Charleston Basic - Lindy From the Ground Up

Charleston is the grandfather of Lindy Hop and has a fascinating history. In this video, we go over a little of that history, as well as the basic rhythm and how to integrate it with some of the dance moves you already know.

00:00 - Welcome to Lindy from the Ground Up!
00:24 - A Little History
03:11 - The Basic Rhythm
05:25 - Dance It With A Partner
06:28 - Add Six Count
09:28 - Add in More Six Count
11:27 - Add in Kick Steps

PLAYLISTS

SOURCES:
Jazz Dance: the story of American Vernacular Dance, by Marshall & Jean Stearns

MUSIC:

MERCH:

50% of the money made from this channel is donated to organizations that support African Diasporic art forms, because Lindy Hop is a Black dance, and preserving and cultivating Blackness is very important to its identity. My current charities are:

[CanadaAstro]

Appreciate the interesting history lessons. It adds value to your incredible videos.

[natashalucero]

Thank you for taking the time talking about the history. :)

[frankshaughnessy]

Absolutely superb instruction. So easy to follow and understand. Very much appreciated . Thank you both so much.

[sheireland]

Brilliantly broken down to easy pieces I can follow. Thank you.

[LuisTorres-mnwv]

I came here to learn basic steps but you just gave me a history lesson ❤ amazing thank you 👏👏👏👏👏

[basilisking]

Easy to identify the best part cause 😂 cat is watching
Thank you 🙏🏻 for sharing

[enoch]

such a teacher!!!! thank you for great video!!

[satchelmouth]

Hey Laura, thanks for this great video. It's awesome to start my Saturday morning with ya'll. 🙈😁☝🏽

[AdaraBalabusta]

Not horrible. My grandparents (b. 1903 and 1905) taught me to Charleston, so I have an advantage. Your musical choices are commendable. ❤

[photoguy]

Amazing flow and skills. My wife and I recently decided to take a few swing dance classes and I think we’re already hooked. It’s so much fun. This video is so helpful. You’re both so incredibly talented and a joy to watch.

[BananaOrangeLemon]

Hey:) I wanted to thank you for your videos and the amazing effort you two put in all of them. Im taking lessons in charleston since december and love it. I also wanted to tell you that your apartment and especially these great Arrangement of plants, your living spacebso to speak, is the reason why my bf and I will next month move in together! It was a big wish of his and i just didn't want to give up on my tiny flat;) soon we will have plenty of space where we can dance the whole Charleston 😊 🎉 Many greetings from Austria, Vienna ❤ Vero&Maxi

[johncrane]

Good job on tracking down the links back through Jimmy Johnson and Runnin’ Wild and Bea Jackson and the Jenkins Orphanage.
Thank you :)

[charlessmith]

I may not be Frankie Manning, but the basic movement of the Charleston involves either a "scoot hop" step in place, or a "scoot hop" step slightly forward. Not just to mention those kicks and chambers.

[charlessmith]

And all of this made me thinking as a Lindy Hop instructor in the 40s charleston - the "rock step kick....double kick, step." If I were an instructor.

[killerdillr]

Thank you so much for your history lessons as well, and I can add to pronunciation "After Seben" has a very racial slur to it, as it was written the way the Afro-American supposedly pronounced "Seven" and hense it was written that way.
Charleston is not the grandfather of Lindy Hop but one of many dances that later became Lindy Hop.
I have vividly seen many of your videos and I thoroughly enjoy them. Thank you and keep up the good work.

[KlavierKannNichtMehr]

love the cool cat, wondering, „what are they up to now…“

[tymanung]

Grear! Very interesting! You clearly show different steps that in 1930s became Lindy Hop, St Louis Shag, Collegiate Shag, at the least
( Balboa? Etc?)
Question--- are you teaching the mid 20s, Lindy Charleston, featured in film called. ?? which seems not to br your 2 films? If not, that could be a source of more steps to teach, if different from the 2 films.

[twotalkingkernels]

This was so helpful, thanks!! Quick question though - you mention that it doesn't matter if your partner does a triple step instead of a kick step during side-by-side Charleston since you'll both end up on the same foot. However, doesn't side-by-side Charleston take 8 counts such that you'll be two counts off from your partner?

[patrickd]

Cool shoes you two are wearing! Are those dance shoes? Just regular leather-soled oxfords? Very classy bowling shoes? Please advise.

[ConcernedResident_GiantStack]

Great video! I still don't see how the man tells the woman what to do other than eye contact for the side dancing.