SWING MUSIC AND DANCE By George Patterson of THE ROARING FORTIES

History of Swing Dancing

The history of swing dates back to the 1920's, where the black community, while dancing to contemporary Jazz music, discovered the Charleston and the Lindy Hop.

On March 26, 1926, the Savoy Ballroom opened its doors in New York. The Savoy was an immediate success with its block-long dance floor and a raised double bandstand. Nightly dancing attracted most of the best dancers in the New York area. Stimulated by the presence of great dancers and the best black bands, music at the Savoy was largely Swinging Jazz. One evening in 1927, following Lindbergh's flight to Paris, a local dance enthusiast named "Shorty George" Snowden was watching some of the dancing couples. A newspaper reporter asked him what dance they were doing, and it just so happened that there was a newspaper with an article about Lindbergh's flight sitting on the bench next to them. The title of the article read, "Lindy Hops The Atlantic," and George just sort of read that and said, "Lindy Hop" and the name stuck.

In the mid 1930's, a bouncy six beat variant was named the Jitterbug by the band leader Cab Calloway when he introduced a tune in 1934 entitled "Jitterbug".

With the discovery of the Lindy Hop and the Jitterbug, the communities began dancing to the contemporary Jazz and Swing music as it was evolving at the time, with Benny Goodman leading the action. Dancers soon incorporated tap and jazz steps into their dancing.

In the mid 1930's, Herbert White, head bouncer in the New York City Savoy Ballroom, formed a Lindy Hop dance troupe called Whitey's Lindy Hoppers. One of the most important members of Whitey's Lindy Hoppers was Frankie Manning. The "Hoppers" were showcased in the following films: "A Day at the Races" (1937), "Hellzapoppin" (1941), "Sugar Hill Masquerade" (1942), and "Killer Diller" (1948).

In 1938, the Harvest Moon Ball included Lindy Hop and Jitterbug competition for the first time. It was captured on film and presented for everyone to see in the Paramount, Pathe, and Universal movie newsreels between 1938 and 1951.

In early 1938, Dean Collins arrived in Hollywood. He learned to dance the Lindy Hop, Jitterbug, Lindy and Swing in New York City and spent a lot of time in Harlem and the Savoy Ballroom. Between 1941 and 1960, Collins danced in, or helped choreograph over 100 movies which provided at least a 30 second clip of some of the best California white dancers performing Lindy Hop, Jitterbug, Lindy and Swing.

In the late 1930's and through the 1940's, the terms Lindy Hop, Jitterbug, Lindy, and Swing were used interchangeably by the news media to describe the same style of dancing taking place on the streets, in the night clubs, in contests, and in the movies.

By the end of 1936, the Lindy was sweeping the United States. As might be expected, the first reaction of most dancing teachers to the Lindy was a chilly negative. In 1936 Philip Nutl, president of the American Society of Teachers of Dancing, expressed the opinion that swing would not last beyond the winter. In 1938 Donald Grant, president of the Dance Teachers' Business Association, said that swing music "is a degenerated form of jazz, whose devotees are the unfortunate victims of economic instability." In 1942 members of the New York Society of Teachers of Dancing were told that the jitterbug (a direct descendent of the Lindy Hop), could no longer be ignored. Its "cavortings" could be refined to suit a crowded dance floor.

The dance schools such as The New York Society of Teachers and Arthur Murray, did not formally begin documenting or teaching the Lindy Hop, Jitterbug, Lindy, and Swing until the early 1940's. The ballroom dance community was more interested in teaching the foreign dances such as the Argentine Tango, Spanish Paso Doblé, Brazilian Samba, Puerto Rican Merengue, Cuban Mambo and Cha Cha, English Quickstep, Austrian Waltz, with an occasional American Fox-trot and Peabody.

In the early 1940's the Arthur Murray studios looked at what was being done on the dance floors in each city and directed their teachers to teach what was being danced in their respective cities. As a result, the Arthur Murray Studios taught different styles of undocumented Swing in each city.

