| What is now called "swing" originated as a number of | | | | modern-day designers still create fashions that cater |
| different dance styles in the 1920s and '30s, primarily | | | | to competitive and casual swing dancers. Broad |
| in black communities in New York. Swing dancing and | | | | Minded Clothing and other brands provide full-skirted |
| jazz music grew together and had a lot to do with | | | | dresses that, when paired with a petticoat skirt, |
| each others' developments. The best known styles | | | | make swing dancing as fun and fabulous today as it |
| of dance that originated during this time are the Lindy | | | | was back then! |
| Hop and the Jitterbug. | | | | The Great Debate: East Coast vs. West Coast vs. |
| The dances were so impressive to watch and fun to | | | | Lindy Hop |
| do that they quickly went mainstream and were | | | | Not since Tupac has there been such an East Coast |
| embraced by social dance enthusiasts and band | | | | West Coast rivalry between two passionate |
| leaders, white and black alike. | | | | factions. |
| It took some time for the professional dance | | | | While both of these styles can be traced back to the |
| community to accept what was thought of as just a | | | | Savoy Ballroom in Harlem in the twenties, they have |
| "craze" but swing eventually became an acceptable | | | | grown separately to become very different styles. |
| and competitive form of ballroom still celebrated | | | | And enthusiasts of each side believe theirs to be the |
| today. | | | | superior dance. The dance that originally started it all |
| Ballroom dance teachers began teaching slower, | | | | was the Lindy Hop, a very fast and acrobatic dance. |
| modified versions of the Lindy Hop and the Jitterbug, | | | | The Lindy Hop begat the Jitterbug, which was even |
| and the "West Coast" and "East Coast" styles were | | | | more vigorous than its predecessor. It was a bit too |
| born out of this simplification of the dances that | | | | frenzied (and violent) for ballroom, so it was "tamed" |
| were too fast and challenging for beginners. | | | | and modified again to become the Jive. This is the |
| The fashions of the time were a big part of the | | | | style most similar to the current West Coast swing |
| social experience of swing dancing and jazz clubs. | | | | style. It's bouncier, faster, performed mostly to 4/4 |
| Because the ability to move freely was important, | | | | time, big band style music. |
| pants and short skirts were often worn to allow for | | | | In California, the music was more western in influence |
| the athletic and acrobatic. But as swing worked its | | | | with slower tempos and country/western |
| way into sophisticated dance halls and ballrooms | | | | instrumentation, which played a large part in the |
| across the country, pants and short skirts were | | | | evolution of the dance style taught in California |
| replaced with classier dresses. Since a form-fitting | | | | ballroom studios. The dancing became the slower and |
| dress with a tight skirt would not do, and dress | | | | toned-down style we now call West Coast swing. |
| styles evolved to accommodate the range of motion | | | | West Coast swingers consider their style to be the |
| required by female participants. And it didn't take long | | | | most sophisticated and refined. East Coast swingers |
| to figure out that a full, flowy skirt greatly | | | | think the West Coast style is watered-down and less |
| complimented the drama of lifts and spins. Since | | | | musical. But both require a level of technical skill and |
| skirts were going to be flying up and revealing what's | | | | rhythm and are equally impressive to watch and |
| underneath, stockings and undergarments had to be | | | | most importantly, equally fun to participate in. |
| just as presentable as the rest of the outfit. | | | | Separate from the East Coast and West Coast |
| Modern day swingers love to dress up in period | | | | styles is the original Lindy Hop, which has experienced |
| clothes, hair, and makeup inspired by the '30s, '40s, | | | | a surge in popularity in recent years. Harkening back |
| and '50s when they go out dancing. It makes the | | | | to the original Harlem dances, the new Lindy Hop is |
| experience more fun and authentic. Lots of | | | | aggressive, athletic, and often involves lifts and flips. |