How to Dance a Boogie Woogie

Among the songs that characterize Boogie Woogie are "Shake, Rattle and Roll" and the "Swanee River Boogie."

Boogie Woogie was a musical genre of the 1900s characterized by rapid piano rolls and series of quickly repeated notes. Its corresponding dance style is similar to swing which you can dance fast or slow depending on the tempo of the song. There are classes to learn how to boogie woogie, but if you want to learn just the basics, you can pick it up easily on your own using a six-beat pattern normally normally reserved for boogie woogie music or rock and roll. There are even competition teams that dance boogie woogie.

Instructions

1. Clap to the rhythm of boogie woogie music to familiarize yourself with the sound. The rhythm is "one, two, one-two-three, one, two, one-two-three."

2. Convert the clapping to stomping your feet on each beat. Begin with your right foot if you're dancing the follower's part and your left foot if you're dancing the lead's part. Alternate your feet.

3. Join your partner. If you are the lead, put your left hand on your partner's left waistline and hold your right hand out to the side, your palm facing upwards. If you are the follower, put your right hand on your partner's right shoulder and your left hand in his right hand.

4. Move your feet to the rhythm of the song as you did in Step 2. The lead can use his left hand to direct the follower to follow him around the dance floor.

References

• The Dance Store Online: East Coast Swing
• Boogie Woogie