GEN Z Reacts To WHITEY’S LINDY HOPPERS (FIRST TIME EVER)

Here's some history on the dance ~ Please note ~ ~ ~ this was 100 years ago!!!!! Lindy Hop is a partner dance that originated in Harlem, New York City in the 1920s and 1930s. It's a fusion of African rhythms and body movements with European dance techniques and forms, and is known for its syncopated rhythms and six and eight beat patterns. Lindy Hop evolved from many different dances, including jazz, tap, breakaway, and the 1920s Charleston, and became especially popular during the swing era of the late 1930s and early 1940s.

Back in the 80s there were kids who had clubs that did the swing dances or clubs that emulated the 20s. Kids today have social media so there is no need to get out of their houses and have clubs, hobbies, parties or activities to meet and socialize. Back then the streets seemed safer because people were always out and about. There was always something going on, if you wanted to interact with someone other than your family, you’d go out. Always lots of fun places to go and new people to meet. I feel bad for this generation. As always, awesome reaction ❤️🙏🏼❤️

Quick background on this. It wasn't slavery times obviously, and it was 100 years ao, but close. It's from a movie called Hellzapoppin in 1941. This was when the Lindy hop was at it's peak in dance. The last guy you saw, throwing the lady around, His name is Frankie Manning, an original Lindy Hopper. He is credited for doing the first aerial move in Swing dance... like what you saw him do to the lady. he is a pioneer in dance. The first time I got a chance to meet him was in 2000 at a Swing fest convention. he was still teaching workshops at that time, he was 90 years old. He was an amazing man. I'm glad to have learned from him. Also, this was his group that did that routine, Whitey's Lindy Hoppers.

In May, 1927, Charles Lindbergh made the first nonstop flight from New York to Paris. The LindeyHop dance was named after him..

That wasn't slavery times, it was the 1930's... but non white folks had very limited rights..but so did women. Have you ever seen Rocky Horror Picture Show???

It was early '40s, I think. Not slavery times, but definitely Jim Crow times. I used to Lindy Hop back in the '90s, it's so much fun you should take lessons!🖤🤍

Black American dance at it's finest. Interesting you mentioned Olympics because break dancing will be in the Olympics for the first time this year!

One of those guys was the late great Frankie Manning. He continued teaching Lindy Hop until about 20 years ago. There are plenty of people around right now who learned the dance from him.

🤍🤍🤍So much fun. Much love 💞

So thankful this was caught on film

I absolutely loved watching you be introduced to this. Now do a little researching about that period of time. We never stop learning.😊❤

FYI: Slavery ended in the US in December of 1865. The dance, the Lindy Hop, was an American swing dance (late 1920's to early 1940's). African American dancers first popularized it in Harlem, New York at the Savoy Ballroom.😊 They seem as if they're dressed as cooks, maids or servers (etc.. ) in the service industry. There weren't a lot of job positions for people of color at that time.

The costumes were all from service jobs, it was unimaginable at the time that black people could have any other type of jobs. The intense energetic happiness was also expected from performers at the time. Kind of like how today you're are supposed to be laid-back, cool, unimpressed by anything. Part of the manic energy is that this stuff was usually shot at 22 frames/sec and then shown at 20 frames/sec inherently speeding it up and making the early moves more exciting.

Dancing back in the day was Fierce. It all started with the Can Can in turn of the century Paris- people literally DIED it was so forceful. Lindy Hop, Charleston, etc- they were all fire. The musicians were furiously swinging.. This is also where you get the "big beat" thing that every music after used. Kinda funny that rock music is often even harder, but the fancing is nowhere near this energetic.

If you can find the oldest person this is what they were doing at your age. Pretty cool!

Have you reacted to, Old Movie Stars Dance To Uptown Funk. The editing is unreal.👍👍

I got a broken nose and a black eye swing dancing before. Guy didn't lift his elbow high enough abd clocked me right in the face as I came around behind his back.

Back in the 70's, 80's before tech,internet people were more active inside and outside the home.you didn't have to go to a gym to get fit cause you were moving all the time.going to discos,youth clubs a hobby. Now you can stay in your seat at home and press buttons and everything comes to you. I expect that's why your reaction to this dancing was more animated than a gen x would be. I've seen lindy hopping on tv programmes growing up.i think it was on the generation game too? Also I'm aware there used to be clubs were you could learn this.although these were professionals.i expect there were competitions at some point. Prob more so in America as that's where it came from.

Imagine how painful rehearsals were.

Fabulous!!