Turn on the big band swing music radio and stomp your feet to the swing beats and rhythms. Lindy Hop and Balboa are popular swing dance styles.

1. Swing Dance Styles – Which One Is Your
Favorite?
The best way to enjoy swing music is by grooving your legs to its beats. Don’t you feel the same? After
all, who can control themselves from shaking a leg to the captivating rhythms? The die-hard fans will
not hesitate tuning into the big band swing music radio and stomp their feet all day. No wonder, swing
music continues to be identified as dance music still today. And if you thought it was only swing music
that went through variations, you are mistaken. Swing dance also underwent several transformations,
giving rise to several forms of dancing styles. And in this blog, we are going to discuss the most popular
swing dance forms. So, are you up for the discussion? Let us get started then…
Lindy Hop – Often considered to be the father of modern swing dance styles, the Lindy Hop was a
partner dance that took Harlem (NYC) by storm with its energetic beats and dance moves in the 1920s
and 1930s. If you ask us about the propagator, the name of Frankie Manning strikes our mind. Apart
from doing the complex footsteps, the legendary dancer and choreographer was popular for his iconic
aerials and flips. Later, in the 1940s, the L.A. style Lindy Hop came to the fore, which was also referred
to as Smooth or Hollywood Lindy Hop. The dance form was past its glory in the late twentieth century,
but the comeback by Manning did shift everyone’s attention to Lindy Hop, even though for a short
span.
East Coast Dance Style – Having evolved from Lindy Hop, this dance style had spread across the East
Coast of the country in the 1940s. The East Coast style is more popularly known as the jitterbug dance
form. The special highlight of the dance was the presence of three different rhythms – single rhythm,

2. double rhythms, and triple rhythms. Jitterbug was noted for single rhythm dance form and distinctive
from other East Coast swing styles. It was made of six to eight-count variations with two triple steps
and just one rock step. Once you master the footsteps, don’t forget to turn on swing music radio and
dance your stress away to your favorite swing tracks.
Western Coast Swing Style – Traditionally known as the Western swing or California swing, the name
Western Coast swing style came to the fore in the 1960s. Back in those days, several Hollywood movies
contained this style of swing dancing, gaining popularity among the masses. Because of its flexible
tempo range between 100-140 BPM, the Western Coast can be paired with a range of music styles like
soul, pop, rock, R&B, and blues, and other kinds of contemporary music. The credit of creating this
dance form goes to Dean Collins, who had brought Lindy Hop to Southern California from New York,
the birthplace of Lindy Hop.
Balboa – Here comes one of the least known yet interesting dance styles that had originated in 1920s
California. This form of swing dance was called a “dancer’s dance” because it followed the lead-and-
follow techniques that might have not always been noticed by the spectators. This style is rather difficult
as it consists of intricated footwork that can range from 100 BPM to 300 BPM. According to the
legends, this dance was designed for crowded dance floors or small spaces. And thus, it requires the
couple to dance in a close embrace while maintaining upright body postures. Just like other swing dance
styles, Balboa was popular among the Americans and entertained them to the fullest.
Conclusion – So, was it fun to know all about the most popular swing dance forms? We are sure that
you can’t wait to dance to the big band swing music.
Read the full article: https://swingstreetradio.blogspot.com/2021/03/top-5-swing-songs-for-
ballroom-wedding.html
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