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



    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

    1Right Shim Sham
    Left Shim Sham
    Right Shim Sham
    Shim Sham Break
    2Cross Over Right
    Cross Over Left
    Cross Over Right
    Double Cross
    3Tack Annie
    Tack Annie
    Tack Annie
    Shim Sham Break
    4Half Breaks
    Shim Sham Break
    Half Break
    Shim Sham Break
    5Repeat! Replace Shim Sham Break with FREEZE!
    6Kick Boogie Back
    Boogie Forward
    Kick Boogie Back
    Boogie Forward
    7Jump Boogie Back
    Shorty George
    Jump Boogie Back
    Shorty George
    8Take 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

    1Sweeps
    Jump in & turn out
    Sways
    Boogie Forward
    2Boogie Back
    Boogie Forward
    Boogie Back
    Apple Jacks
    3Apple Jacks (out)
    Jump & Gaze Afar
    Suzy Q Left
    Suzy Q Right
    4Dust your Apron in & Out
    Dust your Apron to your partner
    Spank the Baby
    Spank the Baby
    5Jump Charleston
    Jump Charleston
    Jump Charleston
    Shim Sham Break
    6Repeat!


    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

    1Shuffle 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
    2Knee 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
    3Suzy 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
    4Boogie Back Tick Tock
    Boogie Back Tick Tock
    Boogie Back Tick Tock
    Pivot
    Boogie Back Tick Tock
    Shim Sham Break Turn to the Left