Jump Jive/Swing dates back to the late 1990′s swing revival in Southern California: Long Beach and Redondo. Originally termed Retro or Jump or Neo Swing, it followed the regional post-punk, post-rockabilly enthusiasm, as many punk bands and mosh pit dancers converted to swing. The original music featured an up-tempo amalgamation of rock, jump blues, piano boogie and big band swing – a strong backbeat is characteristic.

Jump Jive/Swing has become popular because of the Movie “Swing Kids” and the Gap Commercial looks like a promo for our GSDTA Curriculum. This new variety of Swing has the flavour of the old jitterbug with an easier approach that is FAST, FUN and EASY to learn!

Jump Jive/Swing is simply taking the “Essence” of the look and feel of “SWING” and making it instantly available. By doing Jump Jive/Swing first, the student does not go through the “Beginner” look that plagues many dancers. After learning all the variations, it is easy to substitute other RHYTHMS in order to conform to whatever style you wish to portray.

Tap-Step Swing (aka Tap-Step Jive) is danced with “Delayed Single Rhythm”

6-Count Basic can be danced again with the “Rock Step” but the dance now has the timing of “Rock Step”, “Tap Step”, “Tap Step”. The 6-Count Rhythm Pattern is: Double, Delayed Single, Delayed Single.

8-Count Basic can be danced again with “Rock Step” but the dance now has the timing of “Rock Step”, “Tap Step”, “Rock Step”, “Tap Step”. The 8-Count Rhythm Pattern is: Double, Delayed Single, Double, Delayed Single

Jump Jive/Swing (aka Kick-Step Swing aka Kick-Step Jive) is also danced with “Delayed
Single Rhythm” with the heel outstretched on the kicks giving the look and feel of Lindy Hop but doing the patterns more similar to the East Coast Swing. This hybrid version is sometimes called Jump Swing.

6-Count Basic can be danced again with the “Rock Step” but the dance now has the timing of “Rock Step”, “Kick Step”, “Kick Step”. The 6-Count Rhythm Pattern is: Double, Delayed Single, Delayed Single.

8-Count Basic can be danced again with “Rock Step” but the dance now has the timing of “Rock Step”, “Kick Step”, “Rock Step”, “Kick Step”. The 8-Count Rhythm Pattern is: Double, Delayed Single, Double, Delayed Single

Who Developed Jump Jive/Swing?

• Skippy Blair (mother of Jump Swing), saw young dancers jump around during the post rockabilly swing revival of the mid-late 90s. She noted the common practice jumpy 6-count kick pattern, made adaptations, and arranged a syllabus for her teacher workshops. Skippy adopted the name Jump Swing for her classes, abandoning the original home grown name Retro Swing. She has helped to spread the dance around the USA. She pioneered her own exceptional instructional approach, popular with many top teachers.

www.swingworld.com

• Sonny Watson compiled some of the Retro Swing with additions in his Retro Swing Video.
www.streetswing.com

What music is Jive/Jump Swing Danced To?

The jumpy kick 6 & 8-count patterns segues nicely into Charleston, and feels very satisfying to rockin’ music in any genre, especially tunes with a strong backbeat. A quick overview:
• Up tempo Pop/Rock: Footloose, Part Time Lover, Heat Wave, Walking On Sunshine,
• Jump Blues: Rock This Town, Shake Rattle & Roll,
• Neo Swing: Jump Jive & Wail, If You Can’t Rock Me
• Classic Swing: Sing Sing Sing, Shout And Feel It, Moten Swing, One O’Clock Jump
• Piano Boogie: Dancin’ The Boogie – Silvan Zingg, Johan Blohm

Contact: alan@danceclub.ie or 085-8434071 for more information

Jump Jive/Swing Clips

Jump Swing ITACHA NY

Swing Kids

Gap Commercial (1998)

Jump Jive/Swing

Jump Jive/Swing

Jump Jive/Swing

Irish Smooth Swing is a dance style similar to West Coast Swing.

