History of ‘Savoy’ Lindy Hop

In Harlem, New York in the late 1920’s The Lindy Hop was breaking out wherever people were partying. The Lindy Hop dance is very heavily influenced by the Charleston, in fact many of the Lindy Hop moves are Charleston based.

But it wasn’t until after the opening of the Savoy Ballroom in 1926 that Lindy Hop really got it’s name, and a place to call home.

At the Savoy Ballroom, the Lindy Hop got more popular as people danced to the very best Big Bands in the land. And it got known as the best place to be, for a Saturday night out. Competitions were held which pushed good dancers to greatness.
New steps were born every day. The styling got more polished and executed so well that the dance was a joy to watch, and to perform.
When it looked like it couldn’t get any better, a young dancer by the name of
Frankie Manning, later to be known as, Frankie “Musclehead” Manning created the first airsteps, (around 1935) and the Lindy Hop soared.
The Lindy Hop became a dance craze all over the world, and became known as the Jitterbug. This evolved into many forms of dance, such as West Coast Swing, Rock’n’Roll, and Boogie Woogie. But the authentic style, the original style, will always be.
The ‘Savoy’ Ballroom style from Harlem, New York, USA.