Boogie Woogie (dance)

The name of this dance comes from the musical style of the same name , as it arose during the period of popularity of boogie-woogie music.

Boogie Woogie is considered ^{[ who? ]} European dance, although it was "spied" in the postwar period by the soldiers of the American Allied army, dancing Lindy-hop . Europeans shifted the movements to rock and roll melodies and began to dance boogie-woogie in clubs, gradually adding acrobatic tricks. Couples of dancers got up on the floor such that many artists and athletes would envy! There are acrobatic stunts, borrowed mainly from the predecessor dances - Lindy Hop and Jitterbug. Initially, the boogie-woogie dance was exclusively a club, social dance. As a native of older dances ( lindy hop and jitterbag ), he adopted their traditions and rules. But gradually boogie-woogie became a competitive dance, the rules became more complicated, more complicated acrobatic tricks were appreciated more, the music changed, rock and roll became less swing, it began to sound closer to the modern one. And so gradually acrobatic rock and roll arose. Then the dance acquired linearity in performance. If earlier the couple moved along the dance floor arbitrarily, then later it became customary to dance on the same line. It is believed that this is due to the fact that they began to dance in competitions not in the square rings, as before, where the judges sat in a circle, but on the stage, focusing on the first row with the judges and spectators in the hall.

during the heyday of rock and roll , boogie-woogie movements began to dance to rock and roll and, accordingly, the dance was called rock and roll. Nowadays, the term “rock and roll” more often means sports (acrobatic) rock and roll , although club rock and roll is also common. In turn, in the 1980s boogie-woogie was defined as an independent dance different from rock and roll. Nowadays, under the auspices of the World Rock and Roll Confederation, along with rock and roll competitions, boogie-woogie championships are also held.

Description

Boogie Woogie is a pair improvisational dance, the basic step of which consists of six or eight bits. The dance is characterized by energetic pulsation, a pronounced emotional dialogue between partner and partner. Boogie Woogie dance to the musical styles of Boogie Woogie, Rockabilly, Blues, Swing, Rock and Roll.

Acrobatic stunts are mainly used in rehearsed performances at competitions, rarely at parties.

Social dancing

Gradually, the dance was divided into (club, simpler) and acrobatic, performed mainly at competitions and festivals. But in general, for most boogie-woogie dancers, it remains a social dance, where the main thing is exactly parties where everyone can dance with everyone. People who see boogie-woogie dancing to fast music often admire how quickly dancers manage to move their legs.

Indeed, boogie-woogie is characterized by very active work of the legs in general and feet in particular. At the same time, like many paired social dances, boogie-woogie is built on the interaction of partners: good conduct for a partner and good following for a partner are very important.

Boogie-woogie is popular in the form of “social dances” among local communities (dance studios), which conduct dance evenings (discos) with DJs or groups playing music that is most suitable for a particular swing style. In Russia there is a Swing Dance Federation (FTSS), in large cities there are several clubs. They conduct master classes (seminars, dance camps) with foreign and local teachers.

Competition / Performance Styles

In competitions, performers use choreographic and acrobatic elements.

Boogie-woogie is characterized by the fact that the dance is based on improvisation, the success of which is judged by the judges along with the dance technique, dance figures and the presentation of the dancers. The task of the dancers: insert the pre-worked choreography as successfully as possible into the music that went to it.

Boogie Woogie is a team sport. A team can be one pair. A team may consist of 12 members (6 pairs) in the "formation" competitions.

Boogie-woogie competitions include 2 programs: slow and fast dance. Slow performed in evening dresses, fast in costumes that match the style.

The pace of the slow dance is 120bpm, fast 200 bpm.

In the “formation” competitions, there are 12 people performing synchronously complex pieces, and at the same time they constantly coordinate their position on the floor with respect to other team members.

• Boogie Woogie Article, Origin and Styles, Russian Federation of Acrobatic Rock and Roll
• Social boogie-woogie dance in open air parks
• article "Boogie Woogie will cheer up"
• Description of the style in the encyclopedia of dance styles
• Interview with prize winner of boogie-woogie competitions Igor Pavlov
• Acrobatic rock and roll. When the dance is more than life - Moscow: ed. Perot, 2017 .-- 183 p.
• Boogie Woogie in Russia