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Dance Fever ~ Canteen Style |
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The first known swing dance, which dates back to 1913, was called the Texas Tommy. This dance later became the Mooch and Sugar in 1916, and by 1919 was called the Breakaway. Swing had its beginning in the 1920s and kept on going strong for many decades. In 1926 the Savoy Ballroom in Harlem, New York opened its doors and began to host bands and dancers from all over. Swing dancers were not only doing the steps, they were naming and inventing them as well. In 1927, Shorty George Snowden coined the term Lindy Hop to describe his dance style. It has been known as such ever since. In 1935, Frankie Manning, one of the greatest Lindy hoppers ever, created the first air steps. Since then, dancers have been trying to duplicate and recreate them. Swing continued into the 40s and 50s with the big band and rock & roll eras. The music changed and the dancing developed. Check out the important dates below! 1920s - Early Charleston and Lindy Hop begin 1926 - Savoy Ballroom in Harlem New York opens 1927 - Shorty George Snowden coins the term Lindy Hop 1930s - The role of the band leader changed; they no longer just conducted the band, they were musicians who alternated between leading and soloing 1934 - Cab Calloway records "The Jitterbug" and the Jitterbug dance craze takes off. 1935 - Frankie Manning creates the first air steps 1941 - Whitey's Lindy Hoppers appear in Hellzapoppin' 1950s - Swing dancing becomes known as "rock and roll" dancing 1960s - Partnered or "touch" dancing declines as Chubby Checker's "Twist" sweeps the nation. 2002 - Swing is still very much alive and well in the 21st century. It seems as though most dancers are trying to get back to basics, experimenting with the Lindy Hop, Shag, Balboa, and Charleston. Today's dancers are not only learning the dances, they are adding their own unique styling and inventing new moves as well. Swing may not be the most popular thing in 2002, but for those who fell in love with it... it will never go out of style! |
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GLOSSARY OF COMMON MUSICAL TERMS
ALLIGATOR: Musician's used to refer to each other as 'Alligators'.
Today, the word has been shortened to just 'Gator'.
Louis Armstrong is often referred to as 'Gate Mouth',
- from the same source.
BACK LINE: Musical slang for 'rhythm section'. Any combo of drums, bass piano, banjo, guitar. (Early bands would also use a Jug (glass/clay, gallon size) and washboard.) The expression stems from the early Jazz bands which often were just 5 - 7 pieces. The Melody instruments would stand out in the 'front' line while the Rhythm - piano, drums, banjo, and tuba/bass fiddle - would be the 'back line'. See also, "Front Line" below. BEBOP: Another word for 'Bop'. See 'Bop" below. BLUE NOTES: The lowered 3rd, 5th and 7th tones of a major scale. Often referred to as the 'flatted 5th', etc., by jazzmen. BLUES: 1) A sad ballad type of song, often sung by a female moaning about a lost/uncaring/mean/etc lover. 2) A sad song sung mainly by black singers, - male and female. The traditional structure is 12 bars divided into 3 four bar measures. The "song form" (see below) is almost always AAB. (See "Jazz Overview" Link on the Main Page for more information.) BARRELHOUSE: (Also called "Fast Western".) A style of piano playing popular west of the Mississippi before the 1900's and into the 'teens. So named because the piano players were usually working in the crude cabarets that served whiskey directly out of the barrel. BOOGIE WOOGIE: An "Eight beats to the Bar" Ostinato. The left hand plays a repetitive riff throughout the song. BOP: Originally, a style of music that used the changes (chords) of a well known song, but with a wild (sometimes recognizable and sometimes not) improvisation on the original melody. The expression has racial overtones. Dizzy Gilespie said that blacks developed Bop to "exclude "lesser" (meaning - white) musicians". For more, click on the graphic:
SWING ERA AND MODERN COLLOQUIALISMS "Swing", like most fields of endeavor, also has it's own special lexicon. Once used mostly by the musician's themselves, the slang has now become a part of the greater society. And, what is even more remarkable, is the way the language has prospered. It is still widely used today, AND growing. 18 Karat "Pure Gold"
Ex: "He's 18 karat."
Ace One dollar; Dollar's worth, one, first rate Ex: "He's 'Ace' with me. Ex: "Slip me an Ace, Gate." (Let me have a dollar.) Air-check An actual radio or television performance caught on tape; as opposed to a work done in a recording studio Alligator Originally, a slang term for "Musician". Very early in Jazz history, musicians referred to themselves as "alligators". Now it simply refers to any Swing Devotee (abbrev. 'Gator or Gate) Note: Louis Armstrong is often called 'Gate Mouth', from the same source. Ex: Cat 1: See ya later, alligator. Cat 2: After while, crocodile. Axe ANY musical instrument. Ex: Man, - what do you think of my new Axe? Ball To enjoy Ex: We had a 'Ball' when Tommy Dorsey played. Big Apple New York City. Ex: He's working at Roseland Ballroom in the Apple. Baby A term of endearment. (for either sex.) Ex: Say, "baby," I got us some bread, let's "move" downtown. Bad Good Ex: That dude does some "bad" ass playing. Bag One's own special interest. Ex: Man, - Tommy Dorsey's "Well Git It" is my "Bag". Balloon lungs A Brass player with good breath control. That cat has "balloon lungs," he held that note for one complete minute! For more, click on the graphic: |
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