Lindy Hop: Introduction & Demonstration

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Lindy Hop: Demonstration to Music

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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. This is most clearly illustrated in lindy's basic step, the swingout. In this step's open position each dancer improvises alone; in its closed position men and women dance together -- a practice usually forbidden in African dances.

Revived in the 1980s by American, Swedish, and British dancers, lindy hop dancers and organizations can now be found in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Oceania.