Dance Styles
Lindy Hop
The Lindy Hop is the original partnered swing dance created
during the late 1920s by Black Americans in Harlem that evolved
alongside jazz music in the '30s and '40s. It was a street dance
that allowed for rhythmic improvisation and social dancing, and is
now danced in almost every major city in the world. Lindy Hop is an
energetic and joyful dance that allows both partners to express
their individuality while dancing together!
Charleston
The Charleston is a high-energy Jazz Age dance popularized by
Flappers in the 1920s. The basic step, consisting of stylized
kicks, allows for a vast range of variations and improvisation and
is often done to fast music. Today Charleston is an important dance
that is often integrated with Lindy Hop & swing dancing and can
be danced in many permutations: alone (solo), with a partner, or in
groups of couples or solo dancers.
Balboa
Balboa originated in Southern California during the '20s and
increased in popularity until World War II, and is named for the
Balboa Peninsula in Newport Beach, California where the dance was
invented. The close embrace makes it perfect for fast tempos and
crowded spaces, and the intricate footwork makes this dance
exciting and seriously addictive!
Collegiate Shag
Collegiate Shag originated in Black American communities of the
Carolinas during the '20s and became widely popular in the United
States during the '30s. It is even said that Collegiate Shag was
more widespread than Lindy Hop, Balboa and Charleston during the
height of its popularity! Often danced to fast music, today the
dance is best known for its exaggerated hand-hold and flashy
stylings.
Vernacular Solo Jazz
Vernacular solo jazz refers to a family of authentic jazz
movements that preceded and developed alongside Lindy Hop,
Charleston, Balboa, and Collegiate Shag. These movements and dance
styles are a foundational element of swing dance and are often
integrated into the partnered dances we teach. Learning vernacular
solo jazz both improves your partnered dancing and enables you to
throw down on the dance floor by yourself!
- Historical footage of of "Al" Minns and Leon
James doing their version of the Shim Sham, a classic solo jazz
routine.
- Modern footage of a solo jazz competition.