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Welcome to swing time.
The step-by-step dance video instruction of the Lindy, Foxtrot, Swing, Jitterbug and Jive.
Dances that became popular during the big band era of the 1930s and 40s when bands led by such
greats as Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller and Artie Shaw played at ballrooms across America.
Music that was made for dancing and dancing that was made for holding your partner close.
Today people are dancing swing at weddings, parties and nightclubs.
So join us as we invite you to get up on your dance floor at home to enjoy the big band sound
and our easy-to-follow instruction of the dances of swing.
The sophisticated sounds of big band music and the elegant dances of swing are back
and they're more popular than ever. I'm Paul Telecor and I teach these dances at my Stepping
Out Dance Studios in New York City and now I'm going to teach you the dances of swing,
the Lindy and the Foxtrot and their variations. So let's move the furniture out of the way and
we're going to have some fun. Let's swing. We're going to start with the Lindy otherwise known
as the swing, the jitterbug of the jive. It's an exciting fun dance done to generally more lively
rhythms than the foxtrot. It's also categorized as a spot or a rhythm dance which means you and
your partner stake out a certain spot on a dance floor and do your thing. Okay let's get started.
I'll introduce my partner Eleni and we'll demonstrate what we're going to do today.
We're going to start with the single style, the double style and the triple style.
Basic step, under arm right, under arm left, link up. Basic under arm right,
left, link up, double, triple.
Basic under arm right, under arm left.
There you have it, three different styles of Lindy. Now we're going to talk a little
bit about the basic hold and the man's role leading and the lady's role in following.
Okay the man will stand like so, his arm around the lady's back and offer his left hand and the
lady will place her right hand into his left hand at waist level. The woman's right hand
is held palm down with the fingers slightly curved. The man's left hand is held palm up
with his fingers curled to fit hers. The woman places her left hand gently on the man's upper
back just below his neck. She is now able to feel the man's movement and follow his lead.
The man's right hand is placed on the woman's lower back in a gentle yet firm manner. These
hand positions allow the man to lead while the woman follows. Let's invite the others back to
learn along with us. Remember whenever you hear a strong one two rhythm in the music you can dance
a Lindy to it. We'll start with the basic elements of the single swing. We'll start off standing
normally with our feet under our hips and we're going to shift our weight ladies to the right,
men to the left. It's going to be side replace. Let's repeat that side replace. So for the men
it will be left right. Again for the men it will be left right and I'll call out the lady step
which will be right left. Okay so we're going to count it slow slow slow slow slow slow slow
slow slow slow slow slow slow slow slow slow. Okay now we're going to add another element.
One more element and that's a rock step. Okay let's try this. We'll go men back with the left,
ladies back with the right. Rock replace. Again rock replace. Repeat rock replace. Rock
replace. Rock replace. Rock replace. Try not to have your weight go too far back like so.
Keep yourself right over the right foot. Rock replace to the count of quick quick quick quick.
Let's put it all together now. We'll put the the first step side replace rock replace.
Side replace. Rock replace. And we'll do that to the rhythm of slow slow quick quick. Repeat
slow slow quick quick. Don't take any of the steps too big. Okay we don't want you moving too far
or too big on the rock step. You want to keep yourself pretty much on the spot feeling the
spot feeling the rhythm without feeling that you're going to be off balance. Rock replace. Side
replace. Rock replace. Side replace. Rock replace. Side replace. Rock replace. Side replace. Rock
replace. Side replace. Rock replace. Side replace. Rock replace.
The Lindy can be danced in a variety of positions known as the promenade,
the closed position, and the open.
Paul and Eleni are now demonstrating the promenade position where the dancers turn
forward and do the Lindy steps facing ahead instead of looking at each other.
Now they are doing the more common closed position
where they dance facing each other and about six inches apart. Here is an example of the open
position where they open up and turn forward on the rock step. They then return to a closed position
where they again face each other on the basic step. Now continue to practice the Lindy in these
various positions and have fun because that's what a dance like the Lindy is all about.
Just getting out on the dance floor and having a good time.
We're going to take a man's left, lady's right, and we're going to go tap, step, other foot.
Tap, step. Let's try that again. One, two, one, two. So it's tap, step, tap. Again, tap, step, tap,
step, tap, step, tap, step. We'll substitute this for the slow step we used before. Let's try the
old step we did. The slow, slow, and now we're going to go tap, step, tap, step. We'll alternate.
