IKR. I remember as a kid thinking my grandparents had no music at all when they were kids but as i grew up and became educated I realized they had plenty of music to dance to by early and mid 50s 😅
Fortunately Amber, you don't have to dance this as energetically as it is depicted here. Seniors can still do this, so don't completely dismiss learning this type of dancing.
@JoeMama-rz7nr it sure was, we used to get together Friday nights to learn & practice these dances. We never got as good as these folks but it's fun all the same
This is Swing dancing! My husband and I took ballroom dance lessons for years. We learned East Coast Swing and West Coast Swing. Loved them both! YES you can learn!
These dancers are doing the JIVE. My mom tried to teach me when I was young, but I spent a lot time on the floor. When I got older, took some lessons, and before I knew it, I was jiving. Go for it - it's a lot of fun.
This was a movie. Professional dancers and choreographed. However, there were always dancers that had at least some of those moves. The music was the same for all the dancers. We all danced to that beat and the dance it's still physical. Especially if you keep dancing and don't take a lot of breaks. The basic step for east coast swing today is very similar to the basic rock & roll dancing of the 50's & 60's. What you did beyond the basic step is what determined how good a dancer you were.
What's interesting, is if you watch enough movies from the same time period, you'll notice the dancers are all the same people. They pretty much hired the same dancers over and over again....
You should check out video "Whiteys Lindy Hoppers" . Even better. This song was originally done by Little Richard. It was a common practice in those days for White artists to cover Black artist songs because of racism.
Jitterbug! My aunts did this and it was so cool to watch! Kids used to get together after school and practice with a partner and put together a routine to a song that would knock the socks off everyone else. Then when anyone had a party they would pull it out and everyone would stand back to watch.
So much of the dancing was this fast paced!! I love watching your reactions to this. A lot of the dancing from the 50's was carried over from the 40's. My mother was a dancer and taught me most of these types of dances. I was born in '53. Like the comment before this one, this is swing dancing!!
I love watching you two discover pre-hi-tech music. You had to be able to actually play and sing. There are definitely lots of "steps" in Jitterbug dancing. My mom and dad danced that way when my band rehearsed in their living room. That's my mom at 95 in my profile shot.
@jeff cooley, I was a about 9-10 years old in the mid 50s when songs like this were popular. In my teen years, we danced to a slower beat and called it "doing the Bop". Basically the same dance steps, minus all the flips, as the jitterbug, but just on a slower pace.
I love it!! My parents took up square dancing. Their 50th was All the Family plus their club dancing. My Mom did line dancing to achey breaky heart. She looked like the doll on the wedding cake. Lost her 2 years ago at 96. 😘
The Jitterbug, the Jive, Swing. It's the greatest dancing era. I grew up doing this type of dancing. I still do it. You can adapt it to any genre of music. Except maybe hiphop.
You're such a fun couple...the review was secondary to me this time. I'm actually entertained by the joy and love that you seem to exude in reacting to the music, AND each other. Congrats on a site that I look forward to watching daily. I'm clicking play even if I'm not crazy about the music just to see how you all interact. Don't get me wrong, most everything you've covered I've really loved (love almost any music). But you've captured pure joy here, and I applaud you for it! Best wishes.
There was a swing dance resurgence in the 1990s. I was fortunate enough to been swept up in it!! I never did the acrobatics, for two reasons. It was best to have a regular partner if you did the acrobatics. You have to be able to read each other, because the dance is completely spontaneous. And it was better for the shorter girls. I'm 5'10". Other girls my height were more likely to hurt themselves. But even without the acrobatics...absolutely a blast! That's how I met my husband! As far as being coordinated: A beginner learns either a 6-step (swing dance) or 8-step (Lindy Hop). The entire dance is just repeating those steps. You learn to repeat those steps while turning yourself or your partner. You learn how to read your partner. You learn different ways to turn. Then, you learn "flare". By "Flare" I mean kicking your feet, throwing your head, moving your arms, dips, etc.
I too was caught up in the 90's seing revival. Had my zoot suit. Had two fantastic partners and at first we just flung each other around but gradually we coordinated steps to songs, and actually became rather proficient and entered contests and such. Still love Cherry Poppin' Daddy's, Brian Setzer Orchestra, Squirrel Nut Zippers, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy...ah what great times❣
@@shawnsnow2655 I was obsessed with the late 90s swing revival and was/am a fan of those bands you listed (I went to as many CPD and BBVD concerts as possible, in fact my last show before the pandemic was BBVD). But I never learned to swing dance because I have zero coordination and balance, and that makes me sad, lol.
This style of dancing, especially Lindy Hop, Balboa and Collegiate Shag, are still done all over the world, to the original music. I started Lindy Hop in early 2000 and my husband and I have taught and competed all over.
WOW your Reactions were just Amazing ! these are things the older generation appreciated and now we get to see the younger generation appreciate them too ! dancing we already saw so we knew what was coming you didn't .. the smiles and wows and how did they do that Just Great that you are liking the 50's and more music . it wasn't just Lawrence Welk though he was great too ! it makes me smile to see the happiness of the talent from back in the day want you to learn these moves but you better be limber or better yet watch it again . this way you are safe and we will see your next video .. Much Love For Your Reactions
The dancing was called either "Jitterbug," or "Swing.". It depended on what part of the country you were from... But essentially the same thing, and it basically evolved from the "Lindy Hop," out of Harlem in the 1930s-1940s.
To think. This was your great grandparents dancing. Swing dance is still a thing today. Still hold yearly world championship. Best swing song Glenn Miller "In the Mood" you can't set still
This is basically swing dancing. My husband and I have done this for years. I was born in the 60's but my mother who grew up in the fifties taught me so I have been doing this since I was 5. You aren't kidding you have to be in good shape. I will also tell you this. It makes a difference when you get older. You would be amazed at how much your health will improve if you start doing this. A lot of people think they are in great shape till they start learning this. LOL It definitely builds stamina and when you get older you won't get the usual stiffness, blood pressure, lung issues or heart problems you see with a lot of older people. I have done this for over 50 years and am really blessed not to have the problems of a lot of people my age. Excellent reaction. Loved watching you two experience this.
