, and the world. Some of the more famous of Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers include Frankie Manning, Al Minns, Norma Miller, Willamae Ricker and Leon James.

Hollywood Style

Hollywood StyleIn the early 1930's a man named Dean Collins learned to dance in the Savoy. He then moved to L.A. where he created and spread his own style of Lindy Hop, which is characterized by a piked position. It has been called “Hollywood Style” or “Smooth Style” by modern Lindy Hop dancers, although these names don’t define it much apart form Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers, since they were seen in the movies just as much and could be argued to be just as smooth. Yet he definitely had a unique and aesthetic style that was all his own. Dean’s dancing can be seen in many films including "Lets Make Music", and "Buck Privates". Dean was also known for his ability to break down the steps of the dance, and it is said that he taught Arthur Murray how to Lindy Hop.

The Death of Lindy Hop

However, as the music changed, so did the dance. The great Lindy Hop began to die off as Be-Bop and Rock and Roll replaced the old sound of Big Band Swing and Jazz. An entertainment tax was enforced, and live big bands became too expensive for most club owners to hire. Plus, the invention and advancement of the phonograph meant that recorded music was becoming more affordable approach. As musicians played more and more for themselves and for the advancement of their own music, rather than for the enjoyment of dancers, people began dancing less and listening more.

The Swing Revival

In the mid 1980's several groups took up an interest in the old dancing that was done in the Swing era, and sought out the old dancers of the day. Steven Mitchell & Erin Stevens found Frankie Manning, pulling him out of retirement and back into the world of Swing and Jazz dancing. The Rhythm Hot Shots, a tap group from Sweden, found Al Minns and Frankie Manning, and started up an international Swing dance camp in Herrang, Sweden. The Jiving Lindy Hoppers found Mama Lu Parks.

For a while in the late 1990’s swing dancing once again became a national trend, and the Neo-Swing band was born. Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Cherry Poppin’ Daddies and Brian Setzer enjoyed a short-lived popularity. But their sound couldn’t replicate or substitute for the ingenuity, energy, and amazing talent of the fathers of the swing-jazz era.

The dancers that stuck around even after the popularity of Swing died off for a second time have kept true to the tradition of real Jazz music. Dancers now continue to enjoy the music of Benny Goodman, Count Basie, Fletcher Henderson, Sidney Bechet, Harry James, and so, so much more. Modern swing bands enjoyed by modern Lindy Hoppers include bands such as Jonathan Stout and his Campus Five, Mora’s Modern Rhythmists, Loose Marbles, The Cangelosi Cards, Solomon Douglas’ Swingtet and The Bill Elliot Swing Orchestra.

Today’s dancers are dedicated to keeping the tradition of the dance and music of the famous American Jazz era alive. Although this music will never be as ubiquitous in the shows, dancehalls and streets as it once was, there are more people throughout the country and the world who know and can dance the Lindy Hop than there have ever been. There are many major competitions, events and workshops that allow anyone to participate in learning and performing the major swing dances. No matter where you are in the world, chances are you can dance the Lindy Hop or the Charleston with someone close by.