Jitterbugging, Lindy Hopping, Jumping, Stomping, Swinging, Boogieing, Jiving,
Bopping, Strolling
In the same way that Rock 'n' Roll music grew out of various other musical influences going back to the 1930's, so did the dances which we associate with Rock 'n' Roll.
It's all about Rhythm. You get the beat, you move your feet. You want to dance....
People have always danced, all over the world, for all sorts of reasons, with all sorts of accompaniments. But, as time went on, dancing in public places became formalized, strict tempo and you had to get the steps right, and dance to an orchestra.
But then came jazz. Individual interpretations of the music. If the musicians can interpret so can dancers. The 1920's saw new dances coming along, like the Charleston, and rubbing shoulders with older dances, like the Waltz.
In the 1930's dancing became a way to forget your troubles. Black folks had more troubles and were more unrestrained. The Blues got Rhythm and nothing would ever be the same again. Dance music was more unrestrained, more frenetic and so were the dancers. Enter the dance called the Jitterbug, totally crazy and wild. Free-form in style and given various names according to the music and interpretation of the dancers. As they always do, white folks tried to tame it down, the Lindy Hop was the more polite version popular in the 40's (named after Lindbergh, the flyer).
The enduring dance that came out of all these styles was the Jive. It has endured, simply because of it's versatility. Realistically, it's several dances in one. It has evolved and been adapted by dancers for over 80 years. Once you know the basics, you can do it fast or slow, basic or with as many extra bits to fit your abilities and the music. as you want. There is a stylized sort of formula version; but, let's leave it to 'Strictly Come Dancing' and the 'modern' jivers.
In the Fifties, dance halls were playing more of the music that had been around for a while, than the new-fangled rock 'n' roll. It didn't take much for teenagers to adapt the dances they saw to the music they loved. The jive became associated with the new music:'rock'n' roll jive, 'doing the rock'n'roll'. Razzle Dazzle by Ella Mae Morse got a Bill Haley & his Comets makeover as The Saddlemen faded into history. The Rhythm & Blues styles of people like Joe Turner, Louis Jordan, Big Maybelle were absorbed into the new rock 'n' roll. Louis Prima's, lounge-style jiving was for old folks.
Not just in the cities or big towns. Country music had been absorbing different styles from the beginning, often with a slightly new slant - Like Western Swing, popular since the 40's. Country folks like to go as wild as anybody.'We don't get out much, but when we do...!'
You can jitterbug, jump & jive just as easy as a barn dance, so when hillbilly got rock, there's jiving to go with it.
A good example - Curtis Gordon - Rock & Roll Jump Jive - not his most famous but worth a listen
There are numerous compilations around that deal with music for dancing.
These are from a series of CDs,
not sure how many ( I have 4)They cover a variety of styles of
music from the early rock 'n' roll
and before. Bit of a mixed bag, some good stuff, with some really good and some total dodos but at 25 to a CD worthwhile - unless you're totally rockabilly. Most of it is not country-related
These two covers are of CDs from Golden Beaver
Once again they are definitely leaning towards City not Country
I'll see what can be found in Part 2 - sure there's some on Collector Records, but generally it's not a theme that publishers follow - more likely country-bop than country jive
As usual - this is not gospel - just some thoughts. You're welcome to comment/agree/disagree
marsparx1304@gmail.com
