Monday, March 7, 2011

A Swing Dancing Showdown

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myJj0mNNe1Y

This is a video of a Lindy Hop showdown at the Sacramento Jazz Jubilee in 2006. The Lindy Hop was one of the most popular swing dances during the HR. Lindy is a fusion of many dances, but is mainly based on jazz and tap. It is frequently described as a jazz dance and is a member of the swing dance family.


As white people began going to Harlem to watch black dancers, according to Langston Hughes: "The lindy-hoppers at the Savoy even began to practice acrobatic routines, and to do absurd things for the entertainment of the whites, that probably never would have entered their heads to attempt for their own effortless amusement." "Air steps" or "aerials" such as the Hip to Hip, Side Flip, and Over the Back (the names describe the motion of the woman in the air) began to appear in 1936. These steps make up much of what we see the Lindy as today.


I chose this particular video of the Lindy Hop because it is a great example of a part of history, particularly the Harlem Renaissance, that has lived on to today. It made such a huge impact on Harlem and those who saw it that it was carried on, and is now still practiced.

1 comment:

  1. I love the way you incorporated the Harlem Renaissance into your background, i think thats very creative of you. your analysis is very clear my only suggetion would be to try and find a lindy hop video from the right time period but overall it's very good.

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