Lesson 5

 BOOGIE

Boogie dance, or boogie-woogie, is a form of swing dancing. It is called boogie-woogie

in Europe, but this dance is more commonly known as East Coast swing in the United
States. It's most often seen now in dance competitions, which are run by the World Rock
'n' Roll Confederation.

Swing dance dates back to the 1920s, when the black community began dancing the
lindy hop and Charleston to jazz music. When the Savoy Ballroom opened in New York
in 1926, it became the swing center of the world. In the 1930s, a new style called the
jitterbug was introduced, followed in the1950s by the boogie-woogie, or East Coast
swing.

HISTORY

Boogie-woogie was originally called "barrelhouse" dancing. During the 1950s, today's
boogie-woogie would have been known as "rock 'n' roll." Although the dance can go with
boogie-woogie music, it's more often paired with rock music. Because rock 'n' roll dance
was already established in dance competitions, boogie- woogie had to find an alternate
label. It adopted a name based on the music with which it was often paired: fast-paced,
piano boogie-woogie.

In 1938, Cab Calloway and The Whitey's Lindy Hoppers performed at the Cotton Club
Review. The Hoppers danced to a fast blues song called "A Lesson in Jive." This was the
legendary start of the boogie dance. Boogie dance is best danced with rockabilly music,
as performed by such artists as Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis.

The step variation for boogie dance is six or eight count with sharp, quick movements.
Boogie-woogie can be danced in social situations (mostly in Europe), or in competitions
(worldwide). As a competitive dance, boogie-woogie is a "led" dance, without any
choreography or acrobatic movement. Boogie-woogie can be slow or fast. When fast
beats are used, boogie-woogie often moves into East Coast swing, Hollywood style and
jitterbug.

Boogie-woogie is a distinct form of swing dance. Although it originated in the '50s after
other forms of swing, it does have its own set of steps. Many people confuse it with the
lindy hop, which it closely resembles. The two are not interchangeable, however.
Another misconception is that as a form of swing dancing, boogie-woogie must be fast
paced. Boogie-woogie dance and music can, however, be slow.

Module III
 Basic steps

2 1 and
(Point) (Point)

and 3

Starting position

 LEARNING ACTIVITY

1. After learning the basic step of Boogie. With a partner, take

a video of your performance while performing 5 figures of
Boogie with music.
2. Send your video in our Google Classroom.

You will be rated according to the following:

Module III
 CRITERIA PERFECT POINT
1. Poise, Grace and Body form
25 pts – very good posture and very
graceful with very good body form 25 points
20 pts – good posture and graceful with
good body form
10 pts – no poise, not so graceful and
with poor body form
2. Timing and Coordination
25 pts – always in timing with very good
body coordination. 25 points
20 pts – with timing and with good body
coordination.
10 pts – not in timing and with poor body
coordination.
3. Mastery of Steps
25 pts – well prepared and the routine is
mastered. 25 points
20 pts – prepared and with good
execution of the routine.
10 pts – obviously not prepared and the
routine is not mastered
4. Expression and over-all performance
25 pts – very good facial expressions
with internalization. 25 points
20 pts – good facial expressions
10 pts – no connection in the dance.
TOTAL SCORE 100 points

Module III