swing dance
 
    The term "swing dance" commonly refers to a group of dances that developed concurrently with the swing style of jazz music in the 1920s, '30s and '40s, although the earliest of these dance forms predate swing jazz music. The best known of these dances is the Lindy Hop, a popular partner dance that originated in Harlem and is still danced today. While the majority of swing dances began in African American communities as vernacular African American dances, a number of forms (Balboa, for example) developed within Anglo-American or other ethnic group communities.
     Swing jazz features the syncopated timing associated with African American and West African music and dance — a combination of crotchets and quavers (quarter notes and eighth notes) that many swing dancers interpret as 'triple steps' and 'steps' — yet also introduces changes in the way these rhythms were played — a distinct delay or 'relaxed' approach to timing.
    Today there are swing dance scenes in many countries throughout the world. Lindy Hop is often the most popular, though each city and country prefers various dances in different degrees. Each local swing dance community has a distinct local culture and defines "swing dance" and the "appropriate" music to accompany it in different ways.
This article was taken directly from HERE.  Continue reading to learn more about the history and evolution of Swing.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swing_musichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jazzhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lindy_Hophttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_Americanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vernacular_dancehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_American_dancehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balboa_(dance)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglo-Americahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syncopationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Africanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quarter_notehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eighth_notehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lindy_Hophttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swing_(dance)shapeimage_2_link_0shapeimage_2_link_1shapeimage_2_link_2shapeimage_2_link_3shapeimage_2_link_4shapeimage_2_link_5shapeimage_2_link_6shapeimage_2_link_7shapeimage_2_link_8shapeimage_2_link_9shapeimage_2_link_10shapeimage_2_link_11shapeimage_2_link_12shapeimage_2_link_13
what is swing?

Please print out the following handouts and put behind Tab #3, “Unit Materials”:

  1. BulletSWING DANCE TEST SEQUENCE

downloads
LEARNING TARGETS
Students will learn proper dance etiquette as it applies to partner dancing.
Students will learn the Basic Dance Step of “Slow, Slow, Quick, Quick” and how it establishes the rhythm and movement of the entire dance routine.
Students will memorize 11 different Swing Steps as well as invent one and perform as a choreographed routine for their final (12 Steps Total).
Students will understand that dance is not just about the choreography but “personality and style” as well.
Students will connect dance with physical activity.
The following is a list of the Swing Steps you will learn in class:
BASIC STEP (Video)
OUTSIDE TURN (Video)
REVERSE TURNOUT (Video)
MAN’S WRAP (Video)
OUTSIDE/DOUBLE INSIDE
EGG BEATER
SLIDE SEQUENCE (Video)
TRIPLE CUDDLE
ROCK STEP
SHE GO, HE GO
PRETZEL (Video)
MAKE UP YOUR OWN MOVEhttp://www.vimeo.com/17614064http://www.vimeo.com/17613828http://www.vimeo.com/17613547http://www.vimeo.com/17613443http://www.vimeo.com/17780792http://www.vimeo.com/17613859http://www.vimeo.com/17613974shapeimage_7_link_0shapeimage_7_link_1shapeimage_7_link_2shapeimage_7_link_3shapeimage_7_link_4shapeimage_7_link_5shapeimage_7_link_6
SWING VIDEOS
swing resources
These are some helpful Swing resources
Wikipedia
History of Swing
Good Videos of Swing- Bing 
Great Instructional Videos of Swing

If you are interested in getting involved in Swing Dance locally, check out these resources
Ballroomdancers.com
Ballroom Connectionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swing_(dance)http://www.centralhome.com/ballroomcountry/swing.htmhttp://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=swing+dance&FORM=VDREhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wc3MbdEldw&feature=PlayList&p=9DFEAA7E76EF6E42&index=0&playnext=1http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wc3MbdEldw&feature=PlayList&p=9DFEAA7E76EF6E42&index=0&playnext=1http://www.ballroomdancers.com/Directory/Websites/view_list.asp?Search_Type=1&Content=Mischttp://www.ballroom-connection.com/xcart/home.phpshapeimage_10_link_0shapeimage_10_link_1shapeimage_10_link_2shapeimage_10_link_3shapeimage_10_link_4shapeimage_10_link_5shapeimage_10_link_6

Check out this fun video of a Lindy Hop Competition in 2006.  If you have a hard time viewing this video, click HERE.

check this out!!!

Check out this fantastic Swing Dance Movie that I made showcasing some great routines!!!! Enjoy