In the early 1940's, Lauré Haile, as a swing dancer and competitor, documented what she saw being danced by the white community. At that time, Dean Collins was leading the action with Lenny Smith and Lou Southern in the night clubs and competitions in Southern California. Lauré Haile gave it the name of "Western Swing". She began teaching for Arthur Murray in 1945. Dean Collins taught Arthur Murray teachers in Hollywood and San Francisco in the late 1940's and early 1950's.

After the late 1940's, the soldiers and sailors returned from overseas and continued to dance in and around their military bases. Jitterbug was danced to Country-Western music in Country-Western bars, and popularized in the 1980's.

As the music changed between the 1920's and 1990's, (Jazz, Swing, Bop, Rock 'n' Roll, Rhythm & Blues, Disco, Country), the Lindy Hop, Jitterbug, Lindy, and Swing evolved across the U.S. with many regional styles. The late 1940's brought forth many dances that evolved from Rhythm & Blues music: the Houston Push and Dallas whip (Texas), the Imperial Swing (St. Louis), the D.C. Hand Dancing (Washington), and the Carolina Shag (Carolinas and Norfolk) were just a few.

In 1951 Lauré Haile first published her dance notes as a syllabus, which included Western Swing for the Santa Monica Arthur Murray Dance Studio. In the 50's she presented her syllabus in workshops across the U.S. for the Arthur Murray Studios. The original Lauré Haile Arthur Murray Western Swing Syllabus has been taught by Arthur Murray studios with only minor revisions for the past 44 years.

From the mid 1940's to today, the Lindy Hop, Jitterbug, Lindy, and Swing, were stripped down and distilled by the ballroom dance studio teachers in order to adapt what they were teaching to the less nimble-footed general public who paid for dance lessons. As a result, the ballroom dance studios bred and developed a ballroom East Coast Swing and ballroom West Coast Swing.

In the late 1950's, television brought "American Bandstand", "The Buddy Dean Show" and other programs to the teenage audiences. The teenagers were rocking with Elvis Presley, Little Richard, and Chuck Berry leading the fray. In 1959, some of the California dance organizations, with Skippy Blair setting the pace, changed the name of Western Swing to West Coast Swing so it would not be confused with country and western dancing.

In the 1990's, dancers over 60 years of age still moving their Lindy Hoppin', Jitterbuggin', Swingin', and Shaggin' feet.

SWING STYLES

Savoy Swing: a style of Swing popular in the New York Savoy Ballroom in the 30's and 40's originally danced to Swing music. The Savoy style of swing is a very fast, jumpy, casual-looking style of dancing

Lindy style is a smoother-looking dance.

West Coast Swing: a style of Swing emphasizing nimble feet popular in California night clubs in the 30's and 40's and voted the California State Dance in 1989.

Whip: a style of Swing popular in Houston, Texas, emphasizing moves spinning the follower between dance positions with a wave rhythm break.

Push: a style of swing popular in Dallas, Texas, emphasizing moves spinning the follower between dance positions with a rock rhythm break.

Supreme Swing: a style of Swing popular in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Imperial Swing: a style of Swing popular in St. Louis, Missouri.

Carolina Shag: a style of Swing popular in the Carolinas emphasizing the leader's nimble feet.

DC Hand Dancing: a Washington, DC synthesis of Lindy and Swing.

East Coast Swing: a 6 count style of Lindy popular in the ballroom dance school organizations.

Ballroom West Coast Swing: a style of swing popular in the ballroom dance school organizations and different from the style performed in the California night clubs and Swing dance clubs.

Country-Western Swing: a style of Jitterbug popularized during the 1980's and danced to Country and Western music.

Cajun Swing: a Louisiana Bayou style of Lindy danced to Cajun music.

Pony Swing: a Country Western style of Cajun Swing.

Jive: the International Style version of the dance is called Jive, and it is danced competitively in the US and all over the world.