Golden State Dance Teacher Association (GSDTA) Teachers taught a dance form from 1977 through 1980’s under the name 2-Hand Salsa (or Salsa Valiente). By 1995, with the return of the popularity of Salsa Music, 2-Hand Salsa no longer fit the Salsa picture. Skippy Blair changed the name to Melange, meaning a “Mixture of Things” in French. It can resemble Country Swing, Latin or even Hustle.

Alan Doyle took elements from Melange, Irish Smooth Jive & West Coast Swing and created a new contemporary dance naming it ‘Irish Smooth Swing’.

The patterns in Irish Smooth Swing are similar to West Coast Swing but the following major differences:
- The Rhythm Pattern is Double Double (you step on every beat – there is no triple rhythm)
- There are no syncopations
- There is no anchor
- There is no elastic stretch.
- On beats 1&2 of every pattern; The man does a rock step and the lady does a check drive.

Irish Smooth Swing has 6&8 beat patterns

The simplicity of the dance allows students to concentrate on Centering, Movement, Position Changes, Count and Feeling the Music rather than concentrating on Foot Patterns.

It’s great for Cruises, Weddings, School Classes, or any other social situation where you need or want easy, quick and FUN dancing.

It is a dance that EVERY student wherever possible should know going on to other more complicated RHYTHM dances. It makes the dancer comfortable in any social situation and also teaches a variety of partner moves that support future learning.

This is one dance that could probably make you the “Life of the Party”. As a man, it is easy to lead non-dancers into this dance, simply be letting them march in place. It prepares you for various directions that are used in other dances. Most of all it is a FUN dance that is EASY to learn. It is also a wonderful way to get introduced to partner dancing.

Source: www.swingworld.com

Irish Smooth Swing is taught as a foundation dance and teaches a lot of techniques used in West Coast Swing and uses simlar but simplified footwork.

Learning Irish Smooth Swing is also a great way to socialise, meet new people, have fun and keep fit —and all whilst learning to dance

* No partner required
* Great social night out
* A great way to improve both physical and mental health

Irish Smooth Swing 8-Week Course

Start Date: TBC
Venue: TBC (Dublin City Centre)
Cost: €100 per person (40% discount on groups of 5+ people)
Teacher Alan Doyle (The only LeRoc & GSDTA Trained Teacher in Republic of Ireland)

Contact alan@danceclub.ie or 085-8434071 for more information

Rope Hustle is a style of hustle dance where you step on every beat.

Golden State Dance Teacher Association (GSDTA) Teachers taught a dance form from 1977 through 1980’s under the name 2-Hand Salsa (or Salsa Valiente). By 1995, with the return of the popularity of Salsa Music, 2-Hand Salsa no longer fit the Salsa picture. Skippy Blair changed the name to Melange, meaning a “Mixture of Things” in French. It can resemble Country Swing, Latin or even Hustle.

The simplicity of the dance allows students to concentrate on Centering, Movement, Position Changes, Count and Feeling the Music rather than concentrating on Foot Patterns.

This dance takes on the look of whatever music is being played. It’s great for Cruises, Weddings, School Classes, or any other social situation where you need or want easy, quick and FUN dancing.

It is a dance that EVERY student wherever possible should know going on to other more complicated RHYTHM dances. It makes the dancer comfortable in any social situation and also teaches a variety of partner moves that support future learning.

This is one dance that could probably make you the “Life of the Party”. As a man, it is easy to lead non-dancers into this dance, simply be letting them march in place. It prepares you for various directions that are used in other dances. Most of all it is a FUN dance that is EASY to learn. It is also a wonderful way to get introduced to partner dancing.

Source: www.swingworld.com

Rope Hustle is a foundation dance and teaches a lot of techniques used in more complicated dances like Rock n Roll/Jive (AKA East Coast Swing) and Jump Swing, which have similar patterns but have more emphasis on more complicated rhythms.

Learning Rope Hustle is also a great way to socialise, meet new people, have fun and keep fit —and all whilst learning to dance

* No partner required
* Great social night out
* A great way to improve both physical and mental health

Contact alan@danceclub.ie or 085-8434071 for more information

Clips