What is World Lindy Hop Day?

World Lindy Hop Day (May 26th) welcomes people from all walks of life, all ages, and from around the world to experience this exuberant African American social dance. Originating in Harlem, New York City in the 1920s and 1930s, the Lindy hop is done to the big band jazz of the era.

While swing music is generally known, our goal is to spread the dance to a wider global arena. The universal language of the Lindy hop (aka swing dancing or jitterbug) features creative and exhilarating movements that allow partners to connect in a way that uplifts the spirit, promotes human connection, and develops generosity. It allows dancers to meet in a positive environment that supports the building of bridges on personal, community, and global levels.

Why May 26? As one of the prime creators of the Lindy hop, and the most influential person in swing dance history, Frankie Manning’s birthday (May 26th, 1914) is a fitting marker for World Lindy Hop Day. Since the 1980s, his birthday has inspired special events across the globe in celebration of the man, the music, and the dance. Grounded in unity and collaboration, World Lindy Hop Day, celebrated every May 26th, encourages people from all different backgrounds to enjoy and share the many benefits of this joyous and enduring dance. Toronto is proud to join in World Lindy Hop Day celebrations, with other Lindy Hop communities around the world. 

History of Lindy Hop

Lindy Hop is a Black American dance that originated in Harlem, New York City, in the late 1920s.

Lindy Hop was danced mainly in large ballrooms, such as the Savoy Ballroom in NYC, and evolved alongside the popular music of the day, played by Black Big Bands. The dance developed from a combination of earlier dances such as the Charleston, Breakaway, Texas Tommy, and Cakewalk. All of these dances were danced to early Jazz music form artists such as Sidney Bechet, Buddy Bolden, King Oliver and James P. Johnson.

Each one of these dances has deep roots in West African dance, music and culture and therefore share the common Black American social dance values, such as individuality, spontaneity, rhythm, and improvisation.

Lindy Hop appeared during a period known as Harlem Renaissance, which is considered the Golden Age of African American culture in music, stage performance, literature and art (Source).

The Lindy Hop is considered a cultural phenomenon that broke through the race barrier when segregation was still the norm.

The Lindy Hop has enjoyed a revival since the mid 1980’s, when Swing Legend Frankie “musclehead” Manning, an influential choreographer and performer of the era, was rediscovered. Now the Lindy Hop and other Swing dances and variations are danced all over the world (including here in Toronto).

The following videos will showcase the Lindy Hoppers from the 30’s & 40’s as well as Lindy Hoppers of today.