Welcome to Just Jive Lindy Hop
We are a fun and friendly dance company based in Gloucestershire & Wiltshire with over 25 years of dancing experience between us. Combined with a background in music & dance and teaching & coaching in other disciplines, we are well equipped to make sure we can tune our teaching techniques to suit our students; whether that be a small private group, a regular dance class or at a major weekend event. Always fun, with lots of humour we ensure you have a great time with us. We have taught hundreds (maybe thousands) of people with ‘2 left feet’ so we promise you will be in safe hands with us.
Lindy Hop
Lindy Hop is a partner dance that is generally said to have been invented in The Savoy Ballroom, Harlem, New York, in the 1920's and 1930's, and was danced to swing music. It is an African - American jazz dance that evolved from several earlier dances, most notably the Charleston. It was the American GI soldiers who bought Lindy Hop to Britain in the early 1940's. Lindy is traditionally danced to swing music. We teach the ‘Savoy’ style of Lindy made famous by the King of Lindy Hop, Frankie Manning. This is the authentic original and best style. To give you a flavour of the types of tunes they danced to, listen to the classic Big Band sounds of Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, Glenn Miller, Count Basie or Artie Shaw. Also have a listen to some of the great singers of the day such as Ella Fitzgerald, Billy Holiday or Frank Sinatra. Classes in Stroud, Tetbury & Saul.
Balboa
The Balboa is a swing dance that originated in Southern California during the 1920s and enjoyed huge popularity during the 1930s and 1940s. The term Balboa originally referred to a dance characterised by its close embrace and full body connection. It emphasises rhythmic weight shifts and lead-follow partnership. Variations done in closed position are called "Pure Balboa", and moves done in open position are called "Bal-Swing". We teach Bal-Swing which also borrows moves from other dances, especially Charleston and Lindy Hop and features moves in open position. We offer private lessons if you want to get started on this lovely dance.
Swing Jive
Swing Jive is also a partner dance. There are many modern Jive styles, our's is an amalgamation of footwork based moves with a smooth action. Unlike more Modern and Ballroom Jives (no wiggling) our style would be influenced by Rock 'n' Roll and Lindy Hop. It also includes Jazz Steps and tricks. We dance to music from the 1920's onwards, including Rock 'n' Roll and today’s current tunes. Some of our favourite tracks which fill the floor include: Johnny be Good, Shakin' Mother for You and Dance with me Tonight performed by Olly Murs. Classes in Swindon.
