2017 Pick The Knot Best of Weddings

Narberth: 913 Montgomery Ave.
Narberth, PA 19072-1501
Phone: 610-668-8870610-668-8870

Paoli: 20 West Lancaster Ave.
Paoli, PA 19301
Phone: 610-993-9305610-993-9305

Perhaps the most uniquely American of all dances, the Swing brings forth a buoyant carefree movement. It’s one of the dances that becomes contagious.

History:

The Lindy (Swing) picked up where the Charleston left off. It had "swing-outs," "break-aways" and "shine-steps." With the birth of "Swing" music in the mid 1930’s, the Lindy climbed the social ladder. In August of 1935, at the Palomar Ballroom, band leader Benny Goodman played a Fletcher Henderson arrangement of "Stompin’ at the Savoy." The rest, as they say, is history. The dance craze swept the nation, and depending on where you lived, it was the Jitterbug, the Lindy Hop or the Swing. Since those days, each successive generation has "discovered" the fun of Swing. This most uniquely American dance is enjoyed all over the world.

Music:

Swing, Jitterbug, Jive, Shag, Lindy Hop, etc. are normally written in 2/4 or 4/4 time with the musical accents occurring on the second or second and fourth beats of a measure. Swing includes two general rhythms: Swing Rhythm — 1, 2, 3, & 4, 5 & 6 or its equiva­lent; Lindy Rhythm — 1, 2, 3 & 4, 5, 6, 7 & 8 or its equivalent. Swing may be danced comfortably over a wide range of tempos.

Characteristics:

A side step or triple step (shuffle) followed by a rock step done to lively music is the fun­damental pattern for this dance.

Teaching Elements

  • Basics 
Turns and position changes
  • Open Breaks 
Fingertip lead & follow arm control
  • Footwork
Weight changes in rotation
  • Maneuverability
Learn how to move comfortably in all directions
  • Swing Motion & Accents
Stress the use of beats to steps and body to music
  • Various Timings
Single, double and triple timing as well as Lindy timing to adjust to different music tempos
  • Compare/Contrast
Lindy Hop, West Coast Swing, Foxtrot

Swing songs and artists include:

In The Mood Glenn Miller
Rock Around The Clock — Bill Haley and the Comets
Start Me Up — The Rolling Stones
Jump, Jive, An’ Wail — Louis Prima or the Brian Setzer Orchestra

Swing

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    Arthur Murray Dance Studio
    Arthur Murray Dance Centers Narberth:
    913 Montgomery Avenue, Narberth, PA 19072-1501
    | Phone: 610-668-8870610-668-8870 | Fax: 610-668-8872
    Paoli:
    20 West Lancaster Avenue, Paoli, PA 19301
    | Phone: 610-993-9305610-993-9305
    Business Hours: Monday – Friday: 1:00 PM – 10:00 PM | Saturday: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

     
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