The Orange County Swing Dance Club

What is Lindy Hop? Lindy Hop is the original swing dance from the 20's, 30's, 40's, and 50's danced to Big Band Swing, Jump Blues, and early Rock 'n Roll. Characteristics of "the lindy" include swivels, aerials (air steps), kicks, rhythmic footwork, and energetic turns. The look of Lindy Hop is down low with bent knees and waist and open arms. One can pike forwards or backwards depending on style. Lindy Hop can be danced very fast (300bpm) or very slow (90bpm) and everything in between. Lindy Hop evolved into West Coast Swing during the 60's and 70's and changed as the music changed. In the late 80's and 90's Lindy Hop was rediscovered and made trendy with the help of original Lindy Hopper Frankie Manning, vintage video clips, neo-swing bands, and movies like Swing Kids, Malcolm X, and Swingers. Now you can dance the Lindy Hop in any big city in the world. Other terms for Lindy Hop are Jitterbug, Jive, Jump, and East Coast Swing. East Coast Swing is the 6 count pattern that Lindy Hopper's do that many ballrooms teach as a separate dance. Lindy Hop nowadays has many related dances that are an essential part of your swing vocabulary including Balboa, Bal-Swing, Collegiate Shag, Shadow/Tandem Charleston, Front Charleston, and 20's Charleston. There are also some swing line dances and routines that are known worldwide such as The Shim Sham, The Big Apple, Dean Collin's Shim Sham, The California Routine, and The Jitterbug Stoll. Lindy Hop is a street dance in that it's ever changing, done mostly socially, and is open to lots of inspiration and new steps. To become a Lindy Hopper you should take Lindy Hop lessons and most importantly, GO DANCING! It's fun, you never need a partner, and you will make many friends. Get involved.