Lindy Hop
Between 147th and 148th street, Harlem "threw itself into the Lindy Hop with abandon" as Sugar Hill residents watched from the bluffs along Edgecombe Avenue.
[2] The first dances named as Lindy Hop were born around the time the aviator Charles Lindbergh made his groundbreaking flight across the Atlantic Ocean in May 1927.
[6][7][8] After Lindbergh's solo non-stop flight from New York to Paris in 1927 he became incredibly popular[9] and many people named songs, recipes and businesses among several other things, after him.
Te Roy Williams and His Orchestra recorded the song "Lindbergh Hop", written by Ted Nixon and Elmer Snowden, on May 25, 1927.
The journalist reports that Miss Johnson showed a very fast little step, with hops and a kick, whilst holding the arms out, like the Spirit of St. Louis.
[5] Younger dancers fresh out of high school (Al Minns, Joe Daniels, Russell Williams, and Pepsi Bethel) worked out the Back Flip, "Over the head", and "the Snatch".
Al Minns and Pepsi Bethel, Leon James, and Norma Miller are also featured prominently in contemporary histories of Lindy Hop.
In Nazi Germany, the Swingjugend, young rebels, defied the regime's cultural restrictions by embracing banned swing music.
Similarly, in California and other parts of the country, Mexican-Americans, Japanese-heritage individuals,[23][24] Black, and white youth all adored jazz music and wanted to learn the new dance steps.
[26] In 1943, Lindy Hop was featured on the cover of Life magazine, becoming America's National Folk Dance and a recruitment tool for the military.
[27] In 1944, due to continued involvement in World War II, the United States levied a 30 percent federal excise tax against "dancing" nightclubs.
[29] Lennart Westerlund described the differences in styles between Manning and Al Minns, the dancer he worked with in the earliest years of the Lindy Hop revival.
Lindy Hop historians also draw clear distinctions between the dancing styles of key women dancers such as Norma Miller and Ann Johnson.
In describing Savoy style Lindy Hop, observers note that the follower is led out of the basic swingout sideways as a default.
However, we do have footage of Sonny Allen[30] and George Lloyd[31] showcasing a slot dance style, meaning the follower travels in a straight line instead of the more elliptical or circular Savoy-style Lindy Hop.
The swingout (the basic step of Lindy) is danced in a position often described as someone about to sit on a stool, thereby bringing their center point of balance closer to the ground.
A contemporary variation of Lindy Hop is characterized by slower music, a greater emphasis on improvisation, and a distinctive "groove" style.
The Hollywood or LA Style was typically performed to faster music and allowed for limited improvisation, primarily adhering to predefined patterns.
The modern Lindy Hop style broke away from these constraints, providing more freedom for dancers to interpret the music and incorporate their own improvised movements, resulting in a distinct groove-oriented approach.
[34] After World War II, jazz clubs faced taxes and regulations, leading to smaller bands and a shift towards listening rather than dancing.
[35] After the Savoy Ballroom closed in 1958, Louise "Mama Lou" Parks Dancers took the stage and trained to compete in the Harvest Moon Ball.
Additionally, in a 1959 or 1960 episode of Playboy's Penthouse, Al Minns and Leon James showcased jazz dances while Marshall Stearns discussed them with Hugh Hefner.
Dean Collins and some of his friends were also dedicated dancers, never ceasing their passion for the dance at various venues, including Bobby McGee's, throughout the decades.
[43] In film, "Happy Days" (1974) showcased fifties rock and roll music, sock hops, the Twist, and even a "Harvest Moon" dance contest.
Additionally, the European Rock'n'Roll Association (ERRA) was founded in 1974 by Italy, France, Germany, and Switzerland to promote rock 'n' roll dancing.
Al Minns, Pepsi Bethel, Frankie Manning and Norma Miller came out of retirement and toured the world teaching Lindy Hop, later to be joined by dancers such as George and Sugar Sullivan.
[48][49] In March 1985, the Jiving Lindy Hoppers (Warren Heyes, Terry Monaghan, Ryan Francois, Claudia Gintersdorfer, and Lesley Owen) travelled to New York City on their first research visit.
As the demand for his dance instruction grew, Frankie Manning started to travel and teach worldwide, sharing his joy of Lindy Hop.
In 1984, three members of The Rhythm Hot Shots from Sweden, namely Lennart Westerlund, Anders Lind, and Henning Sorenson, embarked on a journey to New York.
The Lindy Hop community continues to preserve and promote this dynamic and joyful dance form for future generations to enjoy.
