'Nostalgia' Dance

'Nostalgia' Dance covers a broad range of swing, rhythm & blues based styles developed during the 1930's to 1960's. These dance styles share similar patterns of movement, composition, and core dance content but vary with respect to their characterisation, emphasis and structure to provide clearly related but distinct dances. In accordance with the shifting trends of the blues music scene, the different dances evolved to match - often with regional variations in style and/or action that remain evident today. Consequently, there are many forms of Swing, Rock 'n' Roll, and Rockabilly dancing and no particular form(s) should be considered fundamentally 'correct'.

Recognising the diversity of 'nostalgia' dance, Cool Cats aims to provide students with a solid foundation in the major dance styles from which less common variants and specific stylings have derived. In this regard each dance style is taught to remain true to its fundamental form while acknowledging that, with continued dance development and understanding, improved methods and techniques may exist than those originally adopted. Similarly, whether due to injury, prior training, or learning difficulties, our approach can remain flexible to meet the needs of different students while achieving the dance outcomes desired.

Swing, Rhythm 'n' Blues, & Rockabilly

The roots of ('classic' and contemporary) rock 'n' roll music may be traced back to 1920-30's jazz and swing through the development of 'rhythm and blues' during the period between 1940 and 1960. The term 'rhythm and blues' was loosely employed to characterise a wide variety of styles based on traditional ('white') pop music structure and influenced by ('black') blues vocals, rhythms, and styling. This musical combination was more flexible, energetic, and entertaining - perfect to encourage the development of fun, new, and exciting dance styles.

The emergence of rhythm and blues also had strong influence on the country music of the southern United States. The combination of early rock 'n' roll and 'hillbilly' music, in conjunction with significant contributions from western swing and boogie woogie, came to be known as Rockabilly. In a similar fashion to the music, Rockabilly dancing developed from the integration of early rock 'n' roll and country dance styles. Early Rockabilly mixed a variety of musical genres and forms, including jazz, folk, honky-tonk, and bluegrass. This depth and fusion of primarily blues-based styles remains reflected in diversity of Rockabilly music today.

The following summary provides a rough chronology of the evolution of 'nostalgia' music and dance styles. However, it should be recognised that the styles we now identify were not so clearly defined during their development. To some extent all of these styles overlap - and continue to do so today.

1920-1930's:

           Music - Jazz, Swing, Blues, Country

           Dance - Charleston, Tap, Lindy Hop

1940's:

           Music - Boogie Woogie, Jump Blues, Rhythm & Blues

           Dance - Jive, East Coast Swing & other Swing Derivitives including early Rock 'n' Roll

1950-1960's:

           Music - Rock 'n' Roll, Rockabilly

           Dance - Rock 'n' Roll, Rockabilly

Cool Cats Style...

Cool Cats structured courses in Swing/Lindy-Hop, Kick-Step Rock 'n' Roll, Rockabilly, and 4Beat Swing/RnR cover the broad range of dance structures, footwork, and base rhythms applicable to 'nostalgia' dance. These courses therefore provide a great introduction to dancing and a clear pathway for dance progression and development. Meanwhile, general classes and short courses offer the opportunity for students to examine a wide variety of further styles/skills such as Jive, Continental Rock 'n' Roll, and Triples.

In addition to lessons, part of the fun of nostalgia dancing for many people is embracing the retro culture and community - be it Swing, Rock 'n' Roll, or Rockabilly. Although you may rarely see us dressed 'in gear' or at non-dance events, rest assured that each Cool Cats instructor has their favourite style(s) and we love to see people get involved. We encourage all students to try different dances and to participate in the social scene to find the style(s) they love!

Rockin' Cats?

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East Coast Swing & Lindy Hop

Lindy Hop is the dance style that started the Swing craze in the late 1920's, developing out of partnered Charleston with strong influences from jazz and tap. There was no singular form of Lindy Hop and, as noted by legendary Lindy-Hop dancer Frankie Manning, "everyone... had their style". Lindy Hop also established the first aerials, or 'Air Steps', acrobatic motions performed to the rhythm and timing of the music. Lindy Hop is distinguished from other Swing styles by the inclusion of characteristic actions such as 'Air Steps', 'Lindy Kicks' (a modified Charleston), and improvisation through the 'Swing-Out'.

East coast swing (ECS) is often used as a generic term to distinguish the various swing styles that emerged on the East Coast of the United States during the 1930's from West Coast Swing. More specifically, ECS was developed as a distinct style during the 1940's to provide a standardized form of Lindy-Hop for competitive dancers. While defined as a 6 count basic step, in practice ECS combines 6 count figures with the 4 count base rhythm and 8 count actions of Lindy Hop. ECS is therefore danced using similar rhythms, footwork, and figures to Lindy Hop, but with characterisation, definition, and movement typically better suited for slower to mid-pace music. Adapting to faster music, ECS later developed into the broadly recognised dance styles of Jive and Rock 'n' Roll.

