Vintage Lindy Hop Photo: Leon James & Willa Mae Ricker, images by Gjon Mili

Lindy hop is the granddaddy of all swing dances, a dance originated by the Black community that is both uniquely American… and now spans the globe.  

Lindy hop takes its name from the Charles Lindbergh’s flight to Paris in 1927.

If Tango is sultry, and Ballroom dancing is aloof, lindy hop is joyful and playful.  Lindy has a grounded, flowing style that closely reflects its music — from the late 20s hot jazz to the early 40s big bands.

Harlem, New York, and in particular the Savoy Ballroom (“The Home of Happy Feet”) is where the dance was developed and innovated from the 1920s onward.

Based on earlier dances such as the Charleston, the Black Bottom and the Breakaway, the dance evolved and spread over the decades along with the new swing music. 

And while the dance continues to evolve today, contemporary lindy hoppers still strive for that same spirit, inventiveness, and musicality of the pioneers of lindy hop like Norma Miller, Dean Collins, Frankie Manning and many more.

Learn more at Yehoodi

Swing Dance & The Big Band Era (1930’s & 1940’s)

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