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The Bees Knees Dance Study
Lindy Hop Fundamentals
As you expand your Lindy Hop vocabulary, never forget to fall back on the following timeless swinging basics.
Lindy Hop Basics
Swingout from closed (Break Away)
Lindy Circle
Under the arch
Tuck turn
Swingout
Change of places (6 count)
Open pass (6 count)
Basic Charleston
Skip up
Hand to hand
Jig Patterns
American spin
Texas Tommy
Outside turn
Tandem Charleston
Classic Swing Era Jazz Steps
Boogie Forward
Boogie Back
Shorty George
Truckin’
Suzy Q
Suzy Q (in action)
Fall Off the Log
Camel Walks
Apple Jacks
Spank the Baby
Jump Charleston
Crazy Legs
Baggy Pants/Cool Breeze in the Knees
Rubber Legs
Tack Annies
Shim Sham Break
Half Break
Tick Tocks
Scarecrow
Pimp Walk
Shine your Shoes
Slip Slop
Skating
Fish Tails
Mess Around
Bees Knees
Snake Hips
Duck Walks
Helicopter
Scissor Step/Kicks
Hitch Hiking
Eagle Slide
Dust your Apron
Around the World Charleston
Skip Up
Savoy Kicks
Gaze Afar
Broken Leg
Squat Charleston
Knee Slaps
Crossovers
Pecking
Boogie drops
Kick Around
Low Downs
Stomp Off
THE SHIM SHAM!
Lindy Hop version of the 1927 Tap dance by Leonard Reed and Willie Bryant.
Typically danced to Stompin’ at the Savoy, Tuxedo Junction or T’aint Whatcha Do.
Download and practice the Shim Sham!
(large .AVI file for Windows) SHIMSHAM.AVI
(Smaller Quicktime Version) SHIMSHAM.MOV
| Right Shim Sham |
Left Shim Sham |
Right Shim Sham |
Shim Sham Break |
| Cross Over Right |
Cross Over Left |
Cross Over Right |
Double Cross |
| Tack Annie |
Tack Annie |
Tack Annie |
Shim Sham Break |
| Half Breaks |
Shim Sham Break |
Half Break |
Shim Sham Break |
| Repeat! Replace Shim Sham Break with FREEZE! |
| Kick Boogie Back |
Boogie Forward |
Kick Boogie Back |
Boogie Forward |
| Jump Boogie Back |
Shorty George |
Jump Boogie Back |
Shorty George |
| Take a partner & dance! |
THE BIG APPLE
Danced in a large circle to Flying Home.
*This is the “Ithaca” Big Apple.
Download and practice The Big Apple!
(Quicktime Version) BIGAPPLE.MOV
| Sweeps |
Jump in & turn out |
Sways |
Boogie Forward |
| Boogie Back |
Boogie Forward |
Boogie Back |
Apple Jacks |
| Apple Jacks (out) |
Jump & Gaze Afar |
Suzy Q Left |
Suzy Q Right |
| Dust your Apron in & Out |
Dust your Apron to your partner |
Spank the Baby |
Spank the Baby |
| Jump Charleston |
Jump Charleston |
Jump Charleston |
Shim Sham Break |
| Repeat! |
THE JITTERBUG STROLL
Choreographed by Ryan Francois. The dance is usually danced to the song by Stephen Mitchell but the routine fits any song with a ‘Boogie Woogie’ structure such as The Woodchopper’s Ball.
Download and practice The Jitterbug Stroll!
(Quicktime Version) JITTERBUGSTROLL.MOV
| Shuffle Boogie Forward Boogie Back |
Shuffle Boogie Forward Boogie Back |
Shuffle Boogie Forward Boogie Back |
Pivot |
Shuffle Boogie Forward Boogie Back |
Shim Sham Break Turn to the Left |
| Knee Slap Knee Slap Shorty George |
Knee Slap Knee Slap Shorty George |
Knee Slap Knee Slap Shorty George |
Pivot |
Knee Slap Knee Slap Shorty George |
Shim Sham Break Turn to the Left |
| Suzy Q to the Left |
Suzy Q to the Right |
Suzy Q to the Left |
Pivot |
Suzy Q to the Left |
Shim Sham Break Turn to the Left |
| Boogie Back Tick Tock |
Boogie Back Tick Tock |
Boogie Back Tick Tock |
Pivot |
Boogie Back Tick Tock |
Shim Sham Break Turn to the Left |
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