Over the years various forms of jazz line dances have been developed for shows and fun. Swing dancers love to learn these dances in order to add some variety to their social dancing and to test their skill in remembering choreography. Some of our favorites include the Shim Sham, Jitterbug Stroll, Big Apple and Tranky Doo.
Check out these videos:
Shim Sham Shimmy Featuring Frankie Manning & Erin Stevens
Jitterbug Stroll Performance - The Snowball 2013
The Harlem Hot Shots do the Big Apple
Balboa was developed in the 1930's in the Balboa Pavilion in Newport Beach CA and the surrounding areas in response to the swing rhythms that were popular at the time. It is a combination of Charleston, Swing and Foxtrot developed in response to the tight quarters and fast tempos that were typical of the ballrooms in the area. Over the years it has evolved into a versatile dance that can be done to various types of music at various tempos. Try dancing it to your favorite genre of music, you will be surprised how well it works.
Check out these videos:
Lindy Hop is the grandfather of most other forms of swing dancing including East Coast Swing, West Coast Swing, Jive, Boogie Woogie and various forms of Shag. Developed at the Savoy Ballroom in Harlem New York in the mid 1920's it was originally a combination of Charleston and a dance know as the Breakaway. Overtime it has incorporated moves from all forms of dance and is currently danced all over the world. Perhaps best known for it's extremely acrobatic aerials which are done mainly by the most advanced dancers, this dance can be so much more.
Check out these videos:
YouTube Lindy Hop History Channel
International Lindy Hop Championships 2022 Invitational Strictly Lindy
Ultimate Lindy Hop Showdown 2006 - Liberation Division
Ultimate Lindy Hop Showdown 2005 - Slow Division
JAZZ LINE DANCES
EAST COAST SWING
CHARLESTON
Lindy Hop
The Swing Devils of the Palouse specialize in various forms of vintage swing dances including but not limited to:
Watch the Swing Devils do these dances on our photo and video page HERE.
East Coast Swing (aka six count swing) has its basis in Lindy Hop with traces of Fox Trot or Syncopated Two-Step in its form. It was modified into it's current form by the 'American Society of Teachers of Dancing' in 1942. Technically it was being danced well before this as a simplified version of Lindy Hop, but it was not recognized as an individual dance style until this society began teaching it. They took out all the complex parts of Lindy Hop, such as the 8 count steps, and used a Foxtrot basis for the dance to make it easy to shift from one dance to the other. An easy form of dance to teach and learn this is the best style of swing dance for people who want to quickly get out on the dance floor and start have fun.
Check out this video:
University of Saskatchewan Ballroom Dance Club East Coast Swing Routine
Developed in African American communities in the early 1900's Charleston became known throughout the world in the 1920's when Jazz and Flappers became wildly popular. Charleston is part of the basis for Lindy Hop and the two dances continued to develop together in the the 1930's & 40s. Today Charleston can be danced to anything with a straight up 2/4 or 4/4 beat. It can be danced solo or with a partner, as a stand alone dance or incorporated into other dance styles. Charleston is one of the most flexible and fun dances out there!
Check out these videos:
BALBOA
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