Check out the dance moves in the video: “Old movie stars dance to Uptown Funk”. It is AMAZING! Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers and all the greats from the past dance to a modern song…in perfect step(!), because the BEAT is the same no matter the era! I’ve watched it over and over and this video reminded me of it. 👍❤️
@@lindapetro5594 I've gone back and found my unintentional down votes before. Sometimes the upvote doesn't work. I've also noticed I spell like an idiot and then remember autocorrect is in control. I know how to spell.
Everytime I watch this I'm overwhelmed. It's a bit before my time. They days when teens just wanted to dance and have some innocent fun. As you said the skills are amazing and so energetic. The young people could learn a lot from this.
The dances are variations of the lindy hop and swing dancing. They're pretty close in style. My grandmother taught me the basic lindy for my 8th grade dance back in 1982. I'm pleased to say the girls were impressed : ) And it's as exhausting as it looks! My wife I went to lindy dances in the 90s when were in our late 20s and you cannot leave the dance floor without being soaked in sweat.
Technically, this is LindyHop, East Coast Swing (Jitterbug), and Jive. I saw all 3 done by different couples. All three have the same basic beat, the differences are just foundation footwork. Yes this was probably choreographed to a certain extent but not step by step - these are professional dancers in a time where EVERYONE danced like this a lot. Also a strong lead (guy), as long as both dancers know the queues, can pretty much just do it. My parents were Jitterbug King & Queen, they taught me to dance like this really early, and I’ve had a couple of boyfriends who have been able to swing too. Plus my husband took ballroom classes with me, so he can jitterbug a bit too (he has MS so he can’t dance all night, but we always dance together at weddings..). I’m SURE there’s a ballroom studio near you that can teach it. There are lots of cool moves that don’t involve flips, Amber! :D. If you want to check out something more contemporary, check out the Brian Setzer Orchestra, or Big Bad Voodoo Daddy.
Hey, i'm 70 and this type of dancing is the prelude to sock-hops in the early 60's in junior high for me. The people at the Hop dancing in this video were born in 1935-8 to put a time frame on it. Post WWll, da kids were just ripping'-it-up . .
Im the same age , I remember the sock hops learning all of the dances . In the south there’s a dance called the Shag. Influenced by the Jitterbug with lots of footwork. The What we called Beach music was groups like The Drifters, Four Tops , Temptations, basically Motown . That’s the music we all danced the Shag to . What an era!
I can still do some of this. I learned as a toddler and still did this dance to 1980s fast rock. We learned from watching dance shows, dancing with other kids. I rarely attempted the actobatics but my feet and pace was all jump 'n' jive, rockin' and boppin'. At that time you learned from TV and youth culture. There were record hops, sock hops, home parties allowed by parents moving everything out of the living room! Dancing, drinking cokes, eating hamburgers with potato chips with deserts. You eat a bit then jump back out there!
That is the Jitterbug! My eldest brother and sister were Jitterbug champions in Oklahoma! Yes you definitely have to be in shape , and even then they would tape their ankles.
They are doing swing which started in the 40's and evolved from Jive in the 20's and Jitterbug in the 30's. It was popular in the 40's and throughout the 50's. Still is popular as a dance form because it is just a fun dance to do. I learned when I took a ballroom dance class as my gym class in school.
We just called it "Swing" dancing here in Seattle. Once you learned the very basic steps and a few of the fancy (but relatively simple) moves then you could improvise. But, in most cases, it does mean that the guy and girl have to practice as partners so they both know the same fancy moves. Typically, when out on the floor, the moves will be dictated by the guy. The girl (already familiar with the various moves) will have to follow the guy's lead. But usually what was going on out on the floor was the girl and the guy had a routine already worked out, something they'd practiced over and over at home. And yes, you really had to be in shape! I remember being able to do this for maybe 3 or 4 songs in a row and then I really had to take a break!!! I'm 76 now and I'm done after 1 song! But give me 15 minutes, a cold beer, and I can get up and rock another one!
There was a resurgence of swing dancing back in 90's. I loved Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and The Brian Setzer Orchestra. Definitely different music from Bill Haley, but perfect for the swing dance craze. Seltzer's version of "Jump, Jive an' Wail" is awesome. Although Louis Prima's original is my favorite.
You can find swing dancing, Jitterbug, and 50's dance competitions on RUclips - they still teach this today, and you can find masters at this and it's awesome!
Now you have to check out Louis Prima -- "Jump, Jive An' Wail," "Just A Gigolo / I Ain't Got Nobody", "Banana Split For My Baby", "Angelina / Zooma Zooma", "That Old Black Magic", "I've Got The World On A String"....so many amazing songs. :)
Swing dancing actually goes back to the 30s and 40s with the big band era. And since you were on a crooner kick... you really need to check out Tony Bennett... the last (still living) of an era.
I'm 73 years old and got in on the end of the swing dance era. My older sister was good at it. You talked about this must have been rehearsed, Yes, And these were professional dancers. Kids did that dance but with way fewer lifts and acrobatics. Kids did practice the dance and easier moves a lot. My sister made me her dance partner so I was one of the few kids my age (at least at my school in the midwest) that could do it. Two moves that I remember doing were 1) Donna would slide onto the floor, I would step over her and drag her through my feet and she would pop up to her feet; and 2) I would bend down and Donna would roll over my back. It was fun.
Swing dancing! It had a revival in the 90s with groups like The Stray Cats, Cherry Poppin Daddies, and Squirrel Nut Zippers. You should definitely check those bands out!
Swing Dancing is awesome!! Couples used to practice with their partners to develop signature moves. There were official contests. but even at regular club nights they were pretty much always competeing. The dancers were often performers as much as the band. This song is actually a Little Richard cover.
Might be a good time to check out the Stray Cats, "Rock This Town." Early rock & roll figures like bill haley inspired lots of future artists to revisit the old ways.
More great early rock: "Cara Mia" by Jay and the Americans, "Pretty Woman" by Roy Orbison (his voice is like an organ), "Runaway" by Del Shannon. As far as the dance, that's a Jitterbug; for more great dancing, find the black and white TV performance of Shirley Ellis' "Nitty Gritty."
