The East Coast Swing

The history of swing dates back to the 1920's, where the black community, while dancing to contemporary Jazz music, discovered the Charleston and the Lindy Hop.

On March 26, 1926, the Savoy Ballroom opened its doors in New York. The Savoy was an immediate success with its block-long dance floor and a raised double bandstand. Nightly dancing attracted most of the best dancers in the New York area. Stimulated by the presence of great dancers and the best black bands, music at the Savoy was largely Swinging Jazz. One evening in 1927, following Lindbergh's flight to Paris, a local dance enthusiast named "Shorty George" Snowden was watching some of the dancing couples. A newspaper reporter asked him what dance they were doing, and it just so happened that there was a newspaper with an article about Lindbergh's flight sitting on the bench next to them. The title of the article read, "Lindy Hops The Atlantic," and George just sort of read that and said, "Lindy Hop" and the name stuck.

In the mid 1930's, a bouncy six beat variant was named the Jitterbug by the band leader Cab Calloway when he introduced a tune in 1934 entitled "Jitterbug".

With the discovery of the Lindy Hop and the Jitterbug, the communities began dancing to the contemporary Jazz and Swing music as it was evolving at the time, with Benny Goodman leading the action. Dancers soon incorporated tap and jazz steps into their dancing.

In the new millenium, dancers of all ages are still moving their Lindy Hoppin', Jitterbuggin', Swingin', and Shaggin' feet.

Song Suggestions:

Pretty Woman by Roy Orbison
The Way You Do The Things You Do by Temptations
My Sharona by The Ramones
Old Time Rock & Roll by Bob Segar
You Shook Me All Night Long by ACDC
Build Me Up Buttercup by The Temptations
Sugar Pie Honey Bunch by The Temptations
Some Kind Of Wonderful by Grand Funk Railroad
Mony Mony by Billy Idol
Return To Sender by Elvis Presley
All Shook Up by Elvis Presley
The Boy From New York City by Various Artists
It's In His Kiss by Betty Everett
Mama Dont Dance & Daddy Dont Rock n'Roll by Dr. Hook
Look Who's Lookin At Me (She's Got Her Daddy's Money) by Colin Ray
I Can't Get No Satisfaction by Rolling Stones
Love Shack by B-52's
Brown Eyed Girl by Van Morrison
Crazy Little Thing Called Love by Queen/Dwight Yoakum
It's a little too late by Tanya Tucker
Simply Irresistable by
That Thing You Do by The Wonders
Wild Wild West by Escape Club
You're Still The One by Orleans
Dance with me tonight by That Thing You Do - Movie Sountrack
Hunk Of Burning Love by Elvis
Stuck On You by Elvis