History: Why was dancing(swing dancing) so important in the 1930's?

question doesn't seem make sense. how can luxury activity, dancing, important? suppose make argument 1) depression , 2) people needed lift spirits didn't cost lot money . . . dancing that's made happy, regardless of it's time period.

better question "what significance of popularity of swing dancing in 1930s?"

following:

first off, swing dancing , jazz music fusion of european (white) , african (black) forms of dancing , music, today considered first popular american cultural movement in dance , music. today, both swing dancing , jazz music have strong ties american culture , history.

secondly, depression, , people had little money spend, cost of nickle go ballroom , dance people live band, attractive idea (more bang buck were). before tv, , radios weren't affordable until later part of 1930's.

guess these of social implications can make regarding swing dancing.


now, if want know history of swing dancing, need learn lindy hop!!!

lindy hop developed out of partner charleston in late 1920's in harlem. dance grew in popularity swing music giants count basie, duke ellington, benny goodman, etc.

amazing place go in harlem in 1930s savoy ballroom, known "the home of happy feet", best swing dancers rub elbows celebrities come , watch them dance. bouncer @ club ended putting swing dance troupe called many different names referred "whitey's lindy hoppers". performed @ many public locations fairs, cotton club, , appeared in movies.

dancer name of dean collins, learned lindy hop @ savoy, , @ age of 17, moved hollywood make name himself. brought lindy hop west coast , featured in more movies swing dancer of era. influential in bringing dance more broadly whites.



significant dancers of day:

"shorty" george snowden, credited giving lindy hop it's name , possibly creating it.

franky manning, credited creating aerials in swing dancing, , 1 of influential persons reappearance of swing dancing in 80s , 90s.

dean collins, credited bringing lindy hop west coast, , adapting style of dance in slot lead creation of "west coast swing" official state dance of california.




movies can watch featuring lindy hop:

after seben (1929) - first movie featuring lindy hop
day @ races (1937) - first movie featuring whitey's lindy hoppers
buck privates (1941) - abbot , costello movie, featuring dean collins
hellzapoppin' (1941) - considered greatest swing routine ever captured on film (watch on youtube)
groovie movie (1944) - short swing/jitterbug/lindy hop.
don't knock rock (1956) - rock n' roll era movie featuring lindy hoppers, including dean collins



suggested books:

frankie manning's autobiography, "ambasador of lindy hop", available on amazon.



hope helps!

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