BALBOA
Balboa is an elegant, dynamic dance that allows you to move effortlessly, even to fast-paced music. Originating in Southern California in the 1920s, it is closely associated with the Balboa Pavilion and the Rendezvous Ballroom on the Balboa Peninsula in Newport Beach. These venues often had crowded dance floors, prompting dancers to create a compact style known as Pure Balboa, which is characterized by a closed, “chest-to-chest” position that minimizes large movements.
As the dance spread, younger dancers from Los Angeles added open positions and turns, creating Bal-Swing—a more expressive variation that incorporates swing elements. Today, dancers often blend Pure Balboa with Bal-Swing, making for an exciting, versatile style that combines both close and open movements.
In addition, there is a slower version called Slow Balboa, allowing dancers to enjoy the full tempo range, from relaxed, slow tempos to exhilarating fast beats. Balboa remains a favorite in swing dance communities worldwide, celebrated for its grace, adaptability, and undeniable fun!​​​
BLUES
Blues dances are a collection of African American vernacular dance styles performed to blues music. These dances share common characteristics and techniques, rooted in Black American traditions and shaped by their cultural and historical context.
Known for its relaxed posture, close connection, and emphasis on improvisation, blues dance prioritizes feeling and interpreting the music over strict patterns or choreography. The dance style evolved alongside blues music, flourishing in community spaces such as juke joints, speakeasies, and dance halls.
Unlike more popular dances like the Lindy Hop or Charleston, blues dance wasn't commercialized for white audiences. However, in the modern Lindy Hop community (after 1980), people began dancing to blues music at late-night events, leading to the emergence of dedicated blues dance communities in major cities. Initially practiced without much understanding of its roots, the current blues dance community now emphasizes research, education, and appreciation of African American music, dance, and history.
LINDY HOP
Lindy Hop is an energetic and joyous Black American dance that evolved from earlier social dances like Breakaway, Charleston and Cakewalk, it spans a range of moods, from wild and exuberant to gentle and playful, all centered on fun and self-expression. Born in the late 1920s in Harlem, New York, Lindy Hop grew from the rich culture of the Black American community, developing hand in hand with the swing jazz music of the era. It quickly became a cultural sensation, especially at legendary venues like the Savoy and Alhambra Ballroom, where dancers and musicians expanded the possibilities of music and movement, leaving an indelible mark on American culture. Today, Lindy Hop is performed around the world, uniting dancers from a wide range of cultures and backgrounds.
Lindy Hop is a partner dance that features a leader and a follower but allows freedom. Rather than adhering strictly to set patterns, dancers interpret the music in their own way, inspiring playful exchanges and bursts of creativity. Lindy Hop routines often include aerials and lifts that add a thrilling element to the dance. These dynamic moves, paired with intricate footwork and rhythmic variations, make every dance an exciting and unpredictable experience.
For inspiration, take a look at A Day at the Races, Keep Punchin' and Hellzapoppin'
SOLO JAZZ
Solo Jazz is a dance style that significantly differs from modern jazz dance. This dynamic and rhythmic form can be performed solo, with a partner, or in groups, set to music rooted in the swing jazz era. It encompasses a range of historical styles from pre-Cake Walk. Some of the more famous solo jazz routines are Shim Sham, Tranky Doo and Big Apple.
Solo Jazz is a great way to improve your dance skills independently, enhancing your understanding of swing rhythms, balance etc. Additionally, it introduces popular Authentic Jazz steps that can be incorporated into Lindy Hop.