Jive

Jive is a vigorous, rhythmical and swinging dance. It is danced to a fast tempo (156 beats per minute), 4/4 Ragtime music, with accent on beats 2 and 4. It is regarded as the most demanding competition dance because of its speed and the amount of energy required from dancers.

In today’s form the basic step consist of two Chasses (side, close, side steps) and a slower back and forward Rock Step. Together with those, modern jivers dance a variety of walks, jumps, kicks and turns, often to syncopated rhythms. To make it light Jive is done on ball of feet with weight forward. There is also a characteristic hip swing.

It is not certain where the word ‘jive’ comes from but since the origins are African, the speculations are that it is similar to slang meaning ‘misleading talk’. The original native African dances had triple and single steps and began the trend of today’s Jive. In 1920s and 1930s the music and dance began fascinate young white Americans. Meanwhile, older generations wanted it banned from dance halls. Jive was brought to Europe during World War II and evolved to its present form mainly from Charleston, Lindy Hop and Jitterburg.