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School Programs
BIG CITY SWING presents...
Lindy Hop and Swing: Then and Now
An Educational Program for Jazz Music and Dancing
Program Option 1 - Gym Setting - All Ages
When space allows, Big City Swing emphasizes the interactive portion of the presentation with is getting the students up and dancing. At the end of the class period, the students will have a routine they can perform after the end of the period or a later assembly. The historical perspective and several performances are also woven into the class period.
Program Option 2 - Auditorium - All Ages
In an auditorium setting, Big City Swing presents a more historical perspective of jazz music and dancing, progressing from the 20s Charleston into the 30s Lindy Hop, 40s Swing, 50s Jitterbug and today mix of Lindy Hop and Hip Hop.
Additional Options Include:
- Chorography assistance for musical theater and dance performances
- After school dance programs
- Training for educators to develop swing dancing units in dance or physical education classes.
Please review the information below to learn more about the details of our program.
Historical Perspective:
The Savoy Ballroom, the Birthplace of Swing
The Savoy Ballroom opened on March 12, 1926, in the middle of Harlem, New York. Approximately 700,000 patrons visited the Ballroom each year. It was called the "The World's Finest Ballroom" or to those who frequented its dances, the "Home of Happy Feet".
The Savoy was historic in size, as the dance floor stretched an entire city block. The ballroom was also historic in ownership, as its proprietors were Moe Gale, a Jewish man and Charles Buchanan, an African-American man. As the lyrics to "Stompin At the Savoy" declare, it was place where "syncopation outsmarted segregation", as dancers and musicians of all races flocked to the Savoy.
The Savoy was also historic in cultural significance, as it was the birthplace of the Lindy Hop and the epicenter of the Harlem Renaissance. Sadly, this center of American music and dance closed its doors in 1958, ending the period of history often referred to as the Swing Era. Today, swing dancers from all off the world travel to Lenox Avenue to revere the nearly installed sculpture dedicated to the Savoy and to dance in nearby bars where some of the original dancers (now in the 80s and 90s) still go to dance.
Emergence Of Swing Dancing: The Lindy Hop
The Lindy Hop is a "melting pot"; a true reflection of the mix of cultures that America was founded upon. The lindy is a fusion of the European partnering mixed with African American rhythms fuel by the driving melodies and tempos of swingin jazz.
The Big Bands created driving tunes that had the dancers incorporating fast footwork with heart stopping aerials and acrobatics. The result was a dance called the Lindy Hop, reportedly named after Lindbergh's historic flight or "Hop" across the Atlantic.
From its origins in Harlem, the dance swept the nation, and in 1943 Life Magazine ran a cover and feature article declaring, "The Lindy Hop: A National Folk Dance Has Been Born in the U.S.A.".
Vintage Film Clips
When A/V equipment is available, Big City Swing shows a 3-5 minute montage of vintage films clips, containing footage of social dances as well as the most famous and most spectacular Lindy Hop scene ever captured on film. The footage is from the 1941 film, "Hellzapoppin" and features Whitey's Lindy Hoppers. The sequence was choreographed by Frankie Manning, who until his last hip replacement, was still flipping women over his back. Frankie, now a living legend, celebrated his 90th birthday in 2004 by dancing with 90 women during his 10-minute birthday dance.
Live Performances
Big City Swing's performances include wildly dynamic choreography, spontaneous jams and incredible social dancing - a true recreation of the magic of the famous Savoy Ballroom of the 1930s and 40s.
During their performances, Big City Swing weaves together intricate footwork and hoppin' aerials, all with contagious energy. It's hard to sit still when watching the couples swing, flip and spin across the floor performing:
- Lindy Hop
- East Coast Swing
- Charleston
- Collegiate Shag
- Balboa
- Aerials/Acrobatics
- and the famous line dances of the era the Shim Sham and Big Apple.
Student Participation
Having peaked the students' interest and awareness, Big City Swing encourages the students to participate in a lesson. During this entertaining, informative and interactive session, the students are introduced to the basic steps and turns of Swing Dancing and Lindy Hop.
By the end of the lesson, the students are able to execute a short routine which includes the basic steps, several turns and authentic jazz movement.
Lindy Hop Today: The Joint is Still Jumpin!
Since the late 1980s, the world has experienced a swing revival, as modern
dancers have reconnected with the original Lindy Hoppers to recapture the spirit of the Savoy Ballroom. Today, the Lindy Hop and Swing Music are featured in television commercials (GAP, Parkay), movies (Mohulland Drive, Blast from the Past, Road to Perdition), music videos (Brian Setzer, Will Smith), and on Broadway (Swing, Contact).
The dance is also alive in bars, clubs, recreation halls, YMCA's, festivals, bar mitzvahs, weddings, and dance floors at all types of social and celebratory events. There are once again performance troupes who travel and compete, in the spirit of Whitey's Lindy Hoppers. In fact, one of the country's most revered performance troupe, Minnie's Moochers, is composed of a group of teenagers from Ithaca, New York.
Big City Swing hopes this historical perspective and taste of dancing inspires
students and teachers to experience the thrill of one of America's national treasures, the Lindy Hop.
Sample List of Past Educational Clients:
"As a member of the audience your skillfulness and professional made me and others feel comfortable dancing along side you. According to audience feedback, you were absolutely fabulous; students were captivated by the experience and found the music very invigorating."
- Sheila C, University of Wisconsin Green Bay
Middle Schools:
Central Middle School
Worth Junior High
High Schools:
Stevenson H. S. (Odyssey for the Arts)
Illinois H. S. Dance Festival
Niles North High School
Highland Park High School (Focus on the Arts)
Colleges:
University of Wisconsin, Green Bay
Lake Forest College
University of Illinois Chicago
Northwestern University
Columbia College
Valparaiso University
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