The History Of The Jitterbug Jive

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For nearly a century, people have been enjoying the fast, energetic dance of the Jive. Nearly every generation to experience the Jive has left an identifiable handprint by altering the methods, the rhythms, the footwork, or the partners. Within this version of dance, there are three subsections that are often found; lovers of the style, music, or fashion of the traditional Jive, those who have discovered it through Ballroom Dancing and often refer to it as ‘Ballroom Jive’, and those who have discovered it through local swing clubs, where they teach a much more modern version of the Jive, known as the French Jive, Le Roc, or Ceroc. As generations of different musical tastes have grown and evolved, the style and movements of the Jive have evolved as well, but the core fundamentals and appeal has never faltered. When speaking to anyone who is familiar with dance found in the 1920’s through the 1960’s, it is naturally commonly acknowledged that the father of not only the Jive but also the entire Swing Dance division was the Lindy Hop. It is accepted that the true start of the Lindy Hop was in the early 1920’s, yet there are some pieces of evidence that can be interpreted to similar dances, dated back to nearly the 18th century. Combining a wide variety of popular dances worldwide led to the creation of the Lindy Hop. Many of these dances were created and developed in the African American dominated communities. Similar to the way that Jazz was viewed as a music that could absorb and evolve with alternative forms of music; the Lindy Hop was designed to also encompass the constant evolution of social desires and cultural needs, while keeping a basic foundation. Many people view the Charleston as the largest foundation to the Lindy Hop, yet others argue that the Breakaway was its core. The Breakaway is the core moment that gives the Lindy Hop the unusual feature it is

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