"Rip It Up" is a song written by Robert Blackwell and John Marascalco. It was first released by Little Richard in June, 1956. Bill Haley and his Comets also released a recording of the song that year.
@@jobill8487well of course Little Richard’s version is the definitive version of this song. But as far as cover versions go, Bill’s version is quite creditable.
It's like *dancing with the stars* in 1955. This is how my parents danced when they were young! How much fun was this?? Swing dancing! Boys, don't miss that catch when you toss your girls around!!
It's jitterbugging, but this one is choreographed and done by real dancers. This was top notch stuff. If you want to take it to the next level you should see recordings of the jitterbug contests they had.
@@KevinSchmitt77 I was at a bar that had a Rockabilly band, so we were dancing East Coast Swing. A woman walked through the dance floor, from the bathroom, to her table. A dancer did a flip over her partners back & almost kicked the walking lady in the face. Her expression was something else!
Love your reactions to this movie excerpt! My parents danced a toned-down version of this dance style called the Jitterbug. In eighth grade (1961) I went to a brand new school where the gym facilities were not yet complete, so for phys ed they cleared the desks out of one classroom and used it. Among the things we did was learn to Jitterbug! The best part for me was practicing at home with my Mom as my partner! Easily one of my best memories ever! Thanx so much for bringing it back to me!
I love your videos...and your genuine interest and joy in the older music. Watching you react is like a visit with friends. Thank you. And Amber, I love your hair!
Welcome to your first sock hop! This form of stylized couples dancing started back in the late thirties or early forties at places like the Savoy Ballroom and smaller venues around the country. These dancers became stars in their own right through shows like American Bandstand (50s - 80s) and Hullabaloo (60s). This form of dance is the middle step between big bands and the disco of the seventies. I don't know of any form of true "couples dancing" since disco, other than the remnants of ballroom dancing that remain. These dancers were the "RUclips" stars of the 1950s and 1960s. American Bandstand, Soul Train, and copycats still auditioned dancers to appear on their shows right into the 1980s.
There is still an active International dance community that does couple dances and other types from various countries, though it isn't nearly as big as it was in the 70s and 80s. Some groups specialize in particular ethnic dances, like Scandinavian turning dances, Argentine tango, Hungarian czardas, or Polish oberek and mazurka. Many of the same people also get involved in Lindy swing, Contra dancing, Cajun zydeco, or ballroom dances from the 1920s.
This is SWING DANCING! Swing dance made a comeback in 97-98. When I lived in Tampa Bay a bunch of us took swing dance classes and a local hall, and every week they had "Swing Dance Night" I got so packed they had to turn it into a 2 night event. Swing Dancing was soooo much fun, and we were wiped out at the end of each night. You should try this sometime.
One of my favorite memories is of my grandmother - who was a flapper in the Roaring 1920's - is of her teaching my Mom (who was in her fifties at the time, mid 70's) and me ( in my mid-twenties) how to do the Charleston. My grandmother was in her 70's at the time. We had so much fun, and gave me a wonderful memory.
If you haven't already, check out Chuck Berry - Johnny B. Goode (from 1958). Chuck Berry is nicknamed "The Father of Rock 'n Roll", although Little Richard would and could argue that.. Same upbeat energy vibe. Rolling Stone Magazine ranks "Johnny B. Goode", seventh in top 500 all-time greatest rock hits.
My mom and dad used to win all kind of butternut contests and still danced like this into there 80's. My mom was barely 5 foot tall and my dad would toss here like a day doll! Miss them and their dancing so so much!
Bill Haley was blind in one eye and styled the curl as a means of distracting people away from that eye. See You Later Alligator is another classic of theirs. A good dance song from the early 60s that would be realistic to learn is The Madison.
Bill Haley was a true pioneer in rock n roll , he was one of the 1st superstars. This was sock hop dancing 💃and from the movie don't nock the rock.it features a bunch of rock icons you should watch it and react to it.
AWESOME!! BTW, There's a similar scene in the same movie I believe. Check that one out too! Bill Haley this time singing "Razzle Dazzle" and it has another awesome dance scene. Swing dancing in general is super fun to watch! My band here in the DC area used to play a ton of swing dances before the pandemic (since they were mostly inside) and they'd often have "Jams" at some point during the night where 4 or 5 REALLY good couples would showcase their moves. Cant wait to start playing those again! So cool!
I’ve done this in a country western setting without the impressive extreme footwork and without flipping my date (unless by accident). These dancers were truly professional. But if you want to learn to dance similar to this and more doable then go visit your local country western bar.
My Dad was a drummer for this kind of music, kind of as a side hustle where he got to do what he truly loved and worked in a factory long days and nights to support us growing up. I was only little, but I loved watching all the dancing and feeling the floor vibrate. Such a happy memory. Thank you.
Rob, in response to your how to they not hit each other question, it is the lead's responsibility to make sure there is/will be enough room for the sequence the lead wants to do next. The follow needs to trust the lead not to twirl them into another couple or not catch them. By the way, I'm trying not to use gendered language or assumptions for the lead/follow positions.
After watching you two, I imagine that’s exactly how the aliens reacted when they saw this back in the day, but said to each other: “What is this place? We can’t hang with these people. Let’s move on!”
The dancing shows that early Rock and Roll evolved out of other music genres including Boogie Woogie. Look up Nils and Bianca for a whole lot of dancing like this. The enthusiasm that you both bring to these reactions is contagious.
Take those lessons , enjoy the feel ! And do it now so you can do it as long as time will allow ! 70 years young , sure miss it . But you two are helping with the reactions . Love ❤️ them !
Rock Around The Clock is Hailey's most well known hit but I always liked Rip It Up. This song rocks so hard. From about 1945 till the birth of rock in the mid 50's (when this was done) this style of dance was called "jive" or boogie woogie. My mom was a teen in the late 40's and early 50's and she used to go see big bands and they always danced to the music. Today when you go to a show they have seats on the floor but in the big band era you had a open "dance floor". One other thing to remember is this scene is from a movie so I'm sure the dancers here are professionals. Anyway not many people have reacted to or have seen this vid so I'm glad you found it. It's one of my favorites and since this was from before the age of cell phones when everyone has a movie camera in their pocket this might be the only record of this group performing this song. Rip it UP!
