Swing Dance Wear and Shoes

Swing dance is one of the most popular dances, which developed in the 1920s. Stylish, sensual and peppy, this dance has it all! Swing dance developed along the lines of jazz music and today; there are a number of forms and styles that are offshoots of the Swing dance. The most popular of the Swing dance varieties is the Lindy Hop. If you are wondering how to swing dance, then it is never to late to enroll yourself for one of those classes; this is a great way to increase a bonding with your partner (if you manage to drag your partner to one of them!) and it is also a great form of exercise as well!

Early Styles of Swing Dance Forms:

Lindy Hop:
This form is smoother and has been used to dance to the hip hop styles of music lately. This style of Swing dance developed in the 1920s. Lindy Hop uses a low and loose-legged posture in the dance steps. The steps and the styles cannot be defined as such as the Lindy Hop dance is defined by the music.

Jitterbug:
The name jitterbug was derived because it was based on bandleader Cab Calloway’s comment on the dance, which mentioned the dancers looked like a ‘bunch of jitterbugs on the floor’. It is said that the Jitterbug was developed from the Lindy Hop. This dance form also has the bouncy and light, carefree look like the Lindy Hop.

Collegiate Shag:
The double shag rhythm is one of the most popular forms of the Collegiate Shag. This dance form was danced in a variety of single, double and triple shag. A lot of hopping styled steps is used in this form. It is also very energetic with a lot of fast movements incorporated into the dance.

Balboa:
The Balboa is lately danced to a lot of fast beats in the song. This dance requires an excellent connection with your partner because it involves some romantic moves as well. The Balboa dance originated in the 1930s. This dance, with its fancy footwork is very popular with many dancers even today.

Some of the other styles that were developed around this time were the St. Louis Shag which was followed by the Boogie Woogie, East Coast Swing, Eastern Swing, Carolina Shag, Jive around the 1940s or later. These were developed in different areas or regions.

Swing Dance Wear and Shoes:
Sexy, stylish, vibrant and super cool, swing dance wear is not far behind other dance forms on its visual appeal. In the early days, one saw the Zoot suits being worn amidst loads of controversy and also during the time of war. The Zoot suit is a flashy suit which had a long coat and is often worn with a hat as well. These were meant for special occasions and hence were used for Swing dance. Today, there are still many who prefer to adorn the traditional Zoot Suit.

Modern Swing dancers can also go in for twirly skirts that look really cool especially when the man twirls the woman on the dance floor. Women can also go in for wide leg pants that also ‘move’ along with the moves of the body. Combine this with pretty and feminine blouses, as the overall look has to be really girly or sensual for the dance. You can even go in for a stretchable dress that is a little low on the fussy side. Look for fitting dresses that flare a tad above the waist for a comfortable fit. Men can go in for loose pants or ones that have wide legs. This would allow them to have maximum freedom of movement. The shirts can also be worn with skinny ties as well.

Swing dance shoes are the most important element for Swing dance. This dance involves a lot of twists and turns therefore a comfortable pair of shoes is a must! Look for soft and flexible shoes that help you perfect your moves on the floor. Many prefer to have rubber heals as it helps one to spin on the balls of the feet with ease. The grip is the most important factor for Swing dance. At times, even the floor has an important part to play; some tend to be really smooth where as some floors may tend to be slightly sticky to slide on.

The popularity of Swing dance is such that one can see varieties of dance competitions mushrooming all over. The basics are interwoven and interspersed with new dance forms, which is why we can see a host of new versions in the dance scenario today.