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Class Notes: Basic Lindy Hop

Here are some notes to help jog the memories of those happenin' hi-dee-ho dancers who are in the Basic Lindy Hop Course.

Terms and Concepts
Beat
Phrase
Tempo
Beats Per Minute
Position
Lead and Follow
Connection
Step
Figure / Move / Pattern
Dance Frame
Point of Contact
Rhythm

Etiquette for Changing Dance Partners during Class
1. Introduce yourselves.
2. Give helpful suggestions as appropriate.
3. Always thank your partner and try to compliment some aspect of their dancing when you're done.

PART ONE

The Jockey
1. The lead is through the gentlemen's arm around the Follow's waist. Maintain constant tension there.
2. Used to jockey for time, tempo, and position with partner before swinging them out onto the dance floor.
3. Many different variations ... the simplest one was taught in class.

Side by Side Charleston
1. The styling of the Charleston is very important:

Drills and Practice
1. Listen to the music and move your body to the beat. This helps you develop rhythm.
2. Listen to the music and snap on the 1st beat of each phrase. This helps leads anticipate and hear the beginning of musical phrases.
3. Get in a good Side by Side Position and practice moving backwards and forward with your partners with no specific footwork. Leads should concentrate on maintaining a good connection while Follows should concentrate on responding to the lead's movements.
4. Practice starting a Jockey on the 1st beat of a phrase.

PART TWO

The Lindy Hop Rhythm
1. The most common rhythm pattern is 1, 2, 3&4, 5, 6, 7&8.
2. The most common footwork is Rock Step, Triple Step, Step, Step, Triple Step.

The Lindy Turn
Disclaimer: As with all Lindy Hop, there are many variations and individual styles for the Lindy Turn. This is one version of a move that can be correctly done many possible ways.
1. The lead is on the 1 using the gentlemen's body.
2. The lead rock steps (beginning the turn) as the Follow twist-twists on 1, 2.
3. On the 3, establish good dance frame with a strong connection and maintain all the way through to release on 5. Eye contact between partners helps maintain this frame.
4. By 4, the couple should have completed a half-circle.
5. Remember: Real men let go on 5.
6. The triple step on 7&8 is used to get back into original facing to begin the next move.
7. Common problems include:

Body Position
Relax your body, place your weight on the balls of the feet, bend the knees slightly, and have a slight break at the hip. Keep eye contact with your partner and move your arms naturally.

Additional Drills and Practice
1. Get in a good Closed Lindy Position and practice rotating clockwise. Partners should concentrate on connecting through a good dance frame and communicating their movement through their points of contacts. Do not allow the frame to collapse.
2. Get in a good Open Lindy Position and practice moving back and forth. Both partners should focus on maintaining a good connection by using appropriate tension in the arms, shoulders, and body. The idea is to connect the center of each body by using good dance frame, especially the arms.
3. Practice the Rock Step, Triple Step, Step, Step, Triple Step footwork to music..

PART THREE

The Swingout
1. The lead is the movement of the gentlemen's right hand from around the waist to the center of the upper back as he moves in front of the Follow on 3&4.
2. Used to go from a Side by Side to an Open Lindy position.
3. Establish a good dance frame on 3&4 with eye contact.
4. Real men let go on 5.
4. Open up to a good Open Lindy position on 7&8 facing each other. Do not move too far apart or lose the connection in the arms by extending them too much.

Additional Drills and Practice
1. Practice sequences of Jockeys, Swingouts, and Turns to music, varying the number of Jockeys and Turns each time.

PART FOUR

The Lindy Circle
1. The 1, 2 are similar to that of a Lindy Turn.
2. On 3, the Lead signals the Circle by wrapping their right arms around the Follow's waist and begins the rotation.
3. Footwork is similar to that of a Lindy Turn, but Lead and Follow stay in a close position.
4. On 7&8, the Lead allows the Follow to open up into a Side by Side Position which begins with a rock step on the next 1, 2.
5. Used to go from an Open Lindy to a Side by Side position.

Combining Six and Eight Count Moves
1. In Lindy Hop, it is important to stay on the "Phrase" -- in other words, to begin eight count moves on the first beat of a phrase. Six count moves do not match the phrasing since they are two beats short.
2. A simple way to move from eight counts moves to six count moves is to finish an eight count move (such as a Lindy Circle), perform 4 six count moves (for a total of 24 beats, equal to 3 eight count moves), then go into another eight count move (such as a Lindy Turn). This keeps you on the "phrase."
3. Going from eight count to six count requires a very clear lead (such as a tuck), as does going from six count to eight count (such as the body lead on the 1,2 of the Lindy Turn).
4. Other ways include incorporating breaks, shine steps, or "fillers" to get you and your partner back on the phrase to begin another eight count move.

Additional Drills and Practice
1. Practice series of Jockeys, Swingouts, Turns, Circles, and SBS Charlestons to music, varying the number of Jockeys, Turns, and Charlestons each time.
2. Choose a set of 4 six count moves that begin in the closed position and end in an open position (forming a 24 beat pattern). Practice doing a Lindy Circle, followed by the 24 beat pattern, followed by a Lindy Turn.
3. Incorporate 24 beat patterns into your Basic Lindy Hop series of moves to music.

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