This is my parents era. It always puts a smile on my face watching you guys see all this for the first time :) This is before I was born and I'm 57. Already an oldie when I was in my teens. :) The years fly by guys.
This dance style was called swing dancing or"Jitter Bugging"! Love this stuff! i Dance like that all night long, every night! Unfortunately I always wake up before I'm done! ;)
I gotta tell you, yes, this was specifically rehearsed for a movie... however... this was ALSO based on real dance steps that people were doing quite a bit... there were the basic moves which were taught in my High School like some of the twirls and promenades and such, and then people would improvise with bolder and wilder moves to impress... this was also an occurrence in the whole discotheque scene in the '70's and was later re-popularized again with break dancing... it was a way to show off strength, skill and "moves" without resorting to fighting the more awesome the moves, the more "respect" gained.
They are doing the jitterbug! My brother and I used to do these moves as little kids in our basement growing up in the 60s, then we would perform for family and friends. This type of dancing was popular during the 40s and 50s.
The Swing and the Jive were the dances you would do to these songs. It is soooo much fun to dance this way. Knew somebody who did ballroom dancing and he showed me the basics. Its freakin' fun!
Great reaction!! Love to see you guys learning the music and culture of the previous generations. This is the most fun history class you'll ever have!!
The broad category of dance in this video is swing dancing. The specific category is Lindy Hop. Often confused, for lack of a better term, with the Jitterbug because the Jitterbug is, very often, people's first foray into swing dancing and typically learn it first before moving on to the Lindy. The Jitterbug is a very simple 6 count dance that anyone can up very very quickly. The Lindy is a slightly more complex 8 count dance that usually translates much better into movies and music videos because most music is either on a 4 count or an 8 count rhythm.
![Quando Rondo - Life Goes On [Official Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/eIf3fhMXAow/mqdefault.jpg)
This is how the Great Grandpa's and Grandmas used to roll. I bet you won't look an old person today the same.
IKR. I remember as a kid thinking my grandparents had no music at all when they were kids but as i grew up and became educated I realized they had plenty of music to dance to by early and mid 50s 😅
Fortunately Amber, you don't have to dance this as energetically as it is depicted here. Seniors can still do this, so don't completely dismiss learning this type of dancing.
Yup! A lot of it is just momentum that gets the spins, etc.
The wife and I are in mid 60s and we dance 2 to 3 times a week and mostly swing.
Absolutely! My parents were in their 50’s and long out of practice when they showed us kids the Swing and the Lindy Hop. Go for this!
@JoeMama-rz7nr it sure was, we used to get together Friday nights to learn & practice these dances. We never got as good as these folks but it's fun all the same
This is Swing dancing! My husband and I took ballroom dance lessons for years. We learned East Coast Swing and West Coast Swing. Loved them both! YES you can learn!
They should really look at a West Coast swing video. I love doing WCS!
It would be SO cool to know that Rob and Amber are taking dance lessons!
more specifically it's Lindy Hop
Go for it you two! Jitterbug and Swing are great fun.
Isn't this a mix of swing dance and jitterbug?
@@scottgorski7931 It is Lindy Hopping later named Jitterbug.
These dancers are doing the JIVE. My mom tried to teach me when I was young, but I spent a lot time on the floor. When I got older, took some lessons, and before I knew it, I was jiving. Go for it - it's a lot of fun.
This was a movie. Professional dancers and choreographed. However, there were always dancers that had at least some of those moves. The music was the same for all the dancers. We all danced to that beat and the dance it's still physical. Especially if you keep dancing and don't take a lot of breaks. The basic step for east coast swing today is very similar to the basic rock & roll dancing of the 50's & 60's. What you did beyond the basic step is what determined how good a dancer you were.
That looks like the dance called the jitterbug.
@@cherylmunroe6075 it's lindy hop
What's interesting, is if you watch enough movies from the same time period, you'll notice the dancers are all the same people. They pretty much hired the same dancers over and over again....
You should check out video "Whiteys Lindy Hoppers" . Even better. This song was originally done by Little Richard. It was a common practice in those days for White artists to cover Black artist songs because of racism.
@@dave4791 yup. Rock and Roll was nothing more than juke joint jump blues with a white face.
It's all about fun, Amber! You don't have to be the best dancer, you just have to have fun dancing. You can do it!! Its a blast!
Jitterbug! My aunts did this and it was so cool to watch! Kids used to get together after school and practice with a partner and put together a routine to a song that would knock the socks off everyone else. Then when anyone had a party they would pull it out and everyone would stand back to watch.
Literally - a sock hop
Back before we were all engrossed in our phones so much.
So much of the dancing was this fast paced!! I love watching your reactions to this. A lot of the dancing from the 50's was carried over from the 40's. My mother was a dancer and taught me most of these types of dances. I was born in '53. Like the comment before this one, this is swing dancing!!
I love watching you two discover pre-hi-tech music. You had to be able to actually play and sing. There are definitely lots of "steps" in Jitterbug dancing. My mom and dad danced that way when my band rehearsed in their living room. That's my mom at 95 in my profile shot.
My parents and their friends could dance like that but they are now in their late '80's and are in need of new parts now...lol
@jeff cooley, I was a about 9-10 years old in the mid 50s when songs like this were popular. In my teen years, we danced to a slower beat and called it "doing the Bop". Basically the same dance steps, minus all the flips, as the jitterbug, but just on a slower pace.
I love it!! My parents took up square dancing. Their 50th was All the Family plus their club dancing. My Mom did line dancing to achey breaky heart. She looked like the doll on the wedding cake. Lost her 2 years ago at 96. 😘
@@user-ii4zf5iq3t She sounds so wonderful. Sorry for your Loss
@@j.h.3777 Love Ellen. She's older than your parents.
