It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing. Swing is an authentic American art form. Born in Harlem to its parent the Charleston, the term Swing originally referred to the music. Swing commonly refers to hanging back, being a little behind the beat. You can hang behind the beat and really be there with the music, or you can jump it and race on ahead. We are lucky to have some of the original Savoy dancers around, and teaching, today. Frankie Manning is the most notable... now 87 and still leaving us all in the dust. Swing dancing emerged in Harlem's Savoy Ballroom, a ballroom that took up a full city block, back in the 1930's, from some teens who wanted to swing out and play with the dance, who wanted to improvise with the dance as their buddies with the instruments were doing on stage. These teens kept one upping each other, and out of their competitions and play were created aerials, jazz footwork, and choreography that is still widely danced today. Swing went on to take the world by storm, and it evolved into many different styles.

Basic swing done in 6 counts is most often referred to as East Coast Swing, while the style of dance done at the Savoy was in 8 counts, or in a mixture of 6 & 8 counts, and was called Lindy Hop. Hollywood style was created by Dean Collins who took his own style to Hollywood in the 1940's & 50's. West Coast Swing is popular among ballroom and Country Western dancers and has precise, sharp, clean steps and lines. West Cost Swing is usually dance to slower music.