The Evolution of Stepping
1920 - Charleston
Although the origins of the dance are obscure, the dance has been traced back to blacks who lived on an island off the coast of Charleston, South Carolina (which is why the dance is called "Charleston"). The Charleston dance had been performed in black communities since 1903, but did not become internationally popular until the musical debuted in 1923.
The music for the Charleston is ragtime jazz, in quick 4/4 time with syncopated rhythms.
The dance uses both swaying arms and the fast movement of the feet. To begin the dance, one first moves the right foot back one step and then kicks backwards with the left foot while the right arm moves forward. Then both feet and arms are replaced to the start position and the right foot kicks forwards while the right arm moves backwards. This is done with a little hop in between steps.
1920 - Lindy Hop
In the late 1920's the (black community) developed a dance called the Lindy Hop which is performed in a circular area to jazz music by two people coupled together as leader and follower using predominately eight-beat rhythms with a variety of positions including nimble footed hops, skips, bumps, grinds, squats and acrobatics. Partner's hand was let go of.
1930 - Jitterbug
In the mid 1930's the (black community) developed a dance named by band leader Cab Calloway when he introduced a tune in 1934 entitled "Jitterbug". The Jitterbug is performed by two people coupled together as leader and follower using predominately six-beat rhythms with a variety of position including nimble footed hops, skips, bumps, grinds, squats and acrobatics. Partner's hand was let go of.
In the late 1930"s the young impressionable white community developed a dance called the Lindy, which combined the Lindy Hop (8 beat) and the Jitterbug (6 beat). The Lindy is performed by two people, coupled together using both 8 and 6 counts without the acrobatics. Partner's hand was let go of.
1950 - Bop
As time went on the Lindy Hop, the Jitterbug and the Lindy became less popular and in the late 1950's television brought "American Bandstand" where another couples dance developed and it was called the BOP. This style was smoother and had less acrobatic moves, more of a two-step swing type dance. The BOP continued throughout the 1960's and 1970's. Partner's hand was let go of.
MODES OF MODIFICATION:
CHARLESTON - modified to the LINDY HOP
LINDY HOP - modified to the JITTERBUG
JITTERBUG - modified to the LINDY
LINDY - modified to the BOP
BOP - modified to STEPPING
STEPPING - STEPPIN
The term Stepping came from club sets, where no disco was played. Instead of saying they were going out to a club set or party people would use the term "Stepping" to describe what kind of set or party it would be. It was more than 10 to 15 years later as new steppers came on the seen that someone would ask if you step, before taking you to the dance floor.
STEPPING is a smoother form of the BOP that incorporates walking, stepping, and turns but never separating from your partner's hand when making a turn or turns. Steppin like the BOP has an 8 beat count with a BALLROOM DANCING FLAVOR.
Cynthia Shanks, O.M.S.
Stanford Baily
Chicago "Style" Steppers, LLP