"Grand Nationals 2017 Champion Swing 1st place winners"
ruclips.net/video/ZP3DM8_hiLg/видео.html
Try "in The Mood" by Glenn Miller and his orchestra, a great dance tune from the 40's. Should be a video with dancing to this song.
Little Richard wrote this song. He sings it too and so does Elvis. Glad to see your Elvis t-shirt
I only knew Little Richard's version, which is obviously the best.
"Rip It Up" is a rock and roll song written by Robert Blackwell and John Marascalco. Little Richard sang and released it first.
@@surlechapeau wow, thanks! Always thought it was a little Richard composition! This version is also pretty darn good! Thanks for the info
I much prefer Little Richard's version. Much grittier and more in line with the rebellious nature of rock n' roll.
I was only familiar with the Richard version too. Nothing against Bill, but his vocal seemed pretty vanilla.
Dancing in the 50's was usually the Jive, The Lindy & Swing Dancing. So much fun to watch!
The Jitterbug, the Jive, Swing. It's the greatest dancing era. I grew up doing this type of dancing. I still do it. You can adapt it to any genre of music. Except maybe hiphop.
You're such a fun couple...the review was secondary to me this time. I'm actually entertained by the joy and love that you seem to exude in reacting to the music, AND each other. Congrats on a site that I look forward to watching daily. I'm clicking play even if I'm not crazy about the music just to see how you all interact. Don't get me wrong, most everything you've covered I've really loved (love almost any music). But you've captured pure joy here, and I applaud you for it! Best wishes.
There was a swing dance resurgence in the 1990s. I was fortunate enough to been swept up in it!!
I never did the acrobatics, for two reasons. It was best to have a regular partner if you did the acrobatics. You have to be able to read each other, because the dance is completely spontaneous. And it was better for the shorter girls. I'm 5'10". Other girls my height were more likely to hurt themselves. But even without the acrobatics...absolutely a blast!
That's how I met my husband!
As far as being coordinated: A beginner learns either a 6-step (swing dance) or 8-step (Lindy Hop). The entire dance is just repeating those steps. You learn to repeat those steps while turning yourself or your partner. You learn how to read your partner. You learn different ways to turn. Then, you learn "flare". By "Flare" I mean kicking your feet, throwing your head, moving your arms, dips, etc.
I too was caught up in the 90's seing revival. Had my zoot suit. Had two fantastic partners and at first we just flung each other around but gradually we coordinated steps to songs, and actually became rather proficient and entered contests and such.
Still love Cherry Poppin' Daddy's, Brian Setzer Orchestra, Squirrel Nut Zippers, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy...ah what great times❣
@@shawnsnow2655 I was obsessed with the late 90s swing revival and was/am a fan of those bands you listed (I went to as many CPD and BBVD concerts as possible, in fact my last show before the pandemic was BBVD). But I never learned to swing dance because I have zero coordination and balance, and that makes me sad, lol.
This style of dancing, especially Lindy Hop, Balboa and Collegiate Shag, are still done all over the world, to the original music. I started Lindy Hop in early 2000 and my husband and I have taught and competed all over.
WOW your Reactions were just Amazing ! these are things the older generation appreciated and now we get to see the younger generation appreciate them too ! dancing we already saw so we knew what was coming you didn't .. the smiles and wows and how did they do that Just Great that you are liking the 50's and more music . it wasn't just Lawrence Welk though he was great too ! it makes me smile to see the happiness of the talent from back in the day want you to learn these moves but you better be limber or better yet watch it again . this way you are safe and we will see your next video .. Much Love For Your Reactions
The dancing was called either "Jitterbug," or "Swing.". It depended on what part of the country you were from... But essentially the same thing, and it basically evolved from the "Lindy Hop," out of Harlem in the 1930s-1940s.
I asked my mom if she used to rip it up…she said of course, everyone did! ❤🎉 I have a renewed respect for the 80-year olds out there! Props! ❤
To think. This was your great grandparents dancing. Swing dance is still a thing today. Still hold yearly world championship.
Best swing song
Glenn Miller "In the Mood" you can't set still
This is basically swing dancing. My husband and I have done this for years. I was born in the 60's but my mother who grew up in the fifties taught me so I have been doing this since I was 5. You aren't kidding you have to be in good shape. I will also tell you this. It makes a difference when you get older. You would be amazed at how much your health will improve if you start doing this. A lot of people think they are in great shape till they start learning this. LOL It definitely builds stamina and when you get older you won't get the usual stiffness, blood pressure, lung issues or heart problems you see with a lot of older people. I have done this for over 50 years and am really blessed not to have the problems of a lot of people my age. Excellent reaction. Loved watching you two experience this.
Y'all are just TOO damn cute! The way you both lit up over the swing dancing made my day. Thank you!
Your black great-grand parents taught us that! GOD bless their souls... and yours.
Check out the dance moves in the video: “Old movie stars dance to Uptown Funk”. It is AMAZING! Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers and all the greats from the past dance to a modern song…in perfect step(!), because the BEAT is the same no matter the era! I’ve watched it over and over and this video reminded me of it. 👍❤️
A million upvotes.
That video is incredible.
Wow! I just checked out the video you mentioned Linda. Absolutely fabulous, thanks!
@@jacqueplett1800 I did NOT hit the thumbs down intentionally! Sorry!!! 😳🙈😬😝
@@lindapetro5594 I've gone back and found my unintentional down votes before. Sometimes the upvote doesn't work. I've also noticed I spell like an idiot and then remember autocorrect is in control. I know how to spell.
Everytime I watch this I'm overwhelmed. It's a bit before my time. They days when teens just wanted to dance and have some innocent fun. As you said the skills are amazing and so energetic. The young people could learn a lot from this.
Swing dancing became jitterbug and evolved with rock and roll!!!
Lindy Hop
You're absolutely right. After that it was the stroll the twist the hully gully the pony the limbo the cha cha etc etc etc.......
50s and early 60s. Great dancing. Pros here on the show. Melissa Ward here.
The dances are variations of the lindy hop and swing dancing. They're pretty close in style. My grandmother taught me the basic lindy for my 8th grade dance back in 1982. I'm pleased to say the girls were impressed : ) And it's as exhausting as it looks! My wife I went to lindy dances in the 90s when were in our late 20s and you cannot leave the dance floor without being soaked in sweat.
