Lindy Hop is an African American dance that evolved in New York City in the late 1920s and early 1930s. It was an organic fusion of many dances that preceded it or were popular during its development but was predominantly based on jazz, tap, breakaway and charleston. Lindy Hop co-evolved with jazz music and is a member of the swing dance family. It is frequently described as a jazz or street dance. In its development, lindy hop combined elements of both solo and partner dancing by using the movements and improvisation of African dances along with the formal eight-count structure of European partner dances.

Revived in the 1980s by American, Swedish, and British dancers, lindy hop dancers and organisations can now be found in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Oceania. The 'first generation' of lindy hop is popularly associated with dancers such as "Shorty" George Snowden, his partner: Big Bea, and Leroy Stretch Jones. "Shorty" George and Big Bea regularly won contests at the Savoy Ballroom. Their dancing accentuated the difference in size with Big Bea towering over Shorty. In 1935, "Shorty" George was upseated by a twenty year old dancer named Frankie Manning. Manning heralded a new generation of lindy hoppers, and is perhaps the most famous living original lindy hopper today. Al Minns and Leon James, as well as surviving dancer Norma Miller also feature prominently in contemporary histories of lindy hop. It should also be noted that Frankie Manning, working with his partner Freida Washington, invented the ground-breaking 'Air Step' or 'aerial' in 1935. An Air Step is a dance move where both of your partners' feet leave the ground in an often quite dramatic manner and most importantly it is done in time with the music. This type of move is now seen as quintessentially lindy, however, "Shorty" George never adopted these new moves, and adamantly adhered to "floor steps" in his dancing.

The Lindy hop is popularly thought to get its name from famed aviator Charles Lindbergh, nicknamed "Lucky Lindy" in 1926. After Lindberg's solo non-stop flight from New York to Paris in which he "hopped" the Atlantic, Shorty George Snowden was dancing in a marathon contest at the Manhattan Casino in Harlem when a reporter asked him what dance he was doing. The headlines in the newspapers had stated "Lindy Hops the Atlantic", so he told the reporter, "I'm doing the Lindy hop". Lindy hop entered mainstream American culture in the 1930s, popularised by touring dance troupes (including the Whitey's Lindy Hoppers, which were also known as the Harlem Congaroos, Hot Chocolates and Big Apple Dancers), dance sequences in films (such as Hellzapoppin' and A Day at the Races) and dance studios (such as those of Arthur Murray and Irene and Vernon Castle). Lindy hop's movement to the west coast of the United States is popularly associated with Dean Collins, who brought lindy hop to Los Angeles after (according to popular opinion) learning it at the Savoy Ballroom in New York. Lindy hop moved off-shore in the 1930s and 40s, again in films and news reels, but also with American troops stationed overseas, particularly in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and other allied nations. Despite their banned status in countries such as Germany, lindy hop and jazz were also popular in other European countries during this period.Lindy hop disappeared from popular culture in the 1950s as rock and roll music and dancing replaced jazz, and jazz itself moved towards hard bop and cool. Though it was still danced in isolated pockets throughout the world, in the 2000s there are very few dancers still alive who were dancing lindy in the 1930s or 40s.

Course Booking Information

The course will on run on Friday evenings from 7:30pm – 8:30pm for Beginners and 8:45pm - 9:45pm for Improvers with the course starting on Friday 4th April 2008.

The courses will be held at the Church of the Good Shepherd, 272, Dyke Road, Brighton, BN1 5AE. Both courses last for ten weeks, with each class running for one hour.

The Beginner’s course is suitable for students with no dance experience or students with experience in other dance disciplines i.e. Jive, Rock n Roll, Salsa, Modern Jive or Ballroom but no experience in Lindy Hop.

The Improver’s course is suitable for students with a good knowledge of lead and follow techniques and they should be familiar with 8-count Lindy triple-step footwork and 8-count Lindy Charleston footwork.

The courses are suitable for any age above 16, or from the age of 13 if accompanied by parent or guardian. We suggest that you wear comfortable, fairly smooth-soled shoes, as trainers with ‘grip’ tend to stick to the floor when you turn. The courses cost £52 per person, which is payable in full upon enrolment, OR you can pay in two equal instalments of £28, which means that £28 would be due on enrolment, and on the fifth lesson, the remaining £28 would be due, giving a total of £56.

To join the course, simply complete the enrolment form, make your cheque payable to Brighton Jive Promotions, and post to; Brighton Jive Promotions,36 Robertson Road,Brighton BN1 5NL. A receipt and confirmation of your booking will then be forwarded to you.

As places are limited, you should book early to avoid disappointment. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us on 01273 560480 or by email at info@brighton-jive.co.uk

For a booking form, please click here Booking form. To join, please print off the form, complete and send with payment to the address on the form.