While we nominally progress students from introductory ECS to Lindy Hop, at the end of the day, Cool Cats recognises that whether West Coast, East Coast, Lindy, Harlem, Hollywood, or Savoy... Swing is Swing. The following sentiment expressed by West Coast Swing instructor Skippy Blair sums it up: "The only problem that exists in SWING is when someone decides there is only ONE WAY to dance it. There is never only ONE WAY to do anything ...". Provided it's still got that swing (i.e. faithfully characterises the core style), we couldn't agree more.

Kick-Step Rock 'n' Roll

Developing from Lindy-Hop/ECS, Kick-Step Rock 'n' Roll exists in a number of forms and styles across the globe. Characteristically, motion across the dance floor is achieved using a kicking action through the air rather than a series of steps and/or taps. Different styles dance low, upright, back and forth, or side to side and hence significant variation in presentation and movement is possible using the same fundamental footwork. As the kicks are taken through the air there is also significant flexibility in positioning, transitions, and footwork variation.

Advanced Kick-Step Rock 'n' Roll introduces additional actions through the basic footwork, facilitating more fluid movement across the floor and greater variety and freedom of body movement. Characterised by the kick-ball change action that replaces the standard back-step (rock-step), Advanced Kick-Step also introduces the use of directional kicks, counterbalance, and partnership momentum as part of the core dance movement. These skills and concepts are difficult for many dancers to grasp, even with prior experience in other styles. Consequently we do not progress students to Advanced Kick-Step until at least one partner is both confident and competent in standard Kick-Step.

4-Beat Swing/RnR

Cool Cats uses the term '4-Beat' to describe a base dance pattern and structure, originally derived from Swing, that may be used to dance to most music in common (4/4) timing. This base style is known by many names including 4-Count Swing/Jive, North American Jive, Country Swing, and 4-Step Rock. In many respects the choice of name reflects the music and subsequent characterisation of the dance, rather than a fundamental difference in actions.

Due to the versatility of the footwork and rhythms, 4 count patterns adpated from the structure and content of Swing were used by dancers during the Swing & Rock 'n' Roll era to dance to a broader selection of music. '4-Beat' continued to morph through the disco period of the 70's into the Hustle and more recently  into Ceroc, with heavy influences of latin dance actions and styling evident (particularly those of Meringue and Mambo). While sharing a common swing background, these modern forms of 4-Beat are thus discernibly more latin in characterisation and structure than of Swing or Rock 'n' Roll.

Remaining true to the heritage of 4-Beat, Cool Cats approaches the dance according to the movement, patterns, and stylings of Swing and Rock 'n' Roll. From this foundation students are encouraged to explore other blues based rhythms such as funk, hip-hop, soul, motown, and contemporary pop to establish their own styling, musical interpretation, and accentuation. 4-Beat is a flexible and expressive dance style and we want every dancer to find their groove!

Rockabilly

Rockabilly is the dance style for anybody who wants to dance FAST! Rockabilly is distinguished by its strong anti-clockwise circular motion and momentum, which is facilitated by absence of the back-step (rock-step) common to the other 'nostalgia' dances. Rockabilly is also the rebels dance - it does not conform to many of the basic movements, structure, and presentation of other styles. It has a unique rhythm, motion, and emphasis - a 'feel' - that is not captured by any other dance style. Consequently, many dancers who fall in love with Rockabilly are devoted to the style and rarely desire to dance anything else.

Rockabilly may be danced in several different forms, which may be loosely defined by the lead's body position: Cult (Forward), Straight-Up (Centre), and Lay-Back (Away). In practice different Rockabilly figures will utilise and/or emphasise all of these positions. Cool Cats therefore teaches from centre position, while examining the actions and body movements that create presentation Forward/Away from partner. This allows each dancer/couple to establish their own Rockabilly 'style' according to personal preferences of look and feel.

Triples RnR/Jive

For any man who wanted a challenge, or just enjoys the thought a beautiful woman held on each arm, Triples dancing is the ticket! One guy dancing with two gals at once is one of the iconic images of 50-60's dancing and is even more fun than it looks. Learning to dance as a Triples team is also a brilliant exercise in strengthening and refining Lead/Follow skills.

While Triples dancing is possible in many styles of dance, Jive and Rock 'n' Roll are most commonly employed due to the generally simpler structure, leads, and footwork. Cool Cats short course in Triples provides an introduction to basic figures and the different lead and follow requirements for this form of dancing. Further training in Triples is available through the General Classes, including Aerials or other dance styles such as Rockabilly or 4-Beat.

Aerials

Since the first 'Air Steps' in Lindy Hop, the variety of aerials, drops, props, and slides has continued to expand and associated techniques, entries, and exits better understood and defined. Aerials should thus be recognised as a distinct dance discipline in it's own right, not merely a selection of discrete figures that may be simply inserted into the dance as desired once the requisite actions are understood. Even in the simplest aerial, once the feet leave the floor or the body moves toward the floor, there is a degree of risk. Without proper training (not just instruction) aerials are an easy path to injury.

Cool Cats short course in Aerials  provides an introduction to the basic skills and training required to perform aerials safely, with control, and in time to the music. Basic aerials are examined to establish concepts and techniques such as grounding, body lift, body pressure, centre balance, counterbalance, distribution of weight, and through execution movement and momentum. Progressive aerials content and training is undertaken Sunday afternoons at Como.

Other Styles & Dance Training