Your First Lindy lesson from Lindybeige ruclips.net/video/VjAoG3fgjkc/видео.html
@@paulpeterson4216 That is a good tutorial !!
@@paulpeterson4216 All hail the Beige one! 😃
Technically, this is LindyHop, East Coast Swing (Jitterbug), and Jive. I saw all 3 done by different couples. All three have the same basic beat, the differences are just foundation footwork. Yes this was probably choreographed to a certain extent but not step by step - these are professional dancers in a time where EVERYONE danced like this a lot. Also a strong lead (guy), as long as both dancers know the queues, can pretty much just do it. My parents were Jitterbug King & Queen, they taught me to dance like this really early, and I’ve had a couple of boyfriends who have been able to swing too. Plus my husband took ballroom classes with me, so he can jitterbug a bit too (he has MS so he can’t dance all night, but we always dance together at weddings..). I’m SURE there’s a ballroom studio near you that can teach it. There are lots of cool moves that don’t involve flips, Amber! :D. If you want to check out something more contemporary, check out the Brian Setzer Orchestra, or Big Bad Voodoo Daddy.
Hey, i'm 70 and this type of dancing is the prelude to sock-hops in the early 60's
in junior high for me. The people at the Hop dancing in this video were born in
1935-8 to put a time frame on it. Post WWll, da kids were just ripping'-it-up . .
Im the same age , I remember the sock hops learning all of the dances . In the south there’s a dance called the Shag. Influenced by the Jitterbug with lots of footwork. The What we called Beach music was groups like The Drifters, Four Tops , Temptations, basically Motown . That’s the music we all danced the Shag to . What an era!
@@karenpowell6063 I spent plenty of summer nights shagging at the Myrtle Beach pavilion.
@@alicesmith7020 So did I! Weren’t those the best days ever ?
I can still do some of this. I learned as a toddler and still did this dance to 1980s fast rock. We learned from watching dance shows, dancing with other kids. I rarely attempted the actobatics but my feet and pace was all jump 'n' jive, rockin' and boppin'. At that time you learned from TV and youth culture. There were record hops, sock hops, home parties allowed by parents moving everything out of the living room! Dancing, drinking cokes, eating hamburgers with potato chips with deserts. You eat a bit then jump back out there!
That is the Jitterbug! My eldest brother and sister were Jitterbug champions in Oklahoma! Yes you definitely have to be in shape , and even then they would tape their ankles.
Love the 50s music! Great artist!
If you like swing check out The Brian Setzer Orchestra.
And…or…Stray Cats
Brian is a super cool dude too. I met him a few times when he and his wife would shop the book store i worked in in the 90’s
Love watching you guys appreciate fine times and music and eras!!
'Swing' was and is the type of dancing. Lots of energy! Lots of fun!
My father was a school bus driver for a while and one summer drove his tour bus. He said if he never heard that song again that would be just fine.
They are doing swing which started in the 40's and evolved from Jive in the 20's and Jitterbug in the 30's. It was popular in the 40's and throughout the 50's. Still is popular as a dance form because it is just a fun dance to do. I learned when I took a ballroom dance class as my gym class in school.
We just called it "Swing" dancing here in Seattle. Once you learned the very basic steps and a few of the fancy (but relatively simple) moves then you could improvise. But, in most cases, it does mean that the guy and girl have to practice as partners so they both know the same fancy moves. Typically, when out on the floor, the moves will be dictated by the guy. The girl (already familiar with the various moves) will have to follow the guy's lead. But usually what was going on out on the floor was the girl and the guy had a routine already worked out, something they'd practiced over and over at home. And yes, you really had to be in shape! I remember being able to do this for maybe 3 or 4 songs in a row and then I really had to take a break!!! I'm 76 now and I'm done after 1 song! But give me 15 minutes, a cold beer, and I can get up and rock another one!
This dance style grew out of the jitterbug dance craze of the 40's.
There was a resurgence of swing dancing back in 90's. I loved Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and The Brian Setzer Orchestra. Definitely different music from Bill Haley, but perfect for the swing dance craze. Seltzer's version of "Jump, Jive an' Wail" is awesome. Although Louis Prima's original is my favorite.
You can find swing dancing, Jitterbug, and 50's dance competitions on RUclips - they still teach this today, and you can find masters at this and it's awesome!
Now you have to check out Louis Prima -- "Jump, Jive An' Wail," "Just A Gigolo / I Ain't Got Nobody", "Banana Split For My Baby", "Angelina / Zooma Zooma", "That Old Black Magic", "I've Got The World On A String"....so many amazing songs. :)
Swing dancing actually goes back to the 30s and 40s with the big band era. And since you were on a crooner kick... you really need to check out Tony Bennett... the last (still living) of an era.
I've been advocating for a reaction to Tony Bennett for MONTHS! Legend!
@@cheryljackson5659 I've seen him in concert on 4 occasions... all of them stellar!
I've seen him twice, and what a privilege!
There's a recent interview with Tony on video that's out, mostly about how he is now struggling with dementia.
@@stevejoshua9536 yeah, I've seen it. sad... but he's also had a damn good run.
I'm 73 years old and got in on the end of the swing dance era. My older sister was good at it. You talked about this must have been rehearsed, Yes, And these were professional dancers. Kids did that dance but with way fewer lifts and acrobatics. Kids did practice the dance and easier moves a lot. My sister made me her dance partner so I was one of the few kids my age (at least at my school in the midwest) that could do it. Two moves that I remember doing were 1) Donna would slide onto the floor, I would step over her and drag her through my feet and she would pop up to her feet; and 2) I would bend down and Donna would roll over my back. It was fun.
Swing dancing! It had a revival in the 90s with groups like The Stray Cats, Cherry Poppin Daddies, and Squirrel Nut Zippers. You should definitely check those bands out!
Swing Dancing is awesome!! Couples used to practice with their partners to develop signature moves. There were official contests. but even at regular club nights they were pretty much always competeing. The dancers were often performers as much as the band. This song is actually a Little Richard cover.
