Friday 15 February 2013

Everything you need to know about Jive dancing from start to present

One of the well-known genres of ballroom dancing is jive which is known for its light and bouncing feature. Though jive dance lessons Princeton may look easier, but jive dance is tough and challenging, in reality. Despite its toughness, jive becomes favorite dance of many social and professional dancers due to its cheerful feature and rich history. 

History of jive
The African-American communities have evolved jive in southwestern United States and some was confused it as a Seminole war dance which is witnessed and copied. Others believe that jive was originated from some dance schools in Africa and passed through generations. Due to the well-known jazz term “jive”, the dance gets its official name. In the early twentieth century, Jive has gained vast popularity from the United States although it was already danced many years ago by African-American communities. Jive was first introduced in Europe in the early 1940s by American soldiers from where the dance gained international popularity very quickly. Afterwards, jive became internationally popular in Western countries.

Characteristics of Jive
With the popularity of swing and jazz, jive dance was developed alongside its great musical forms and upbeat tempo. This is 4/4 dance form characterized by syncopated and jittery moves. The six-beat pattern is the basic dance step in which the dancers have to go forward and back and then they take a shuffle-step towards the left then right. This is a quick dance whose speed is around 32 to 44 bars per minute. Due to its looseness and quickness and bounce quality, this dance form is often criticized as ‘vulgar’ in its popularity.  

Types of jive dancing
1. American jive: In this 1930s, this was the first and popular jive dance. Like any other swing dances in the US, this has fabulous blend of character and tempo of music and this has now become the instant hit for the children and dance lovers.

2. Ballroom jive: In the 1960s, the ballroom jive become popular with the free-form moves by dance’s jerky objected by English dance instructors. The jive has been modified to become more graceful and slower in which coded holds and steps are added.

3. Modern Jive: Developed in the 1980s, this is formed with simple footwork and syncopated moves are disappeared. The structure of modern jive is quite looser as compared to ballroom jive. The moves of salsa, tango, rock-n-roll, and swing dance are also included in modern jive. Often called as ‘French Jive’ sometimes, this form of jive has become the point of discussion in most jive dance classes Princeton and popular among social dancers. 

Conclusion
The international ballroom dance community has accepted jive as fifth Latin ballroom dance officially. From this event, jive had become more popular dance form in the Latin ballroom dancing. Now, Jive is very popular and most favorite dance form among the professional dancers and social dancers. Children and teenagers also love jive dancing and that’s why they join ballroom dance classes. So, this is proved to be a fabulous dance form.



Visit danceprinceton.com to know more about Jive Dance classes Princeton and Jive Dance lessons Princeton.

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