Learn swing dance?

Question:

Learn swing dance?

ok im a total fan of swing dance and big band and i wanna know some good songs and where i can learn dance moves over the internet for free

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: Swing is a social dance, and it's cool you're looking for resources online to learn from, but when it comes down to it, you are dancing with another person, not by yourself. Online resources might help you learn more, but they aren't going to get you started. I recommend that you find your local lindy hop scene/instructor to get you started (where you can learn about lead and follow dancing).

Try searching you City/State on this website:
http://www.thelindyhop.com

That being said . . .

If you're a beginner, you're to want to start out by learning some East Coast Swing. This is the easiest to learn as a beginner. It's a 6-count basic, and stays in that basic. It's also a standard ballroom dance, and is very easy to find a teacher.
Here's how to dance it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bucqgf90h...

Now, unless you're going into competitive ballroom, there's really no reason to stick with learning ONLY east coast, you'll want to move on to Lindy Hop.

Lindy Hop is the original swing dance that developed out of the Charleston in Harlem. It's almost always danced to what's considered "swing music" by most people's standards. It's an 8 count dance that can have different variations.
Here's how to dance it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvju2q1cg...

In addition you should learn other swing type dances like Charleston, Balboa and Collegiate Shag.

There are a few free instructional videos on YouTube and Google Video you can search for, but I find the best online resource is:
http://www.idance.net
They have some free lessons, but most you have to pay for . . . don't worry, it's only a $1 per video, so that's pretty cheap!

Now the swing music you might be interested in dancing to depends on whether you are a bigger fan of Cherry Poppin' Daddies, Louis Prima, or Benny Goodman.

I'll assume that you're probably into "Neo-Swing", which is modern pop swing like Cherry Poppin' Daddies.

Here's a list of some neo-swing bands and songs:

(band name - song name)
Bellvue Cadillac - Call of the Wild
Bellvue Cadillac - Pay Pay Pay
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy - Go Daddy-O
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy - Jumpin' Jack
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy - Mr. Pinstripe Suit
Brian Setzer Orchestra - Americano
Brian Setzer Orchestra - Pennsylvania 6-5000
Cherry Poppin' Daddies - Brown Derby Jump
Cherry Poppin' Daddies - No Mercy For Swine
Colin James - C'mon With the C'mon
Ditty Bops - Sister Kate
Double Down - All In
Flying Neutrinos - Mr. Zoot Suit
Gas House Gorillas - Find a Little Boogie
Gas House Gorillas - Quiet Whiskey
Jive Aces - Planet Jive
Martini Max - Gangster Man
Phat Cat Swinger - Phat Cat Swinger
Phat Cat Swinger - Volcano Joe
Royal Crown Revue - Barflies at the Beach
Royal Crown Revue - Hey! Pachuco
Royal Crown Revue - Something's Got to Give
Royal Crown Revue - Zip Gun Bop
Squirrel Nut Zippers - Good Enough for Grandad
Squirrel Nut Zippers - Hell
Squirrel Nut Zippers - Put a Lid on It
Stray Cats - Fishnet Stockings
Stray Cats - Rock This Town
Zoot Suit Revue - Money Cash

Now if you like "Jump, Jive n' Wail", it's originally a jump blues song that originated in the late 40's and 50's. If you're into how that song sound, you should listen to these jump blues and early rock n' roll songs:

