About Lindy Hop
The Lindy Hop is an American dance
that evolved in Harlem, New York City in the 1920s and 1930s and
originally evolved with the jazz
music of that time. Lindy was a fusion of many dances that preceded it
or were popular during its development but is mainly based on jazz, tap,
breakaway and Charleston. It is frequently described as a jazz dance
and is a member of the swing dance family.
In
its development, the Lindy Hop combined elements of both partnered
and solo dancing by using the movements and improvisation of black
dances along with the formal eight-count structure of European partner
dances. This is most clearly illustrated in the Lindy's basic step, the
swingout. In this step's open position, each dancer is generally
connected hand-to-hand; in its closed position, men and women are
connected as though in an embrace.
Revived in the 1980s by American, Swedish, and British dancers, the
Lindy Hop is now represented by dancers and loosely affiliated grass
roots organizations in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and
Oceania.
