Lindy Hop (dance)
Lindy Hop is a vibrant and energetic dance that originated in Harlem during the late 1920s, emerging as the first major African American dance form created in the North. This dance style is characterized by its lively movements and has roots in several popular dances of the time, including the Charleston and the Collegiate. The term "Lindy Hop" was first recorded in 1928, with George Snowden, a prominent figure in the dance scene, often credited for its creation, naming it after aviator Charles Lindbergh's famous transatlantic flight.
Initially resembling the bouncy Charleston, Lindy Hop evolved in style and complexity throughout the 1930s, incorporating smoother movements and a greater emphasis on improvisation. This dance became a central feature of the ballroom culture in Harlem, particularly at venues like the Savoy Ballroom, and played a significant role in the rise of swing music. As it gained popularity, Lindy Hop influenced the development of jazz, contributing to the genre's rhythmic and stylistic transformations.
Moreover, Lindy Hop was instrumental in fostering social interaction across racial lines during a time of significant racial tension in the United States. The dance not only provided an outlet for artistic expression but also encouraged a sense of community among diverse groups of people. Overall, Lindy Hop remains a celebrated form of dance that reflects the rich cultural history of its era.
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Lindy Hop (dance)
The first major African American dance form created in the North, the Lindy Hop was central to the popularity of the ballroom scene in Harlem during the late 1920s and became a core element of youth culture. It had a significant impact on the stylistic evolution of jazz music, also influencing many of the changes that furthered the development of swing music.
The Lindy Hop emerged through the blending of several popular dances, including the Charleston, the Breakaway, and the Collegiate. Though the dance likely began to form earlier, the first recorded use of the term “Lindy Hop” occurred in 1928. “Shorty” George Snowden, often credited as the creator of the Lindy Hop, likely developed the dance at either the Savoy Ballroom or the Rockland Palace, which were both major dance venues in Harlem. Snowden is said to have named the dance in honor of aviator Charles Lindbergh’s landmark 1927 transatlantic flight, mirroring the newspaper headline “Lindy Hops the Atlantic.”
At the end of the 1920s, the dance was still in its infancy and bore a strong resemblance to the upright, bouncy Charleston, as it had yet to adopt the smoother style characteristic of Lindy dancers in the 1930s. The only surviving footage of this early style of Lindy Hop appears in the 1929 film After Seben in a sequence featuring three couples, including Snowden, in a nightclub dance contest.
Snowden, his partner Big Bea, and other leading dancers, including “Twistmouth” George Ganaway, danced the Lindy Hop in competitions and as professional touring performers. By the decade’s end, the Lindy Hop had begun to eclipse other social dances, becoming the most popular dance in Harlem and spreading nationally as well.
Impact
Dance styles and popular music developed a symbiotic relationship during the 1920s; the Lindy Hop in particular made significant contributions to the evolution of 1920s hot jazz as it developed into the swing music that dominated the 1930s. The dance influenced the smoother rhythmic bassline and the relaxed syncopation that became significant in many styles of jazz. Furthermore, the Lindy Hop helped expand social dancing into a less rigid medium with more room for improvisation, experimentation, athleticism, humor, and individuality. As it became the dominant form of dance at the Savoy Ballroom, the nation’s most popular integrated dance venue, the Lindy Hop played a crucial role in the softening of racial tensions during this period.
Bibliography
Hubbard, Karen, and Terry Monaghan. “Negotiating Compromise on a Burnished Wood Floor: Social Dancing at the Savoy.” In Ballroom, Boogie, Shimmy Sham, Shake: A Social and Popular Dance Reader, edited by Julie Malnig. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 2009.
Manning, Frankie, and Cynthia R. Millman. Frankie Manning: Ambassador of Lindy Hop. Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 2007.
Spring, Howard. “Swing and the Lindy Hop: Dance, Venue, Media, and Tradition.” American Music 15, no. 2 (Summer, 1997): 183–207.