Expert: David Lynch - 12/12/2008

Question
Hi, I would just like to know any specific differences between the various swing dances, such as Jitterbug, Lindy Hop, WCS, etc. I can't find any information here in Thailand, because nobody here teaches swing :(
I've been watching videos on Youtube (such as clips from the movie "Rock Around the Clock"), but I can't seem to tell the difference. What also confuses me is that terms like 'swing' and 'lindy hop' and 'jitterbug' seem to be used interchangeably, so I have no idea what is actually what.
Can you give me some specific things I can look for to tell the differences between these dances?
Thanks

Answer
I answered this question on 12/12/08. You speak very good English.

The history of swing we find in the 1930s:

JITTERBUG OR TRIPLE SWING:
was created with triple steps  like lrl-left, right, left, done very fast, then rlr-also fast,  and then a step back by the male leader with the left ball of foot  and lift the rt foot for an instant.
the time is 1 and 2, first triple,
3 and 4 = 2nd triple,
and 5,6 called rock- step.

sometimes this pattern is counted as slow, slow, quick quick.
usually the male is the center and the female circles around him or goes out and in.
males start with left foot and rock back with l also,
females start on rt.
ain't misbehavin, or cocaine, or in the mood  ARE POPULAR SONGS.

LINDY HOP. - named after Lindbergh the first man to fly  alone, across the Atlantic ocean from USA to Europe in 1927.
instead of rock steps on QQ it tends to use walk steps and travel more out ind in.
For example, in one of the most popular basic steps,  man rocks qq while female walks in qq then both do a triple in place or turning to rt, then she walks out- away from him on l,r on qq. You could count this as 12, 3 and 4,  and 5, 6= walks  then 123, a triple in place. then repeat.

    THE MADDEST KIND OF LOVE- MIGHT BE A SLOW EASY LH. this is a city urban young dance in the 1990s and  since.

THIS IS A PATTERN OR STEP WHICH IS VERY SIMILAR IN WEST COAST SWING WHERE IS IT IS CALLED A WHIP
WEST COAST SWING IS DONE TO SLOWER TEMPO, AND OFTEN BUT NOT ALWAYS TO COUNTRY-WESTERN MUSIC. it is done in more rural and southern usa areas.   a popular song would be MUSTANG SALLY.

ROCK AND ROLL
There were 2 main types of swing/rock in the late 1940S AND 50s. be-bop and rock.  the Rock around the Clock -MOVIE ,   song was 1956. Teens did both dances  to rock around the clock.  
In 'rock and Bee Bop - boys and girls face each other and he holds her fingers. in Swing the couple are side by side hip to hip.

  BE- BOP  was in the early 1950s, and  60s.-   rock came later in the later 1950s
 Be-bop reflects the complex themes and values of the nuclear cold war of the period. shades of gray, nuances, balancing of hot and cold war, war and peace, good and evil, a frenzied fast paced dance reflecting the faster pace of increasingly urban- crowded  teen life in the late 50s and 60s.  Undecided, unclear, hurry up,  unsure, active, busy,  creative, brilliant, but unsure of the final outcome, competitive,   but not committed. doubtful, anxious. filled with fear.
    Does it seem to you that Be-bop might have more in common with life now than swing? Is Be-Bop like hip- hop? Punk? Grunge? After BB  came the Beatles, Elvis, Rock. Aids.

  In Dance styles, Swing/ ROCK  would have single, double and triple  and combo OR  single /triple jitterbug steps  but, let's  just  look at single swing/Rock  and BB done to rock around the clock by bill Haley and the Comets.   

  Rock would  start with the weight going down on 1 with man's left foot then his rt foot taps on 2 on 3 he steps to his rt and taps his left foot  on 4 then:  and rock step left back 6 inches  on 5 and lift and replace  his rt  foot (step) on  6.

Man's left shoulder is dipping slightly  over his left foot on 1. and sliding rt foot to left on 2, etc.  She dances facing him and starts with her rt foot stepping to her rt side on 1.

  In Be Bop, also 1950s rock,  the man's left would have a toe or ball of foot go down  and touch the floor on 1 and then the full wt of the body   on 2.
His rt foot has  only toe/ball  part of rt foot  with weight on  #3 count  and the  all the rest of wt  down on  on 4.
in the slang of the 1950's a bop was a hit or strike in the comic books of the day, it came to mead a kick or strike or step down fast, like a stomp.

(the rock step is the same in rock, swing and be bop.  in bop, the rock step  it happens on   on 5 and 6.)
the mans rt toe stays on the floor on 5 and full foot- heel and toe  goes on 6.
 You could call  Bop :
1toe- 2heel, 3toe, 4heel, 5 ball-toe, and 6 rt foot.
 The knees are popping out on be-bop. the upper body is counter -moving to maintain balance in a twisted contorted be-bop.  For example, in be-Bop, man's rt arm & elbow-is behind his shoulder on 1 or toe down or  Be count. then vice-versa. Also, on 1 count, or be count his left shoulder is up slightly and his rt shoulder is  down slightly.

SECRET;
During the 1950s teens were only allowed to dance for a few hours after school from 3-5 or 6pm to 8pm or on sat PM for 3 hours
Therefore it was a teen fantasy to be able to dance all night or "rock around the clock"

The rock around the clock dance  also can refer to the couple turning left or right in a complete 360 degree circle during  about one  ,2, or 3 patterns.
Another rock around the clock  step involved the man or boy traveling around the clock face on the floor: he starts at 6pm and dances to 4, then   2, then noon -then 10pm, 8pm and back to where he started at 6pm.   she goes under his l raised arm, first forward  2 slow beats then rock step then backward and rock step all during his going around the clock fro 6pm to 6pm.  she continues the same 6 count dance while traveling under his raised arm.  
another style involve a straight l leg on 1, step normally on 2 straight rt leg for him on 3 and step down on 4 rs the same In this style the heels were down and the toe turned up.
another variation was the same but a slight kick on 1 and 3.  
  Similarities  of R,SW and bb include the 6 count framework, the similar rock steps,  under arm turns. the evolving steps.
  
  Elvis, for example had one foot in swing/ bb, rock.    Note his dancing in the first  rock video (movie)
like jailhouse rock.

I suggest  1950's swing/rock, Be-bop and  blues  all merged or  morphed into todays music and dance.
swing is a general term that includes rock, bb, lh, wcs, and east coast swing.  ECS is the same as 6 count swing,or smooth lindy or rock.
ECS IS EASY
LINDY HOP  IS HARDER, JB, WCS, ALSO.
WHEN I GET SOME TIME I MAY TOUR ASIA AND TEACH ALL THESE IN THE MAJOR CITIES, INCLUDING Bangkok. i JUST TEACH ON CRUISE SHIPS AND NORTH WEST US. NOW.  
I hope this will help you.
  
these are very complex moves so you may have to e mail me with more specific  questions.