Big Six - We the Boys Will Rock Ya!
Bill Haley and His Comets - Burn That Candle
Bill Haley and His Comets - Rock this Joint
Bill Haley and His Comets - See Ya Later Alligator
Bill Haley and His Comets - Shake Rattle and Roll
Bull Moose Jackson - Big Ten Inch
Bull Moose Jackson - Why Don't You Haul Off and Love Me
Clarence "Frogman" Henry - Ain't Got No Home
Dion - Runaround Sue
Flattop Tom and His Jump Cats - Cats Meow
George Whitesell - Hide and Seek
Indigo Swing - Another Day in LA
Indigo Swing - Blue Suit Boogie
Julie Lee - Last Call for Alcohol
Jump Jones - Sittin' On It All The Time
Louis Jordan - Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens
Louis Jordan - Caldonia
Louis Jordan - Saturday Night Fish Fry
Louis Prima - 5 Months, 2 Weeks, 2 Days
Louis Prima - Closer to the Bone
Louis Prima - Just a Gigolo
Louis Prima - Whistle Stop
Mighty Blue Kinds - Green Grass Grows All Around
Mighty Blue Kinds - Ragg Mopp
Rob Rio - Fat Girl Boogie
Steve Lucky and the Rhumba Bums - Jumptown
Stompy Jones (aka Swing Session) - Boogie Woogie on a Saturday Night
Stompy Jones (aka Swing Session) - Juke Box Judy
Stompy Jones (aka Swing Session) - Mondine
Stompy Jones (aka Swing Session) - Saxawoogie
Stompy Jones (aka Swing Session) - Well Well My Love
Wynonie Harris - Bloodshot Eyes
Wynonie Harris - Wasn't That Good?

Now, you might not be interested in Big Band music, but that's where all of swing comes from. Most of the music does not come off as "high energy" like Neo-Swing for two reasons: 1) Recording technology wasn't great back then, and 2) It's hard to capture the energy of a big band on a recording, even today; however, the best dances I've ever been too have been with a full 20 piece big band! (Additionally, Christina's Candyman song samples the melody from the Andrews Sisters' song "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy".)

Regardless, you should check out these required songs from the Big Band Era:

Andrews Sisters - Bounce Me Brother with a Solid Four
Andrews Sisters - Hold Tight
Anita O'Day & Gene Krupa - Drum Boogie
Artie Shaw - Carioca
Artie Shaw - Man From Mars
Artie Shaw - Traffic Jam
Benny Goodman - Life Goes to a Party
Benny Goodman - Sing, Sing, Sing
Benny Goodman - Swingtime in the Rockies
Bill Elliot Swing Orchestra - Bill's Bounce (live)
Bill Elliot Swing Orchestra - Camp Hollywood Special
Bill Elliot Swing Orchestra - Traffic Jam
Campus 5 - Diga Diga Doo
Campus 5 - Doin' at the Doing
Count Basie - Jumpin' at the Woodside
Count Basie - Shorty George
Count Basie - Swingin' The Blues
Duke Ellington - Rockin' in Rhythm
Ella Fitzgerald - Oh' Lady Be Good
Ella Fitzgerald - Too Darn Hot
Fletcher Henderson - Christopher Columbus
Glenn Miller - American Patrol
Glenn Miller - Bugle Call Rag
Glenn Miller - Jeep Jockey Jump
Lionel Hampton - Flying Home
Louis Armstrong - C Jam Blues
Solomon Douglas Swingtet - Indiana
Tommy Dorsey - One O'clock Jump
Tommy Dorsey - Well, Git It!

Anyways, I hope that helps!

If you want a little inspiration about swing dancing, check out this video (It's from a professional Lindy Hop competition):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myjj0mnne...

Happy Dancing! Source(s):
I'm a swing dancer. sherch for chep dancing schools on yahoo or ask somebody u know if they know any good chep dancing schools to lean swing dance yea i love dancin that type of swing music...!! u should try dancin the 50's swing like Johnny B good and stuff like dat...hey wats up? y didnt u ever write back? well anyways wuts up??holla! If this shorcut doesn't work go to "gap commercial - Khaki Swing"
http://video.yahoo.com/video/play?vid=11...

This one's instructions on swing dancing
http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=a9j8a1oecalh2c...

free swing music on; http://www.tropicalglen.com/fa-swing.htm... One of the biggest part of enjoying Swing Dancing is the social interaction and learning things from people on the dance floor.

If you really want to learn it, you'll do much better finding a local swing or lindy hop dance group (or 2nd best a studio).

Have fun.