Jitterbug
A swing dance term that began as a racial ridicule.
Jitterbug is a generalized term used to describe swing dancing, often synonymous with the lindy hop but also including elements of jive, east coast swing, collegiate shag, charleston, balboa, and other swing dances. The term originally was a ridicule used by black patrons to describe whites who danced the Lindy Hop faster and jumpier than intended, like 'jittering bugs,' though it quickly lost its negative connotation as the more-erratic version caught on. Swing dancing itself emerged from African-American communities in early 20th-century New York City. At the Savoy Ballroom in Harlem, which famously had no racial discrimination policy, the Lindy Hop flourished, pioneered by dancers such as George Snowden and Frank Manning. The jitterbug style developed from dances performed at black juke joints and dance halls, with the Carolina shag and single Lindy Hop forming its basis; it later evolved into the double Lindy Hop with the rise of rock and roll. White dancers learned the energetic jitterbug at black venues, including Pittsburgh’s Hill District and the Savoy. The dance spread nationwide through Hollywood films and Broadway shows featuring the group Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers. During World War II, American troops stationed in Britain helped revive closed ballrooms, which installed jukeboxes and attracted working-class women and soldiers. By 1946, jitterbug had become a craze in England and a competition dance in Australia. In 1944, a federal excise tax on nightclubs featuring dancing contributed to a decline in public dancing in the United States. A 1945 court case awarded a dancer damages for injuries sustained while jitterbugging at the Hollywood Canteen. The television show *American Bandstand*, which began national broadcast in 1957, further popularized the dance by featuring popular songs and live performances.
- field
- Dance
- known_for
- Swing dance style; synonym for Lindy Hop and related dances
- origin
- African-American communities of New York City, early 20th century
Lore & Background
Swing dancing originated in the African-American communities of New York City in the early 20th century. Many nightclubs had whites-only or blacks-only policies due to racial segregation, but the Savoy Ballroom in Harlem had a no-discrimination policy, allowing whites and blacks to dance together. It was there that the Lindy Hop flourished, started by dancers such as George Snowden and Frank Manning. The term jitterbug was originally used by black patrons to describe whites who danced the Lindy Hop faster and jumpier than intended, like 'jittering bugs,' though it quickly lost its negative connotation as the more-erratic version caught on. Both the Lindy Hop and the jitterbug became popular outside Harlem when featured in Hollywood films and Broadway theatre, starring the performance group Whitey's Lindy Hoppers.
Reader's Guide
The jitterbug is a generalized term for swing dancing, most closely associated with the lindy hop but also incorporating elements of jive, east coast swing, collegiate shag, charleston, and balboa. The dance originated in the African-American communities of early 20th-century New York City. It developed from dances performed at juke joints and dance halls, with the Carolina shag and single Lindy Hop forming its basis. The term "jitterbug" was originally used by black patrons as a mild ridicule for white dancers who performed the Lindy Hop in a faster, jumpier style, likening their movements to "jittering bugs." This more erratic version quickly lost its negative connotation as it gained popularity. The Savoy Ballroom in Harlem, notable for its no-discrimination policy, was a key venue where the Lindy Hop flourished, pioneered by dancers such as George Snowden and Frank Manning. White dancers learned the energetic style at black venues like the Hill District in Pittsburgh and the Savoy. The dance spread beyond Harlem through Hollywood films and Broadway theatre, notably featuring the performance group Whitey's Lindy Hoppers. World War II significantly spread the jitterbug; American troops stationed in Britain re-opened ballrooms with jukeboxes, where working-class women danced alongside soldiers. By 1946, it had become a craze in England and was already a competition dance in Australia. Wentworth and Flexner define a jitterbug as a swing fan or one who dances vigorously to swing music.
Did You Know?
- The term 'jitterbug' was originally a ridicule used by black patrons to describe whites dancing the Lindy Hop faster and jumpier than intended.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Jitterbug?
Jitterbug is a broad umbrella term for the swing dance family, most commonly associated with the Lindy Hop but also covering several related styles. In everyday usage, people often treat it as interchangeable with Lindy Hop, though it technically spans a wider set of dances.
Where did Jitterbug come from?
The dance styles grouped under the Jitterbug name grew out of African-American social and musical communities in New York City during the early 1900s.
Why is the name 'Jitterbug' controversial?
The label began as a mocking term that Black dancers used to call out white dancers who performed the Lindy Hop in an overly fast, erratic manner—comparing them to 'jittering bugs.' The insult was meant to be dismissive, but the faster, bouncier style ended up gaining its own popularity and the name shed its original negative sting.
Which specific dances are included under the Jitterbug umbrella?
Beyond the Lindy Hop itself, the Jitterbug family typically encompasses jive, east coast swing, collegiate shag, charleston, balboa, and other swing-related forms.
Is Jitterbug the same thing as Lindy Hop?
They are frequently used as synonyms in casual conversation, but strictly speaking Jitterbug is the broader category while Lindy Hop is one particular dance within it. The distinction matters because Jitterbug also covers several other swing styles that have their own steps and tempos.
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