Originating in the Harlem of the 1920’s and 1930’s New York, the Lindy Hop dance has come a long way from its Speak Easy beginnings. In fact, it was the Savoy Ballroom in Harlem that gets the bulk of the credit for being the home of the Lindy Hop and giving it a name despite the fact that the dance had been going on for some time without having form or structure other than including steps that were both 8 count and 6 count steps and borrowing footwork from Charleston Dancing as well as Tap Dancing.
One of the first names in the Lindy Hop was “Shorty George” Snowden, who it so happens is given credit for naming the dance (though this has been challenged in recent years). It just so happens that Shorty was an appropriate nickname for this man who was not very tall at all (just shy of 5 feet tall). Shorty was one of the top names at the Savoy when it opened in 1927 and also performed with the Paul Whiteman Orchestra at the Paradise Club throughout the 1930’s.
Frankie Manning who out performed Shorty in a major competition with a move that was actually inspired by watching Shorty and his partner, Big Bea perform quickly toppled shorty’s reign as the king of the Lindy Hop at the Savoy. Frankie Manning even helped fuel the rebirth and reinvention of the Lindy Hop many years later during the 1980’s by teaching, choreographing, and continuing to perform this dance that he had dedicated most of his life to perfecting and sharing.
It is believed that Frankie excelled at Lindy Hop Dancing because he was not only technically gifted with the ability to make the moves that this dance required but he also had a natural feel or ear for the music that brought the moves and the music together in a way that made them seem fluid. In other words, his style of dance brought the music to life for many rather than merely accompanying the beat of the Big Bands he danced along with.
As for the Lindy Hop as a dance it is one of those dances that does not require strict choreography though it is definitely enhanced by some degree of choreography. The most important aspect of the Lindy Hop as a dance and a form of expression is that you do the dance with a partner and you both have fun doing it. You will discover that the Lindy Hop is characterized by bold moves that can take on the form of anything from cool sophistication to nearly frenzied movements that seem to incorporate the entire body.
Even in the days when the world was segregated according to race the Lindy Hop did much to bridge the gap between the races by appealing to dancers and spectators of all manner of racial and economic groups. The dance itself is believed to be a blending of sorts that incorporated the motion and rhythm of African music with the more structured dances of Europe.
View the videos and see for yourself how beautifully performed the Lindy Hop could be as a dance as well as how much fun those performing these seemingly complicated dance steps appear to be having. There is very little that could be more compelling when deciding to try something new than to watch others get such sheer joy from doing it themselves. Whether you decide to pursue Lindy Hop Dancing as a spectator or a competitor you are sure to enjoy Lindy Hop for years to come once you give see what it is all about.