We'll go slow, slow, now. Tap, step, tap, step, slow, slow, tap, step, tap, step. Okay, now just
doing tap, step alone. It's tap, step, tap, step, tap, step, tap, step, tap, step. Tap, step, tap,
step, tap, step, tap, step. Tap, step, tap, step, tap, step, tap, step. Tap, step, tap, step,
tap, step, tap, step, tap, step, tap. Tap, step, tap, step, tap, step, tap, step. If you like,
you can put a little bit of a bounce action in your knee as you do that and attack the twos like so
one two one two one two one two one two one two and on the tap you can do a little bit of a strike
rather just tap it softly strike two strike two strike two strike two strike two now we'll add
our rock step it's going to be a tap step tap step rock replace tap step tap step rock replace
tap step tap step rock replace by numbers one two one two rock step one two one two rock step
one two one two one two one two three four five six one two three four five six whatever method
of expressing it suits you you can use okay let's try that again one two three four rock step one
two three four rock step tap step tap step rock replace tap step tap step rock replace
without stopping and it's tap step tap step rock step tap step tap step rock step tap step tap step
rock step tap step tap step rock step tap step tap step rock step five six ready go
as you can see the double step uses the same hand hold and body position as the single lindy and
once again the man begins the step with his left foot and the woman begins with her right foot
the double is simply a variation on the basic lindy step that is done with more balance to lively
your music
Now we're going to do a triple rhythm, which is very much like our double rhythm, only
we're going to do a change of weight rather than a tap.
So think of it as a heavy tap, like so.
Heavy tap, heavy tap, okay?
Have a jitter feeling in it, the double step has a jitter feeling also.
And changing weight, press change weight, press change weight.
So rather than tap change weight, you think of it as press change weight, press change
weight, press change weight, press change weight, triple step, triple step, triple step,
triple step.
Now the difference between this and your single, Lindy, the single has a very, has the most
limited expression.
There isn't that much of a bounce in this.
Okay, it's very conservative, maybe done to smooth the music.
The double and the triple are used to have a little bit of a perkier feeling, a little
livelier bounce.
And you use your knees to do that.
Tap step, tap step, tap step, tap step, a little bit more lively.
Now triple is even more lively.
Triple step, triple step, triple step, triple step.
Okay let's add the rock step now.
Triple, triple, rock step.
Triple step, triple step, rock replace.
Triple step, keep on going, rock replace.
Triple step, triple step, rock replace, triple, triple, rock step.
You can count that.
slow, a slow, slow, a slow, quick, quick, slow, a slow, slow, a slow, quick, quick.
Or, one-ah-two, one-ah-two, one-ah-two, one-ah-two, one-ah-two, one-ah-two, one-ah-two, one-ah-two,
a two, one, two. One, a two, one, a two, one, two. One a two, one, a two, rock step.
Triple step, triple step, rock step, triple step, triple step, rock step, triple step,
triple step rock step. triple step
triple step rock step. triple step triple step
rock step.
the triple step is the liveliest and most expressive form of the Lindy and its also more
popularly known as the jitterbug and can be done to a wide range of musical
styles. Anything from the big band sound to rock and roll. So keep your knees
loose, your body relaxed, and continue practicing the triple step.
Now that you have your Lindy basics, we're going to teach you the most popular variations. The
underarm turn to the right, the underarm turn to the left, and the link step from the open position.
Okay, so we'll start as we did before with the basic step. Slow, slow, quick, quick. Now
you'll raise the hand on the first slow, indicate for her to go through on the second slow into your
rock replace. And now we'll reverse that turn for the left underarm turn. We'll raise the arm, we'll
lead her through into the rock replace. We're now in open position. We want to get back to a closed
position so we use our link step. We pull her forward, replace our foot under us, and we go
into our rock step. So a little faster, it's going to be basic, replace, rock replace. Hand goes up,
girl goes through, rock replace. Hand goes up, girl goes through, rock replace. Bring her forward to
your arm, rock replace. And again slow, slow, quick, quick, slow, slow, quick, quick, slow, slow, quick,
quick, slow, slow, quick, quick. One more time, slow, slow, quick, quick, slow, slow, quick, quick,
quick, slow, slow, quick, quick, slow, slow, quick, quick, okay I'm gonna do this without
touching Eleni and she's gonna follow it by just sensing the lead and we're gonna have
our handshake, slow, slow, quick, quick, slow, slow, quick, quick, slow, slow, quick, quick,
slow, slow, quick, quick, one more time, slow, slow, quick, quick, hand goes up, girl goes
through, rock, step, hand goes up, girl goes through, rock, step, bring her in, do your
arm, rock, step, now let's try it all together to the music, five, six, ready, go, slow,
slow, quick, quick, up, through, rock, step, up, away, rock, step, blink, up, start over,
slow, slow, quick, quick, under, arm, rock, step, reverse it and link up, rock, step,
slow, slow, quick, quick, slow, slow, quick, quick, slow, slow, quick, quick, blink, up,
start over, basic, rock, step, under arm, right, rock, step, under arm, left, rock,
Swing, step, rock, step, basic, rock, step, hand up, girl through, hand up, girl away, pull her in, and it's basic, rock, step, hand up, girl through, rock, step, reverse it, away, rock, step, basic, underarm, right, rock, step, underarm, left,
swing, step, rock, step, basic, basic.
Now I'm going to teach you those very same variations in a double and triple style.
I'll go through the whole sequence, the basic step, tap, step, tap, step, rock, step, tap, step, tap, step, rock, step, tap, step, tap, step, rock, step, tap, step, tap, step, tap, step, rock, step, step, a little faster,
tap, step, tap, step, rock, step,
and now the triple.
Triple step, triple step, rock, step,
triple step, triple step, rock step,
step, triple step, triple step, rock step, triple step, triple step, rock, again,
triple step, triple step, rock step, triple step, triple step, rock step, triple step,
triple step, rock step, triple step, triple step, rock step.
