What Is Lindy Hop?

The Lindy Hop is a partner dance that originated in the 1920-30's in Harlem, New York, and more precisely at Club Savoy; it is also known as 'street dance' and 'jazz dance'. The Lindy Hop is known for being wild and spontaneous, and styles can vary from frenzied kicks and energetic body movements, to cool and sophisticated. It is an unabashedly joyful dance, with a solid, flowing style that closely reflects its music - from the late 1920's hot Jazz to the early 1940's Big Bands.

Although the exact history and lineage of Lindy hop is somewhat muddled, it is certain that it emerged as a result of blending African rhythms and movements with European structured dance. The embracing hold and the turns from Europe, the breakaway and solid, earthy body posture from Africa. The influences of Charleston, Tap, Jazz and Breakaway are very prominent, and Lindy is also cited to have come from an early version of the Foxtrot. It could be said that Lindy is a fusion of older dance forms, and that it paved the way for the 1950s rock ‘n roll.

Lindy Hop is a social dance. Partners are connected smoothly and gently to each other, while relating closely to the music, in feeling, improvisation and phrasing.

Lindy Hop is a member of the Swing Dance family also known as jitterbug; however, Lindy Hop is completely different to the austere 'ballroom swing' that is currently taught in dance schools in Athens, Greece. The "Athens Swing Cats" are the only dance team in Greece that specialize in teaching and spreading the original form of Lindy Hop.