Partner dance

Many cities had regular local competitions such as the Savoy Ballroom which accelerated the development and popularization of the dance.

The dances were introduced to wider public through movies and regular performances such as those done at the Cotton Club in New York.

[1] An unusual (for the time) feature of the dance was the inclusion of sections where the dancers would move apart from each other and perform individual steps (known as the "breakaway").

[2] Other dances such as Collegiate shag and Balboa developed in the United States in the same time period but never saw the same international popularity as the Lindy Hop.

[3] Over the next few decades, popular music changed, moving away from the big band sound of swing to styles like rhythm and blues and then rock and roll.

Men and women dancing as couples, both holding one hand of their partner, and "embracing" each other, can be seen in illustrations from 15th-century Germany.

[7] Syncopated rhythms gained widespread popularity for dancing in the last two centuries, although usually less complex and more regular than previous music.

Although the handhold connection poses almost no restriction on body positions, it is quite helpful that the partners are aware of their dance frames, since this is instrumental in leading and following.

As learning both dance roles has become more common and social norms have changed, many events and competitions have removed restrictions.

In social dancing, double partnering is best known during times when a significant demographic disproportion happens between the two sexes.

For example, during the Second World War, many advanced leaders learned to dance Lindy Hop with two followers.