Introduction
The Lindy Hop, often simply called The Lindy Dance, is a vibrant partner dance with roots deeply embedded in the jazz age of 1920s and 30s Harlem, New York. Characterized by its dynamic blend of 8-count and 6-count steps, the Lindy draws inspiration from the Charleston and Tap dance, resulting in a dance that can be both wildly energetic and effortlessly smooth. At its heart, the Lindy dance is about connection – between partners, with the music, and with the sheer joy of movement.
Beyond its steps and rhythms, the Lindy dance holds significance as a cultural phenomenon that transcended racial barriers during a time of stark segregation. Today, dancers and cultural historians alike delve into the narratives and vintage footage of the original Lindy dancers, now in their later years, to understand the dance’s rich history. While the exact origins of the Lindy dance may be debated, its birth from the fusion of African rhythms and movement with structured European dance forms is undeniable.
Since the mid-1980s, the Lindy dance has experienced a remarkable resurgence, fueled in part by the rediscovery of swing dance legend Frankie “musclehead” Manning, a highly influential choreographer and performer from the dance’s golden era. Today, the Lindy dance, alongside other swing dances and their variations, is part of a global movement that’s bringing people back to the dance floor.
The Ancestry of the Lindy Dance
Tracing the lineage of the Lindy dance offers a fascinating glimpse into American history and the global cultural exchange spurred by American GIs during World War II. The influence of the Charleston and Tap dance remains evident in contemporary Lindy, and early forms of the Foxtrot are also considered a precursor. Echoes of older dances like the Cakewalk, Texas Tommy, Black Bottom, and popular “animal” dances such as the Turkey Trot and Buzzard Lope can also be discerned. Intriguingly, these earlier forms originated in African social dance culture. The Cakewalk, for instance, emerged as a black dance form that playfully imitated and critiqued the formal dance structures of white society, initially performed for their own community’s entertainment. Ironically, white audiences then adopted these dances, leading to a shared social dance form that bridged racial divides.
The Savoy Ballroom in Harlem became a crucial meeting point for these cultural exchanges. It was within this space that the Lindy dance was refined and solidified, giving rise to the “Savoy style” that would eventually captivate the world.
The Savoy Ballroom: Cradle of Swing
In New York City’s Harlem, ballrooms were central to social life, but the Savoy Ballroom reigned supreme as the epicenter of swing. Spanning an entire block at 141st Street and Lenox Avenue, the Savoy was immense. Its significance in the history of the Lindy dance lies partly in its being one of the few racially integrated ballrooms of the time. Here, black and white dancers mingled, inspired each other, and exchanged moves in an unprecedented environment of cross-cultural interaction. The Savoy’s coat check could accommodate up to 5,000 patrons, a necessity given the 70,000 annual visitors who frequented the “home of happy feet.” Its sprung floor, known as “the Track” due to its elongated shape, required replacement every three years owing to constant use. Two bandstands at each end of the ballroom hosted live bands nightly, seven days a week.
During the heyday of jazz, when dance nights were affordable entertainment and recorded music was less accessible, the Savoy thrived. Music legends like Cab Calloway, Duke Ellington, and Count Basie made music history during the famed “battles of the bands” held there. The musicians drew inspiration from the dancers’ improvisations, just as the dancers were energized by the music. The Savoy Ballroom’s atmosphere must have been electric, with top dancers congregating in “Kat’s Corner” to showcase their skills and experiment with rhythms. Weekly competitions fostered a friendly rivalry among dance troupes, pushing dancers to innovate and create ever more spectacular moves to impress audiences and judges. It was in this competitive environment that Frankie Manning and his partner Freda Washington reportedly debuted the first aerial move, or airstep, in the Lindy dance.
The Savoy Ballroom: A legendary venue in Harlem, New York, that was pivotal in the development of the Lindy dance and swing culture.
Dance marathons were also a popular attraction. It was during one such marathon in 1927 that the Lindy dance purportedly acquired its name. Charles Lindbergh’s groundbreaking solo flight from New York to Paris captured the world’s imagination, with his transatlantic journey being referred to as a “hop.” George “Shorty” Snowden, a celebrated dancer, was performing at the end of a marathon when a reporter inquired about the name of his energetic dance. With quick wit, Snowden declared it the “Lindy Hop,” and the name stuck. The Savoy Ballroom’s unique environment fostered a space where dancers could hone their craft, leading to the emergence of something truly remarkable.
Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers: Taking Lindy to the World
That “something remarkable” was Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers. Herbert White, nicknamed “Whitey,” the head bouncer at the Savoy, possessed a talent for assembling the most exceptional Savoy dancers into his troupe. Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers performed and competed nationwide, and they were featured in numerous films, including “A Day at the Races” and “Hellzapoppin’.” Through these performances, the Lindy dance reached a national audience, inspiring and influencing other dance styles. The film footage of Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers continues to inspire dancers today.
Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers: An influential performance troupe that popularized the Lindy dance through stage shows and films, extending its reach across America and beyond.
The Grandfather of Swing Dances
The term “Lindy Hop” specifically referred to this style of dance, while “Swing” was the music to which it was danced. Today, “Swing” is a broader term encompassing various dance styles: Lindy Hop, Jitterbug, Balboa, Shag, East Coast Swing, West Coast Swing, Boogie Woogie, and dances that it has inspired such as Jive, Rock and Roll, Ceroc, and Le-Roc, each with regional variations.
While the Lindy dance is often considered the grandfather of swing dances, it’s important to note that swing dance forms existed before the Lindy swept the nation. People were already creating dances to the music of their local bands, and variations in music and dancing environments influenced the development of regional dance styles. However, the performances originating from the Savoy Ballroom undoubtedly had a profound impact when seen on stage or in films. Dancers often had only a brief glimpse of a new move before adapting and reinventing it, leading to the evolution of moves and the blending of dance styles to accommodate new trends.
The Jitterbug: A Close Cousin
One such blended style is the Jitterbug, so closely related to the Lindy dance that they are sometimes considered the same dance. However, “Jitterbug” often denoted a different styling and was sometimes used to describe how white dancers performed the Lindy dance, supposedly with a “jittery” energy, perhaps alluding to “jitter juice,” an illicit moonshine. In contemporary usage, “Jitterbug” can refer to different dances in different regions, while “Lindy Hop” typically continues to denote the Savoy style of the dance.
Hollywood Style Lindy: Smoothness Takes Center Stage
Dean Collins pioneered what is now known as “Hollywood” or “Smooth” style Lindy. Collins learned Lindy in New York in the early 1930s before moving to Los Angeles, bringing the Savoy style Lindy dance with him. In LA, Collins refined the dance, emphasizing smoother movements and adding his own stylistic touches. This led to choreography and performances in numerous films, including “Let’s Make Music,” “Chatterbox,” and “Buck Privates.” Collins also broke down the dance into teachable components, with Arthur Murray among his students.
In more recent swing dance history, Sylvia Sykes and Jonathan Bixby rediscovered Dean Collins and mastered the art of “smooth style” directly from its originator. The swing revival also prompted Erik and Sylvia Robison to popularize the term “Hollywood Style” to describe the dance style seen in movies of the era, particularly those featuring Dean Collins.
Dean Collins and Martha Raye in Hellzapoppin’ (1941): Illustrating the Hollywood style of the Lindy dance, characterized by its smooth and sophisticated movements.
The Neo-Swing Revival: Lindy’s Enduring Legacy
The original Lindy dance era faded as musical tastes shifted towards Be-Bop and Rock and Roll. Entertainment taxes made live big band performances expensive, and the rise of affordable recorded music led to smaller, more crowded dance halls, necessitating changes in dance styles.
However, in the mid-1980s, original Lindy dancers were rediscovered by a new generation of enthusiasts inspired by vintage film footage. Steven Mitchell & Erin Stevens found Frankie Manning, The Rhythm Hot Shots connected with Al Minns, and The Jiving Lindy Hoppers found Mama Lu Parks.
Since then, Frankie Manning returned to the dance scene, teaching Lindy dance to new generations worldwide. Retro dance culture experienced a resurgence, accompanied by neo-swing bands and vintage fashion. The Lindy dance made a comeback in movies such as “Malcolm X,” “Swing Kids,” “A League of Their Own,” “The Mask,” and “Swingers.” TV shows like Ally McBeal and GAP commercials also featured the revitalized Lindy dance.
Arguably, the Lindy dance is even more popular today than in its heyday. Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers could never have imagined their dance spreading globally via the internet, videos, workshops, and classes. While knowledge now travels at lightning speed, some core elements remain unchanged – swing music continues to inspire improvisational freedom, a romantic essence persists within the dance culture, and, most importantly, dancers still cherish the connection and joy of dancing with a partner.