THE ROARING FORTIES BAND

THE ROARING FORTIES BAND
Legendary Live gigs now booking Festivals Weddings Corporate events

http://www.flickr.com/photos/theroaringforties/

GEORGE PATTERSONS THE ROARING FORTIES, CHANGES BUT REMAINS THE SAME. 2009 HAS HAD A SLOW START BUT ITS STARTING TO KICK IN NOW FOR THIS 6 YEAR OLD BAND. THIS YEAR WILL SEE SOME ORIGINAL SONGS AND SOME REJUVENATED OLD ONES, A NEW VIDEO IS DUE SOON. CONTACT THEM ON FACEBOOK AND CHAT WITH THEM

NEW SINGLE OUT THE END OF MAY

OH MARIE BY THE ROARING FORTIES AND JON KENNY
THE ROARING FORTIES AND JON KENNY: THURSDAY 14TH JUNE AT THE CRANE LANE CORK. DOORS AT 8.PM SHARP


IF YOU CAN TEXT REQUESTS FOR THE SINGLE TO BE PLAYED TO THE FOLLOWING NUMBERS IT WOULD BE GOOD

RED FM 0868273336
RTE 0877720000
WLRM 083333975
96FM 0857379696
Beat102 0851029103
TODAY FM 0854100102

The Killing Crew

This is the line up. From left to right Gareth Forsyth, Christian Best, Dave Carville, Jerome Rimson, Anth Kaley. George Patterson.

We are in the Studio Monday 2nd April. Wish us luck

Le Cheile

Sundays at 6 til 8 We play in cork as a three piece in Le cheile (le kala). Its fun, you should come along.

OH MARIE

We are about to go into the studio to record our new album and single. you can see our rehersal of this song below if you want


click on this one above.

anthkaley.com

Coming soon

WHO IS THIS HUNK

Could this be the Roaring Forties newest and sexiest band member................................................No, its our George, not changed too much has he.

THE BODEGA IS SHUTTING FOR EVER

For international readers, this will mean nothing, but for Cork people and the employees of this important pub it is terrible news. the Bodega, which has been my local for the past five years has been sold to property developers who apparently are to turn it into more shops, One of the towns most prestidigous drinking haunts has to make way for shoppers.
Ourselves and Tone Control / The Sunbeams will be playing there probably next Friday or Saturday, do come along for one last tapas and a drink in an airy atmosphere with large lamp shades. It will be a party, we will be drinking.

GEORGE AND LEMMY (THE WORLD TOUR)

George , long time friend of lemmy has planned to do a world tour, Lemmy Goes off soon to the west, George is off to the East, and they will meet up somewhere, Lemmy isnt aware of any of this, George is keeping it as a surprise.

Elvis Found alive in limerick in caravan

ORLAGH CASSIDY WITH SOME TOAST, THOUGHT IT WAS ELVIS FOR A MOMENT......SORRY





Shall we record a new album? Yes lets,
Shall we release a single? OK if you insist.

Will you buy it??




Well, Christmas is over and spring is in the air, The band have been going long enough now for us to know it is working, so its time to record a single and stick it on a new album, any ideas on the name of the album will be welcome, The boys are amongst the finest muicians around and I am sure the songs we choose to write will be good. so, wish us luck.

Let the forces of darkness cower in fear. For the time to swing is here my dear.

The whole Elvis thing was just to get your attention, sorry about that.

Global Warming Lecture

There is fast approaching a time called the tipping point, about 25 years away, where the whole climate change will be happenning at such a pace that it will be unstopable. all the . 3 degrees in the next 100 years is based on emmissions now but within the next ten years those green house gasses will have tripled in yearly volume. we are going to witness one of the most important times in the history of the human race. good a. The planet is worth our efforts to improve this problem but What we have is worth keeping also, will our efforts make a difference at this late stage, probably not. 3 degrees rise will be here soon. that means that southern europe and the area around the equator will become a dust bowl and many asian countries will be uninhabitable this will lead to uprisings and fighting for resourses (water mainly). the Northern hemisphere will experience longer summers and warmer winters. i wonder how long life will go on as usual, I know that in some parts of the world now families spend days inside with the air conditioning on watching videos, if it gets like that in say England, whats it going to be like in those other places

KEN FROM THE JIVE ACES AND MEL AT THE 100 CLUB. WE ARE BACK THERE ON 11TH FEBRUARY IF YOU WANT TO COME
http://www.the100club.co.uk

HOLD THESE WILL YOU

It looks very effective dont you think?