And now, we'll do both of them to music.
If you're having any trouble with the basic step, just play back the tape and practice.
Now, let's go rejoin the party.
Now, keep dancing and practicing the linear steps you've just learned.
To this song, you can do the single, the double, the triple, and the turn.
Also try the promenade, the open position, and the closed position.
Just listen to the music, let your body feel the rhythm, and follow the beat.
It might be a little hard at first, but keep practicing and you'll get it.
And you can rewind the tape and review the instruction if you're having trouble.
So continue dancing while Paul, Eleni, and our dancers demonstrate some more advanced moves.
As you will see, there are many variations to the lindy,
but they all start with the basic lindy steps you've just learned.
And now, we'll do the double, the double, the triple, and the open position.
And now, let's go.
As you listen to this music, you will hear and feel that it has a more relaxed sound and a slower rhythm.
Music that is perfect for dancing the foxtrot.
Like the lindy, the foxtrot became popular during the big band era,
but the foxtrot is a more elegant and romantic style of dancing.
So now, just relax for a few moments and watch as our dancers demonstrate the foxtrot.
And now, let's go.
This is the foxtrot.
The foxtrot is a slowed down swing rhythm with kind of a cool, sexy feeling.
What could be more romantic than to move around and dance with these lush melodies with your partner?
The foxtrot is a progressive dance.
By that, I mean that you and your partner will be moving around the room in a counterclockwise direction.
Let's start with Lenny.
You invite the lady to stand up in front of you, drawing her up to you,
placing your right hand underneath her left shoulder blade.
And she will place her left hand on your bicep.
The joined left lady's right will be about jaw level.
The body is aligned up slightly offset so that the man's foot is lined up between the lady's foot.
And vice versa, the lady's right foot is lined up between my feet.
And therefore, my window for the heads will be clear.
Otherwise, if she's standing in front of me, we will not be able to move, I will not be able to see.
This gives me the freedom to move my legs and the ability to see where I'm going.
We're going to do our basic foxtrot step, the forward and back basic.
Let's invite our dancers back in here to assist us.
And we're going to have two walks forward and a pause.
This is the first element of the basic step.
Walk, walk.
Let's go backwards. Same thing backwards.
One, two.
Let's repeat that.
Slow, slow.
And the other way.
Slow, slow.
Try it again.
Slow, slow bounce.
Now let's try the next element.
Let's just turn our bodies to the right.
And we're going to do the chasse step.
It's going to be side, close, repeat.
Side, close.
Let's go back where we came from.
Repeat that.
Side, close.
Let's get to our original starting points.
And we'll do those elements together.
Two walks forward, side together.
Two walks back, side together.
And it's walk, walk.
Side, together, back.
Walk, side, together.
Repeat it.
Walk, walk.
Side, together, back.
Back, side, together.
As you see, we move leftwards.
Let's try it one more time.
And it's slow, slow.
Side, close.
Slow, slow.
Side, close.
Slow, slow.
Side, close.
Slow, slow.
Side, close.
In the foxtrot, the man begins by stepping forward with his left foot,
while the woman begins by stepping backwards with her right foot.
Paul and Eleni will demonstrate the basic foxtrot step from another angle.
Slow and slow and quick, quick.
Slow and slow, quick, quick.
Slow, slow, quick, quick, slow, slow, quick, quick.
Slow and slow and quick, quick.
Let's try it one more time.
And it's slow,
slow, side close, slow,
slow, side close, slow, slow,
side close. Very good.
The sidestep is a very practical step, especially on a crowded dance floor.
When someone's in the way and you can't move forward, you can steal time by just staying in
place with the sidestep. And you can use it also to change your alignment so you can
find an opening to go forward. I'll demonstrate first without any turn
and then I'll demonstrate with turn. Ready everybody? And it's
sidestep, sidestep, side
together.
Side step, sidestep, side close.
Side step, sidestep,
side close.
Side step, sidestep, side close.
Side step, sidestep,
side close.
Side step, side step, side close.
Side step, sidestep, side close.
Side step, side step, side close.
Side step, side step, side turning.
Side step, side tap, repeat.
Side tap, side tap, side together.
Very good.
And now the promenade step, and it's side across, side close, side across, side close.
Side across, side close, side across, side close.
Well done. Let's take partners and try that in the other direction.
And it's side across, side close, side across, side close.
Let's turn to the right.
Side across, side close, side across, side close.
Slow, slow, quick, quick, slow, slow, quick, quick.
We're going to do the whole sequence to music. We're going to do forward basic, back basic, side step, turning side step, promenade.
Then you're on your own. Music please.
Music please.
Again, if you're having any problems, just rewind the tape and practice.
Let's go back to the party.
You have now learned the dances of swing, the lindy, the foxtrot, and their variations. So join the party and practice the steps. This song and the next will be foxtrots. Following them will be two faster songs better suited for the lindy and the jitterbug. And once again, if you are having trouble at any point, rewind the tape and review the instruction. Now it's time to have some fun, so let's dance.
Music please.