What is Swing?

Swing dancing was created from the synergy of jazz music and the culture of African Americans in the 1920’s and 1930’s. Swing dancing came from a culture that evolved with jazz music and that culture prioritized rhythm, individuality, improvisation and creativity. Structure and rules were not as important as authenticity and attention to the music. Jazz music started in New Orleans a hundred years before what we know as swing dancing began, the music has a few key characteristics; improvisation, syncopation, and polyrhythms.