GLOBAL DIMMING

THIS IS AN HORIZON DOCUMENTARY. ITS 49 MINUTES LONG AND VERY EXPLANATORY. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT CAN BE DONE, I SUSPECT THAT NOTHING IS THE ANSWER. IT NEEDS WORLD POWERS TO SAY "RIGHT. ELECTRIC CARS FROM NOW ON, WIND AND SEA TURBINE TO SUPPLY POWER, INDUSTRY EMISSION TO BE CUT 50 -70 %". BUT THEN I SUSPECT THE POWERS THAT BE DONT CARE TOO MUCH BECAUSE THEY HAVE SO MUCH POWER AND WEALTH THAT THEY CAN LIVE ON THE PLANET WHEN THE VAST MAJORITY ARE GONE, WHEN THE POLAR ICE CAPS HAVE MELTED AND THE WATER LEVEL IS 21 FEET HIGHER AND ENGLAND IS A DUST BOWL DUE TO THE HIGH TEMPERATURE AND INDIA IS UNINHABITABLE, WE COULD ACTUALLY BE LIVING THROUGH THE MOST EXCITING AND EVENTFULL PART OF THE HUMAN RACES EXISTENCE, ITS NATURAL CULLING.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1027879546389218797&q=global+dimming&hl=en

www.theroaringforties.com

The Roaring Forties are a part of Skull Mike Productions. e.mail: info@theroaringforties.com Tel: 00353861282435

GLOBAL DIMMING AND WARMING

WEATHER TRENDS ARE CONSTANTLY ON THE NEWS. TODAY FOR INSTANCE IT WAS POINTED OUT THAT IN AMERICA THE COMPANIES RELYING ON WINTER ARE LOSING MONEY BECAUSE THERE IS NO SNOW, IN NEW YORK THERE IS NO ICE SKATING, ITS GETTING WARMER AND WARMER AND NO ONE KNOWS THAT SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE OR WE WILL BE SEEING THE END OF OUR RACE, IT IS ACCELERATING BUT LIFE IS GOING ON AS USUAL. WATCH THE NEWS EVERY DAY ALMOST THERE IS NEWS ON EXTRAORDINARY WEATHER CONDITIONS. LETA HOPE THAT OIL AND GAS RUN OUT BEFORE DOOMSDAY COMES ( www.newscientist.com/ article.ns?id=dn4216 )

THE PROTECTIVE LAYER AROUND OUR PLANET IS THICKENNING AND ACTING LIKE A QUILT KEEPING MORE HEAT IN. WE ARE OVERHEATING

THIS YEAR WE ARE GOING TO TRY AND INFORM PEOPLE ABOUT GLOBAL WARMING AND GLOBAL DIMMING, WHAT YOU DO WITH THE INFORMATION IS UP TO YOU, JUST GET INTERESTED.

WE ARE NOT DESTROYING THE PLANET, WE ARE WIPING OURSELVES OUT. THE
PLANET WILL GET BETTER AFTER WE HAVE GONE. AND IT LOOKS LIKE WE WILL
BE GONE QUITE SOON.

LOOK AT ALL THE EXTREME WEATHER THE WORLD HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING

FIND AND WATCH THE FILM " AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH"

LOG ON TO THESE

http://www.climatecrisis.net
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sn/tvradio/programmes/horizon/dimming_trans.shtml
http://www.guardian.co.uk/life/feature/story/0,13026,1108853,00.html

GOOGLE GLOBAL DIMMING AND GLOBAL WARMING.


WHAT YOU DO WITH THE INFORMATION IS UP TO YOU, WE JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW.

THIS IS REAL "DAY AFTER TOMMOROW" STUFF
LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK OR FIND OUT

The problem is of course is that what we have at present is worth keeping. lets just see what haapens
CHEERS

Whats Happenning Now?

THE 100 CLUB. OXFORD STREET
We played there, very nice, going back in Febuary


We are off to Washington again on 22nd November to play at the Kennedy Centre on thanks giving day. Next year is getting booked up, I need to loose some weight and get fit for the christmas season, we are full on that Month culminating with new years eve at The Soho Bar in cork, then january we are planning a video, maybe to a known song maybe to one we write, its about time we started writing our own material. we will, im sure.