I'm 73 and I did that kind of dancing it was pure Joy
Might be a good time to check out the Stray Cats, "Rock This Town." Early rock & roll figures like bill haley inspired lots of future artists to revisit the old ways.
More great early rock: "Cara Mia" by Jay and the Americans, "Pretty Woman" by Roy Orbison (his voice is like an organ), "Runaway" by Del Shannon. As far as the dance, that's a Jitterbug; for more great dancing, find the black and white TV performance of Shirley Ellis' "Nitty Gritty."
R. I. P. Jay Black
Yes please as a salute to Jay Black, that passed this month. Please play Jay And The Americans song, maybe Cara Mia or Some Enchanted Evening.
Love watching that Nitty Gritty video!!!
@@deniserhodes2655 - good band, great vocals
Gonna RIP it up oh gonna shake it up. Love that song. Really appreciate you to hitting my youth years and bringing it back to the future.
"Rip It Up" is a song written by Robert Blackwell and John Marascalco. It was first released by Little Richard in June, 1956. Bill Haley and his Comets also released a recording of the song that year.
original version by Little Richard was much better.
@@jobill8487well of course Little Richard’s version is the definitive version of this song. But as far as cover versions go, Bill’s version is quite creditable.
It's like *dancing with the stars* in 1955. This is how my parents danced when they were young! How much fun was this?? Swing dancing! Boys, don't miss that catch when you toss your girls around!!
Cool reaction. This is actually Little Richards song. This was the first time i ever saw or heard this version 😉
Yep
it makes me feel really old when you say you havent seen this dancing , but also so exciting to see you discover it as new.
It's jitterbugging, but this one is choreographed and done by real dancers. This was top notch stuff. If you want to take it to the next level you should see recordings of the jitterbug contests they had.
I've seen this quality from top-notch, but completely spontaneous, during local swing circles.
@@kathyp1563 I have too. Referring to Rob's question about collision avoidance; there are usually only a few bumps and bruises afterward.
It's actually the Lindy Hop.
My Mom used to try and teach us to jitterbug, was lots of fun, she is still with us at 90!
@@KevinSchmitt77 I was at a bar that had a Rockabilly band, so we were dancing East Coast Swing. A woman walked through the dance floor, from the bathroom, to her table. A dancer did a flip over her partners back & almost kicked the walking lady in the face. Her expression was something else!
Love your reactions to this movie excerpt! My parents danced a toned-down version of this dance style called the Jitterbug. In eighth grade (1961) I went to a brand new school where the gym facilities were not yet complete, so for phys ed they cleared the desks out of one classroom and used it. Among the things we did was learn to Jitterbug! The best part for me was practicing at home with my Mom as my partner! Easily one of my best memories ever! Thanx so much for bringing it back to me!
I love your videos...and your genuine interest and joy in the older music. Watching you react is like a visit with friends. Thank you. And Amber, I love your hair!
This is how I learned to dance. You do what feels good and swing it
Welcome to your first sock hop! This form of stylized couples dancing started back in the late thirties or early forties at places like the Savoy Ballroom and smaller venues around the country. These dancers became stars in their own right through shows like American Bandstand (50s - 80s) and Hullabaloo (60s). This form of dance is the middle step between big bands and the disco of the seventies. I don't know of any form of true "couples dancing" since disco, other than the remnants of ballroom dancing that remain.
These dancers were the "RUclips" stars of the 1950s and 1960s. American Bandstand, Soul Train, and copycats still auditioned dancers to appear on their shows right into the 1980s.
There is still an active International dance community that does couple dances and other types from various countries, though it isn't nearly as big as it was in the 70s and 80s. Some groups specialize in particular ethnic dances, like Scandinavian turning dances, Argentine tango, Hungarian czardas, or Polish oberek and mazurka. Many of the same people also get involved in Lindy swing, Contra dancing, Cajun zydeco, or ballroom dances from the 1920s.
This is SWING DANCING! Swing dance made a comeback in 97-98. When I lived in Tampa Bay a bunch of us took swing dance classes and a local hall, and every week they had "Swing Dance Night" I got so packed they had to turn it into a 2 night event. Swing Dancing was soooo much fun, and we were wiped out at the end of each night. You should try this sometime.
His second best song was See You Later Aligator. You already did his most famous song Rock Around the Clock.
One of my favorite memories is of my grandmother - who was a flapper in the Roaring 1920's - is of her teaching my Mom (who was in her fifties at the time, mid 70's) and me ( in my mid-twenties) how to do the Charleston. My grandmother was in her 70's at the time. We had so much fun, and gave me a wonderful memory.
If you haven't already, check out Chuck Berry - Johnny B. Goode (from 1958). Chuck Berry is nicknamed "The Father of Rock 'n Roll", although Little Richard would and could argue that.. Same upbeat energy vibe. Rolling Stone Magazine ranks "Johnny B. Goode", seventh in top 500 all-time greatest rock hits.
Link to their reaction is below 💜
ruclips.net/video/sNE_wAoWxqo/видео.html
Exactly - nobody said rock AND ROLL, until Chuck's big hit in '58 "Rock And Roll Music" (gotta be rock and roll music, if you wanna dace with me).
My mom and dad used to win all kind of butternut contests and still danced like this into there 80's. My mom was barely 5 foot tall and my dad would toss here like a day doll! Miss them and their dancing so so much!
Bill Haley was blind in one eye and styled the curl as a means of distracting people away from that eye.
See You Later Alligator is another classic of theirs. A good dance song from the early 60s that would be realistic to learn is The Madison.
Wow -- I'm a big Bill Haley fan and I didn't know that about him. Interesting!
Blues singer/guitarist Elmore James recorded a song in 1960, called "Madison Blues". It is a good song to dance to.
My mom and dad danced Swing when they were young and my dad was in WWII. We had so much fun dancing in the living room when I was growing up.
Swing dancie is so much fun. Listen to Stray Cats, Stray Cat Strut. You will love it.
