I recently came back from a fun vacation in New Orleans (4th time) and I had some fantastic social partner dances to amazing jazz bands while I was there. I mean it is the birth place of Jazz, so this Lindy Hopper was guaranteed to find somewhere to dance and dance I did! What a great time.
For today’s post, I was inspired by this journey and my love of social dancing.
Please enjoy these 1940s & 1950s vintage photos!
Further Reading: Vintage Photos Of The Social Dance (Part 1)
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Vintage Photos of the Social Dance 1940s & 1950s
In 1944 these young College students danced the Lindy Hop (or as they would of called it, The Jitterbug) at a Michigan State dance.
The theme must of been plaid, due to the large amount of plaid in this photo AND the next.
Further Reading: Archived blog posts of the Swing Dance & The Big Band Era
Another image from that same plaid 1940s dance. Everyone is having so much fun!
Source: eBay
I LOVE this 1950s photo of so many happy dancers enjoying a live band while dancing outside.
Source: Etsy-Iloveyoumorephotos
Slow dancing in the living room-January 1963 (had to slip this 1960s photo into the batch).
Source: Etsy-JakeRoebucks
What a FUN 1950s photo of two couples at Knott’s Berry Farm enjoying a fun photo booth cutout of couples dancing. LOVE the smiles and laughter.
Source: Etsy-JakeRoebucks
May 1956, “Cherry” in the black dress at the back with 3 other teenage girls putting up streamers for the school dance. LOVE the 1950s fashions.
One more photo of Cherry and her friend in the fantastic 1950s novelty skirt putting up the streamers.
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May 1951- “Swank Men” Dance…AND beautiful ladies.
Source: Etsy-JakeRoebucks
WW2 dance featuring soldiers and their dates.
Source: Etsy-VintagePhotosFound
A Sailor dance-1950s vintage photo.
Source: Etsy-JakeRoebucks
1950s photo of couples dancing at the basement party.
Further Reading: A Look Back At Life In 1940s-1960s Drinking Establishments & Home Bars
Source: Etsy-RenascenceVintage
A dance in the gym in the 1940s. I just ADORE how our pretty young woman in the front of this photo is look at her guy. She likes him, don’t you agree?
Source: eBay
A Western Swing Dance calls for western wear as the outfit for the night. 1950s photo.
Source: Etsy-JakeRoebucks
1953 photo of David Brandt and Ruth Estelle dancing at their Senior Prom at Anacosta High School.
Further Reading: Prom in the 1940s & 1950s
Source: eBay
December 1951-New Year’s Eve Party. Dancers and party goers have a great time at the bar BUT the bar is “Not responsible for hats & coats not checked”. Ha!
Further Reading: Vintage New Year’s Eve archived blog posts
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The 1940s hairstyles in this photo is too good to NOT share. What glorious curls at this dance and hair flowers and fantastic corsages (bigger the better)!
Source: eBay
Thank you, friends, for dropping by and sharing in the enjoyment of these wonderful vintage social dance photos with me. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below!
Further Reading:
- Vintage Photos Of The Social Dance (Part 1)
- Archived blog posts on ‘Vintage Dances’
- Vintage Photos 1920s-1960s (archived posts)
Have a great day!
Liz
Awesome
This is really cool
The jitterbug was actually a “rest dance” that the best Lindyhoppers (in the Savoy Ballroom) did so they didn’t have to give up their spot in the Cats’ Corner (where the best dancers danced). Unlike the 8 count steps of the Lindy the Jitterbug was 6 counts and a lot easier to do. As a result the general public embraced jitterbugging over time. According to Lindyhopper legend, the late Frankie Manning, the jitterbug was never intended to be a proper dance. It just gave the dancers in the Cats Corner a chance to catch their breath.
It was also what the white dancers called the Lindy Hop