The East Coast Swing is a true American Dance and known as the Triple Time Swing. It dates back from the 1920โฒs, descendant of the Lindy Hop and Jitterbug. It followed the development of โRagtimeโ and then โSwingโ music. During World War II the American Forces introduced this dance to Britain, together with the popular orchestras of the day, such as Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Tommy Dorsey, and of course Glen Miller. Sometime after warโs end, a faster version stayed in Europe and became known as the Jive. This dance continues to be popular with all age groups as music is available from all eras.
The East Coast Swing is basically a stationary dance, with some progressive movements. It should be fast, lively and full of fun. Weight should be kept toward the balls of the feet so as to ensure a slight โbounceโ effect. There are a variety of movements that can be danced such as spins, kicks, underarm turns and changes of rhythm.