Considered the granddaddy of swing, the Lindy Hop was developed in the 1920s and 30s in the African-American communities of Harlem, New York. Lindy Hop primarily uses an eight-count pattern, characterized by its fast rotations into a closed position and then immediately swinging the couple apart. Since many other styles of swing dance were born out of the Lindy Hop, it is common to see the various styles of swing incorporated in a typical Lindy Hop dance.

Born in the 1930s in Southern California, Balboa is a partnered swing dance that is known for its closed connection between partners, quick turns and fancy footwork. Because of the tightness of the dance, Balboa gained popularity due to crowded halls having strict policies prohibiting “larger” dances such as Lindy or Charleston. Balboa is great for moderate or fast music, but can certainly be danced to slower tempos.

The Charleston, with its infectious energy and playful kicks, is often considered the “cousin” of swing dancing. While it predates swing by a few decades, its sassy spirit and syncopated rhythm make it a perfect complement to the Lindy Hop and other swing styles.

East coast swing originated from ballroom studios across the country in the 1940s. It was created in an attempt to make swing dancing easier and more attainable for dancers to learn. It is a 6-count dance (as opposed to Lindy’s 8-count), comprised of a rock-step and a pair of triple-steps (or single steps if the music is fast). Many new swing dancers start with East Coast Swing before transitioning to Lindy, but it is certainly not required!

The Shag is a family of swing dances that originated in the Carolinas in the early 1930s. It is characterized by its fast tempo, energetic footwork, and playful spirit. There are many different variations of the Shag, including the Carolina Shag, the St. Louis Shag, and the Collegiate Shag.