History  

WALTZ 
 
During the 18th century, waltz is considered a rebellious dance of teens and generally looked down 
upon by the conservative society, mainly because waltz allows partners to be close with each other and 
make rapid turning movements. Waltz came from the German word "walzen" which means to turn or to 
glide. Hence, critics during this time considered this dance too tactile while religious people believed 
that it is vulgar and sinful [1,2].  
 
These oppositions, however, did not make waltz any less popular to the public. In fact, it only excited 
the young people of the time seeing that waltz is a new form of confident expression that defies their 
elders' aristocratic conventions [1]. The conservative people who may not have liked the idea of waltz 
being a peasant dance born in the suburbs of Vienna, Austria [2].  
 
By the end of the 17th century, waltz have spread all over Europe and not long after that, throughout 
the United States during the US Civil War [1]. And today, walt have evolved into two new forms: 
Modern Waltz and the Viennese (Quick) Waltz. The former is known for its slow and easy movements 
while the latter presents the original form of waltz which is four times faster than the modern waltz and 
only includes rotating movements [3].  
 
References: 
 
● [1] Del Hierro, M. P. (2017, December 20). The elegant waltz was once vienna’s forbidden 
dance. ​National Geographic. ​Retrieved from 
[Link]
[Link] 
● [2] Central Home. (2019). Waltz history. Retrieved from 
[Link]
● [3] Dancing for Beginners. (2019). Difference between slow and Viennese waltz. Retrieved 
from [Link]
 
 
JIVE 
 

Jive can be known by many different names. It is sometimes called ​Swing​,​ The​ ​Jitterbug​, ​Lindy Hop 
or the ​Charleston​ , although it is a completely different dance. These dances are all similar, and their 
steps are interconnected. t is most directly related to Swing. This is because it evolved from many of 
the competitions that were held in America and several parts of Europe during the early 1900's. Jive's 
music eventually developed its own flavor in the 1950's and 60's. 
The East Coast swing and jive originated from the same swing dance roots in the U.S. Jive and East 
Coast swing are triple rhythm swing dances that incorporate syncopations although each does so in a 
slightly different way. Also, they both incorporate a pulse or bounce that is created by flexing and 
straightening the knees and ankles. In addition, a swing hip action accentuates the movement of the hips 
and ribcage, which is designed to fit the lilting feeling in swing style music. 

The basic step (Jive Basic) is an 8-step pattern.  

For the leaders or man: 

Counts "1 - 2" - Rock step: left foot step back, right foot replace;  
Counts "3-a-4" - Chasse to the left;  
Counts "3-a-4" (or "5-a-6") - Chasse to the right;  
The follower's steps are mirrored. 

A famous song with Jive-rhythm is Elvis Presley's ​"Jail House Rock"​. 

References: 

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Lindy Hop 

 
Lindy Hop, also known as Jitterbug, is the authentic Afro-Euro-American Swing dance. It is an 
unabashedly joyful dance, with a solid, flowing style that closely reflects its music. Lindy Hop is a 
social dance. Partners are connected smoothly and gently to each other, while relating closely to the 
music, in feeling, improvisation and phrasing. The core tempo range is 120-180 beats per minute. 

Over the next few decades, popular music changed, moving away from the big band sound of swing to 
styles like rhythm and blues and then rock and roll. Due to this and other factors, the Lindy Hop 
evolved and mutated into a number of different styles. 

The first variant was known as the Jitterbug; some consider this just to be an alternative name for the 
Lindy Hop, but some claim that it was distinguished by a prevalence of six-beat moves and a bouncier 
feel to the dance. Further evolution in this direction led to the Jive and Rock'n'Roll styles, which 
dropped all eight-beat and most Charleston-derived moves. 

In  the  1980's, by a strange coincidence a collection of different dancers around the world independently 

decided  that  they  wanted  to  rediscover  the  roots  of  swing  dance—from  the  US,  Steven  Mitchell  and 
Erin  Stevens;  from  Sweden,  the  Rhythm  Hot  Shots;  from  the  UK,  the  Jiving  Lindy  Hoppers. Inspired 
by  the  classic  movie  dance  scenes  from  the  1930's  and  1940's,  these  (re-)discoverers  converged  on 
New York City. 

