Origins and Early Development (Late 1920s – Early 1930s)

The Lindy Hop (or Lindy) is a partner dance that originated in 1920’s and 30’s Harlem, New York. [1] The dance got its name during a 1928 dance marathon at the Manhattan Casino. In this version, Snowden was one of the 24 couples that competed in a negro dance marathon that began on June 17, 1928 at the Manhattan Casino [2], when dancer George “Shorty” Snowden, asked by a reporter what dance they were doing, cleverly responded “the Lindy Hop” – a reference to Charles Lindbergh’s recent trans-Atlantic flight.

The transition from Charleston to Lindy Hop was facilitated by the Breakaway, a partner dance which introduced the ‘Swing out’ and ‘open position’ of dances such as the Texas Tommy to the ‘closed position’ and footwork of partnered Charleston. [2] The dance evolved from multiple influences, incorporating elements from jazz, tap, the Charleston, and earlier African American dances, creating a unique hybrid form that reflected the dynamic jazz music of the era.

The Savoy Ballroom: The Cathedral of Swing

The Savoy Ballroom, which opened in 1926, became the spiritual home of Lindy Hop. The Savoy Ballroom was the first integrated ballroom in the country [2], making it a rare space where Black and white dancers could share the floor together during the segregated 1920s and 1930s. The Savoy was huge, taking up the whole block at 141st Street and Lenox Ave [1].

The ballroom’s most influential house band was led by drummer Chick Webb, who became the leader of the most popular house band at the integrated Savoy Ballroom and consistently drew crowds of thousands [3]. Webb, despite suffering from spinal tuberculosis that left him physically disabled, became known as “The Savoy King” and pioneered the driving swing rhythm that dancers loved. At the Savoy, Webb competed in battle of the bands contests with the Benny Goodman Orchestra and the Count Basie Orchestra [4]. 

Key Musicians and the Music

The swing music that powered Lindy Hop was created by some of jazz’s greatest innovators:

Duke Ellington	A master at writing miniatures for the three-minute 78 rpm recording format, Ellington wrote or collaborated on more than one thousand compositions [5]. His sophisticated arrangements and compositions like “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)” (1932), “Sophisticated Lady” (1933) and “Caravan” (1936) [6] became defining sounds of the era.
Count Basie	Known for his minimalist piano style and powerful rhythm section, The Basie orchestra had several hit recordings during the late 1930s and early ’40s, among them “Jumpin’ at the Woodside,” “Every Tub,” “Lester Leaps In,” “Super Chief,” “Taxi War Dance,” “Miss Thing,” “Shorty George,” and “One O’Clock Jump” [7].
Chick Webb	As the Savoy’s house bandleader, Webb became one of the best-regarded bandleaders and drummers of the new “swing” style [4]. He discovered and mentored a young Ella Fitzgerald, who joined his band in 1935.

Other crucial bandleaders included Benny Goodman (known as the “King of Swing” to mainstream audiences), Fletcher Henderson, Jimmie Lunceford, Cab Calloway, and Earl Hines. The 1930s also became the era of other great soloists: the tenor saxophonists Coleman Hawkins, Ben Webster and Lester Young; the alto saxophonists Benny Carter and Johnny Hodges [8].

Key Dancers and Evolution of Style

The first generation of Lindy Hoppers, led by George “Shorty” Snowden, established the foundation of the dance in the late 1920s. The first generation of Savoy Lindy Hoppers, George Snowden’s generation, introduced the early versions of air steps and acrobatics to the Lindy Hop by the very beginning of the 1930s [2]. 

The second generation, emerging in the mid-1930s, took the dance to new heights. Frankie Manning was part of a new generation of Lindy Hoppers, and is the most celebrated Lindy Hopper in history [9]. Manning, along with dancers like Al Minns, Leon James, and Norma Miller, developed the spectacular aerial steps and acrobatic moves that became synonymous with Lindy Hop performance.

Herbert “Whitey” White, the Savoy’s head bouncer, formed Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers, He arranged performances and competitions all over the country, and got his group into many films, such as “A day at the Races” and “Hellzapoppin” [1].  This troupe became ambassadors for the dance, performing in Hollywood films and on stages across the country.

Why People Loved the Dance

Lindy Hop captured hearts for several powerful reasons:

Freedom of Expression	Lindy Hop combined a number of dances popular in the United States in the 1920s and earlier, many of which developed in African American communities. Just as jazz music emerged as a dominant art form that could absorb and integrate other forms of music, Lindy Hop could absorb and integrate other forms of dance [2]. The dance allowed for both individual expression and partnership, reflecting the democratic ideals of jazz itself.
Joy and Resilience	During the Great Depression and the challenging years that followed, Social significance Lindy Hop originated in a time where there were many separations between black and white people in the American society. The Savoy Ballroom was one of the few ballrooms open to people of any colour. As Frankie Manning put it, at the Savoy, “Nobody cared what colour you were—they were all looking at your feet!” [2].
Athletic Spectacle	The development of air steps and acrobatic moves made Lindy Hop thrilling to watch and perform. An Air Step is a dance move in which at least one of the partners’ two feet leave the ground in a dramatic, acrobatic style. Most importantly, it is done in time with the music [9].
Musical Connection	The dance perfectly matched the driving rhythms and improvisational spirit of swing music. The syncopated footwork, the elastic connection between partners, and the ability to interpret the music’s nuances made it an ideal expression of the swing era’s energy.

The Dance Spreads (1930s-1940s)

In 1937, white patronage in the area brought much-needed income to the bars, clubs, and theaters of Harlem, as well as work for black artists in a city increasingly belabored by economic depression [2]. Through performances, films, and traveling shows, Lindy Hop spread beyond Harlem to dance halls across America and internationally.

Dean Collins inspired what we now know as “Hollywood” and “Smooth” style Lindy. Dean had learnt Lindy in New York in the early 30’s before moving to LA and taking the Savoy Style Lindy Hop with him [2]. This led to regional variations developing, with the smooth, slotted style of Hollywood Lindy contrasting with the circular, high-energy Savoy style.

Decline and Transformation (1940s-1950s)

In 1943, Lindy Hop was featured on the cover of Life magazine, becoming America’s National Folk Dance and a recruitment tool for the military [9]. However, in1944, due to continued involvement in World War II, the United States levied a 30 percent federal excise tax on “dancing” nightclubs [9]. This tax, combined with changing musical tastes as bebop emerged and big bands declined after World War II, led to Lindy Hop’s gradual fade from mainstream popularity by the 1950s.

References

[1] The Lindy Circle – Lindy Hop History
[2] History of Lindy Hop – Wikipedia
[3] Chick Webb, The King of Swing – AAIHS
[4] Chick Webb – Wikipedia
[5] Duke Ellington – Wikipedia.
[6] 1930s in jazz – Wikipedia 
[7] Count Basie | Jazz Pianist, Bandleader, Composer | Britannica
[8] Swing era – Wikipedia
[9] Lindy Hop – Wikipedia