Y'alls faces are priceless and I love it
Bill Haley was a true pioneer in rock n roll , he was one of the 1st superstars. This was sock hop dancing 💃and from the movie don't nock the rock.it features a bunch of rock icons you should watch it and react to it.
And let's not forget get he had a rock song before Elvis, called Rock This Joint inn1952 that was reworked later to Rock around the clock.
Bill Haley simply this made this music accessible to a white audience. What he's playing is essentially black juke joint jump blues.
@@armynurseboy and these dancers were imitating black dance moves . But it made a movement that became rock n roll and spread worldwide
My parents danced like this in the day. Their fave dance was the Lindy. They did the Lindy well into their older age! It was a joy to watch!
Yes, it is Bill Haley, not Billy, and the dancing is basically Swing Dancing
AWESOME!! BTW, There's a similar scene in the same movie I believe. Check that one out too! Bill Haley this time singing "Razzle Dazzle" and it has another awesome dance scene. Swing dancing in general is super fun to watch! My band here in the DC area used to play a ton of swing dances before the pandemic (since they were mostly inside) and they'd often have "Jams" at some point during the night where 4 or 5 REALLY good couples would showcase their moves. Cant wait to start playing those again! So cool!
I’ve done this in a country western setting without the impressive extreme footwork and without flipping my date (unless by accident). These dancers were truly professional. But if you want to learn to dance similar to this and more doable then go visit your local country western bar.
it aint the same jack!
My Dad was a drummer for this kind of music, kind of as a side hustle where he got to do what he truly loved and worked in a factory long days and nights to support us growing up. I was only little, but I loved watching all the dancing and feeling the floor vibrate. Such a happy memory. Thank you.
There were different names for each individual dance styles but it all fell under one header. The Age of Jive
As much as I love this song watching the 2 of you react to this was priceless!!
Rob, in response to your how to they not hit each other question, it is the lead's responsibility to make sure there is/will be enough room for the sequence the lead wants to do next. The follow needs to trust the lead not to twirl them into another couple or not catch them. By the way, I'm trying not to use gendered language or assumptions for the lead/follow positions.
I’ve been a metal head a punk rocker a hard rocker etc , but this music thus fashion this dancing will always be my favorite.
Little Richard did this song first, and its great. Bill Haley/Comets cover is good too.
It was great fun to watch you guys watch this. 😁. You seem to be such a well-matched couple. It’s a joy to see. 🥰
Give yourself a chance girl! Not all swing is at this tempo. Lots of styles. You owe it to yourself to at least try it.
Thanks guys! Great fun! Younger folks often don't realize that the 50's, 60's and 70's had amazing energetic culture. This video is a prime example!!!
After watching you two, I imagine that’s exactly how the aliens reacted when they saw this back in the day, but said to each other: “What is this place? We can’t hang with these people. Let’s move on!”
Imagine someone's maw-maw or pa-paw dancing like that back in the day, lol.
The dancing shows that early Rock and Roll evolved out of other music genres including Boogie Woogie. Look up Nils and Bianca for a whole lot of dancing like this. The enthusiasm that you both bring to these reactions is contagious.
Take those lessons , enjoy the feel ! And do it now so you can do it as long as time will allow ! 70 years young , sure miss it . But you two are helping with the reactions . Love ❤️ them !
i was only 5 yr old when this came out but I had 3 older sister who keep our home a rockin'. Great reaction
Rock Around The Clock is Hailey's most well known hit but I always liked Rip It Up. This song rocks so hard. From about 1945 till the birth of rock in the mid 50's (when this was done) this style of dance was called "jive" or boogie woogie. My mom was a teen in the late 40's and early 50's and she used to go see big bands and they always danced to the music. Today when you go to a show they have seats on the floor but in the big band era you had a open "dance floor". One other thing to remember is this scene is from a movie so I'm sure the dancers here are professionals. Anyway not many people have reacted to or have seen this vid so I'm glad you found it. It's one of my favorites and since this was from before the age of cell phones when everyone has a movie camera in their pocket this might be the only record of this group performing this song. Rip it UP!
This is my parents era. It always puts a smile on my face watching you guys see all this for the first time :) This is before I was born and I'm 57. Already an oldie when I was in my teens. :) The years fly by guys.
This dance style was called swing dancing or"Jitter Bugging"! Love this stuff! i Dance like that all night long, every night! Unfortunately I always wake up before I'm done! ;)
I gotta tell you, yes, this was specifically rehearsed for a movie... however... this was ALSO based on real dance steps that people were doing quite a bit... there were the basic moves which were taught in my High School like some of the twirls and promenades and such, and then people would improvise with bolder and wilder moves to impress... this was also an occurrence in the whole discotheque scene in the '70's and was later re-popularized again with break dancing... it was a way to show off strength, skill and "moves" without resorting to fighting the more awesome the moves, the more "respect" gained.
🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂
Love the real smiles on your faces , Danny and the Juniors " at the hop" '58 is a fun one. ☮️
They are doing the jitterbug! My brother and I used to do these moves as little kids in our basement growing up in the 60s, then we would perform for family and friends. This type of dancing was popular during the 40s and 50s.
This is why our grandparents and other elderly people reminisce about the times when they were young it was just good ol innocent fun
The Swing and the Jive were the dances you would do to these songs. It is soooo much fun to dance this way. Knew somebody who did ballroom dancing and he showed me the basics. Its freakin' fun!
I LOVE your reactions!!! I have to watch this several times so I can see everything!
My grandparents were the best swing dancers! I loved watching them!! RIP Opa and Sylvia
Great reaction!! Love to see you guys learning the music and culture of the previous generations. This is the most fun history class you'll ever have!!
Great music and great dancing !!!!! They still people that love to dance like this and the music ✌❤🎵🎶🎙
The broad category of dance in this video is swing dancing. The specific category is Lindy Hop. Often confused, for lack of a better term, with the Jitterbug because the Jitterbug is, very often, people's first foray into swing dancing and typically learn it first before moving on to the Lindy. The Jitterbug is a very simple 6 count dance that anyone can up very very quickly. The Lindy is a slightly more complex 8 count dance that usually translates much better into movies and music videos because most music is either on a 4 count or an 8 count rhythm.