TRANSCRIPT:
I’m Mark Rapp, and this is Rapp on Jazz.
Before bebop and the cool jazz era, swing dancing was the heartbeat of American nightlife. In the 1930s and ’40s, big bands filled ballrooms with lively rhythms that practically lifted dancers off the floor.
The Lindy Hop, Charleston, and Balboa expressed freedom, joy, and community.
Swing dancers became partners in the music, responding to horn hits, bass walks, and drum accents with spins, kicks, and dazzling improvisation.
This back-and-forth energy influenced how musicians played; bands crafted arrangements that kept the dance floor lively.
Today, swing dancing is experiencing a revival worldwide, bringing new generations together to rediscover the joy of the swing era.
This has been Rapp on Jazz—a co-production of ColaJazz and SC Public Radio, made possible by The ETV Endowment of South Carolina.