Balboa-Swing Dancing in the short Maharaja (1943)

[Lindyjoff]

R.I.P. Hal

[hebneh]

To quote Edward Everett Horton in "The Gang's All Here" (also 1943), "I hope that woman is his wife, because if she isn't, there should be a law!"

I especially note at 1:07 when Betty's being held upside-down while she and Hal execute "pecking", and her legs are splayed wide apart in the air. Not an acceptable move in a Hollywood film of that time, but permissible for a "Soundie" which only got shown on a jukebox-like machine in a bar or restaurant.

[allenlewis]

It's all about the foot work, and west cost swing is more laid back with the feet. my Mom was a west cost swing dance competitor in San Diego in the 40's she's in her 80's and still dances. This dance has some east and some west in it. I play in a hard hitten swing band today and see great swing dancing on most all my gigs, both east and west and also tex swing.

[sscalise03]

I got tired watching them! All that energy!

[fiddler123]

What is the name of this tune?

[lindyhop411]

@fiddler123 Maharaja? It was probably a unique song written specifically for this soundie, similar to the song that's used in the Hellzapoppin' clip.

[varneydance]

...

Same goes for what we see in these clips. When I can easily identify aspects of these clips as Lindy, or bal, or shag etc. But when someone comes up and yells about the old timers not calling it that, it is similar to someone yelling at me for calling the theory of fluxion "calculus."

It is annoying, and serves to look for authority through obscurity.

[JacobLA]

@varneydance In this particular case it is extremely valid to say that there is not any lindy hop in what Hal is doing. The girl does swing out but the timing is very different and the way the rotation in closed is done is also quite different from lindy hop (I've danced with Hal's wife Marge a number of times and you can get a feel for what it is just by her default way of "swinging out"). Hal never really danced lindy hop much, if at all (it was his own brand of swing).

[varneydance]

What I find interesting is how people will argue with fervor about what the old timers called what they were doing. Any time someone says "huh, that looks like Lindy Hop" someone will jump in with: "the old timers did not call it that, they simply called it swing. "

This is tiresome in my opinion.

While it is interesting from a historical point, people trot out this fact as if it makes them an expert.

Newton called developed the theory of fluxions. Now days people call it calculus.

[2barbreak]

Hal is still alive at 95....ask him yourself, there is not 1 ounce of Balboa in this clip.

unfortunately people download these video's who don't know anything about the clip, or the dance...and then they upload them re-labeled.

the good thing is by reading the comments, people are finally understanding this is just what they called "swing dancing" and the Media called it "Jitterbugging"....

if ya want to know specifics or are interested in the history of this specific dance, contact Peter L.

[thomprd]

I think all of it wrapped under the title of "swing" or "jitterbug" is entirely appropriate. My basic understanding is that trying to figure out what step would have been called what is simply an exercise in futility since things were not standardized except for specific routines and that people worked very hard to differentiate themselves. I'm not sure how one could consider "flying lindy" fundamentally different than Lindy Hop as they have the same basic form and only different footwork.-Ron

[lindyhop411]

@thomprd Most people attribute this video with Balboa, but in reality it was a lot of Hal Takier's original steps in a lot of this, especially his throw out.

[fine7065]

Хахаха Она ж убьет его)))

[MrRJDB1969]

Dig It !! This little gal had some great legs too. Great clip !!

[Paulatwin1]

This is mad- but brilliant!!!

[realgonzo1]

known as west coast swing......its all good. 

[jorelam]

let's dance!!!

[redmondgar]

I love this...so wish I had been there! 70 years too late! oh well.

Going to learn Lindy hop and C were it takes me.

[snowman11686]

how old are all you people who know all the names to these moves? lol

pretty cool video tho no doubt

[HoneyBlade91]

lol maybe they just know their stuff ^ ^

[erickeliasorozcocaza]

Can somebody tell me what's the name of this movie,

[nssaquinas]

Maharaja.

[Pwaak]

They danced awesome in my book! She has some mighty pair of gams:)

[hep2jive]

wow from 0:03-0:17 sure souds MEAN!

[chrisjcollins777]

There's not one iota of Balboa in this clip. They are doing Lindy and Shag (the latter now referred to as "Collegiate Shag" these days). But thanks for posting the clip; it's great.