In  New  York  they  discovered  several  of  the  Lindy  Hoppers  from  the  original  days  in  the  Savoy 
ballroom.  To  their  surprise,  they  also  discovered  that  Lindy  Hop  wasn't  just  about  the  frenetic, 
airstepping  choreographies  of  the  film  sequences;  the  original  dancers explaining that Lindy Hop could 
be danced to slower music, as a social dance without airsteps or prearranged choreography. 

These  meetings  in  New  York  led  to  a  diaspora  of  Lindy  Hop  knowledge  around  the  world,  where  the 
enthusiasm  of  the  teachers  and  the  attractions  of  the  style  led  to  a  resurgence  in  popularity  of  the 
original  swing  dance  form.  The  key  factor in this resurgence was Frankie Manning; in 1986 (at the age 
of  72)  he  emerged  from  retirement  to  start teaching around the world, providing a vital bridge between 
the history of the dance and its future. 

Reference: 

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Benefits 
Uplifting and Fun  

Not many activities are as joyful as these artistic dance moves. Low energy, gloominess, and negativity 
are not allowed on this fun-filled dance floor. Concentrating on moving your body to the beat of the 
music instantaneously puts you in a positive headspace. While newcomers may spend extra time 
concentrating on getting their moves right, the instruction is always given in a lively and upbeat 
manner. Not to mention, you will be surrounded by joyful individuals and uplifting melodies. After you 
get the moves down, it’ll be pure fun and laughs.  

Muscle Toning  

You will most definitely develop more strength and muscle definition as you dance along to Mozart. 
Ballroom dancing contributes to muscle toning by forcing the dancers to resist their partner’s’ body 
strength. The fast turns, spinning and two-stepping all contribute to muscle building. Men, in 
particular, have instances of lifting their lady partners- which requires a great deal of strength! If you 
plan on joining in on these highly intensive dance moves, be prepared for sexy and toned legs! Bones 
and Joints Since dancing is a weight-resisting activity, it can help protect bone density and prevent 
osteoporosis. It can also help speed up knee recovery after surgery since it’s a lower impact exercise 
than jogging or biking. If you have weak knees or are gradually introducing your body to exercise, 
ballroom dancing is a great low-impact activity that can promote a fit lifestyle while also decreasing 
your chances of an exercise-related injury.  
Flexibility  

Flexibility is a major benefit of ballroom dancing. Women may already be a bit more flexible than their 
male partners- but both parties cash in on this appealing health benefit. Most ballroom classes start by 
stretching and warming up. This is important because stretching can protect against dance-related 
injuries and allow your body to dance at ease. Ballroom dancing itself contains plenty of stretching and 
bending. Therefore the more you dance, the more flexible you will become.  

Burns Fat  

Dancing is a low-impact aerobic activity that can boost your metabolism. In just thirty minutes of 
dancing, you can burn anywhere between 200-400 calories. That’s roughly the same amount burned by 
running or cycling. Burning an extra 300 calories a day can help you lose between 0.5-1 pound a week. 
While that may not sound too drastic, 1 pound a week adds up pretty quick! 

Conditioning  

Engaging in just about any cardiovascular or aerobic activity can help improve your heart health, lower 
obesity and type 2 diabetes risk, and also promote lung capacity. These full bodyconditioning benefits 
can be elevated by engaging in dance for at least half an hour, four days a week. While that may sound 
like a big commitment to make, it’s one that your body will thank you for it in the long run!  

Endurance 

Dancing an effective way to improve general endurance. As the dance sessions get longer and longer, 
your muscles will be working harder and for a longer period of time. In turn, you will find yourself 
being able to go on with little to no fatigue.  

The constant mental activity that goes along with learning and performing a new dance can help sharpen 
your intellectual and mental abilities. Using your brain for activities like learning and performing helps 
create more intricate neural pathways that ward off weakening synapses that often comes with old age. 
Physical exercise in any form promotes a healthier self-image. After any good workout, endorphins 
produce a feel-good mood. The same is true for ballroom dancing. Unlike other sports, though, 
ballroom dance has a social component that other types of physical activity don’t. You can feel the 
camaraderie when you learn dances within group lessons, laugh with a partner during a private lesson, 
or make new friends at an open house party. These benefits alone can help reduce stress and encourage 
a feeling of overall well being. 

Reference: 

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Documentation