Jitterbug
What is Jitterbug?
The dance called Jitterbug is actually the same dance as Lindy Hop. There are just a few differences in how the terms tend to be used.
The term Jitterbug
"Jitterbug" was originally a derogatory term used to refer to alcoholics experiencing "jitters." In the early part of the Swing era, some band leaders used the term to make fun of the wild and energetic movements of the swing dancers. Most Lindy Hoppers viewed the term as an insult, and some used it themselves to refer to unskilled Lindy Hop. However, over time the term actually become popular.
Jitterbug and Lindy Hop
Lindy Hop was named by George Snowden in 1926 after Charles Lindbergh's historical transatlantic flight. However, Lindbergh became suspected as a Nazi supporter, and as the US entered WWII the name Lindy Hop gave way to the term Jitterbug for the dance. The terminology was also divided along regional and racial lines. Among the blacks in Harlem, the name Lindy Hop remained popular. But as the dance spread across North America, the term Jitterbug picked up momentum.
What dance is Jitterbug?
Although originally it referred to Lindy Hop, Jitterbug was a less specific term for swing dancing. Across North America, people in different cities developed their own styles of Lindy Hop and even other swing dances (such as shag and Balboa). Jitterbug often referred to any of those different regional swing dance styles, and even to the combination of them. The "Jitterbug Spirit" was one of freedom rather than constraints.
Into the 40's and 50's, many dancers began to associate the term "Lindy Hop" with the older generation, since many of their parents had danced Lindy Hop. The term Jitterbug for many kids was a way to differentiate their dancing from the way their parents had danced, even if the dance was fundamentally the same.
Jitterbug today
Today, the term Lindy Hop has become more popular among swing dancers, but the name Jitterbug hasn't been lost. The National Jitterbug Championships is an annual swing competition in LA, for example, and many dance troupes use the name Jitterbug. The dance itself has been revived, and in particular the Lindy Hop style of California and the West Coast, where the term Jitterbug had been most popular.
Jitterbug in Ottawa with Swing Dynamite
If you're looking to start dancing Jitterbug in Ottawa, check out our Swing I (Beginning Swing) class! In our Swing I and II classes we teach Lindy Hop as it was done all over the US from Harlem to California, including all of the moves people associate with the Jitterbug. We've also got the the fastest, most fun way for you to learn! Sign up for classes here.