[eeynotserp]

chrsjcollins777 - There is neither Lindy nor Shag in the clip. I know Hal Takier and have been on the dance floor while he danced and I can tell you without any reservation that the Hal did LA Swing and Jig Trot in this video with one flying Lindy. Hal does not know Lindy and would not have, as it was a dance done in New York in Harlem. Hal did learn a vey little smooth Lindy from Dean Collins when he moved to LA but it was only be watching him. Hal always beat Dean in Dance Contest, Always.

[lindyhop411]

@chrisjcollins777 Consider this "Jitterbug" Balboa. Come out to LA and you can meet Hal Takier, who is the lead in the clip.

[LamarDL]

The dance in this clip is neither lindy hop, nor balboa. It is CA swing dancing/Randy Swing or just known as swing by the dancers. They incorporate a move called the flyin' lindy which is not the same as a lindy swingout. Hal and Betty also employ charleston steps, jigtrot and lollieswing. Altogether the use of these steps forms one style of dance as done by swing dancers in CA during the forties that is neither lindy hop nor balboa.

[eeynotserp]

Thank you. Finally someone who knows what they are talking about. It is disheartening to read all of the post from people who are throwing all of these dance styles out there like they are some authority misleading people into believing that Hal and Betty are doing some swing dance from the East Coast. They were L.A. Swing Dancers and they did a variety of local swing dances such as LA Swing, Balboa and Jig Trot. Latter Hal did pick up some smooth Lindy from Dean Collins but it wasn't his style.

[steintb]

@LamarDL Interesting and enlightening. Thanks!

[6071517]

@LamarDL

Very good description of this kind of dancing. Thanks a lot.

[go4b17]

Love the jump at 1 minute - he really does throw that gal around ! very skilful dancing on her part too

[star18]

Holy! That was amazing!! ....

[scotpens]

A Maharaja is an Indian prince. So how come the guy at the beginning is dressed like an Arab?

[Bumblebee38]

Well done !

[nssaquinas]

Because back in the day they were not as well-informed as you are now and much more into the novelty.

I'm not trying be a smart ass- I'm dead serious!

[4coins]

From what I can see they also do a bit of shag and charleston along with some balboa moves and the lindy basic and air steps so I would refer to it as a really great example of lindy hop.

[CassFletch]

im going to have to agree. its the lindy hop.

sorry!

[Zzzurf]

I think you have misunderstood something.

This dance is called Lindy Hop, and the dancers only incorporate the balboa step, along with air steps etc.

The basic is typical Lindy like swingouts and recovery etc.

I know cause I´m an expert in this matter.

[BrittBonshor]

AH man. I don't know what to wear. At Camp Hollywood there's a theme dance of this video, Maharaja night, and I don't know what to wear.

[ginsushark]

are you going to dress like a super hero on super hero night?

[jackp780]

wow Betty had some nice stems!

[dirkovic2112]

I want to dance like that, that's just awesome.

[TAKWest]

Interesting that this movie doesn't show up anywhere on imdb. They are usually pretty thorough

[scotpens]

"Soundies" weren't feature films, or even one- or two-reel shorts. They were musical performances on 16mm film, made specifically for the Panoram machine, which was a kind of early jukebox-with-pictures. The later Scopitone machines were basically the same technology, with a few improvements like color film and magnetic sound. These films were never meant to be shown in theaters, so it's unlikely they'd be listed on IMDB.

[eva1salsa]

I like this, the male dancer is also in Twice Blessed.

[WARTORTLEthePOKEMON]

Wow, that was kool az (and i like the dress she's wearin. I want one like that! XD)

[trufriendstabinfront]

thanks old timey!

[mrpossibilities]

Is it fair to say, then, that Lindy Hop has its roots in Balboa?

[twobarbreak]

NO....

[mrpossibilities]

Is it backwards then?

[tennguy]

old timey, i love these vid. clips. this one wears me out, just watching it. we were so cool back then, lol.

[BabyDollsBoomBox]

love it!

[iLOVEDesiArnazx0]

By the way thanks for posting this clip! It's awesome! :D

[iLOVEDesiArnazx0]

what was the name of the jazz/swing piece they were dancing to? i think I've heard it before

Please tell me if you know. Thanks :)