Harvest Moon Ball

The Harvest Moon Ball was a dance contest held in Madison Square Gardens in New York City, at the height of the swing era, on a scale that we can hardly even imagine today. Thousands upon thousands of spectators came to watch dancers compete in all kinds of styles, including Lindy Hop. Luckily for us today, footage survives of these awe-inspiring competitions, in which the wildest of jitterbugs did whatever they could do draw the judges' eye, impress the crowd, and represent the raw energy and spirit of the original Lindy Hoppers.

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Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• harvest
• moon
• ball
• jitterbug
• swing
• dance
• lindy
• hop
• 1930s
• 1940s
• thirties
• forties
• new york
• madison
• square
• gardens
• competition
• contest

[LuthienMoonLight]

@timboswingdancer I think that HIGHLY depends on what region you're in. On the East Coast, if you aren't in a city with a big scene like New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore or Washington, DC then it certainly would seem so. Definitely out West in LA or San Fran, the tempo and energy is comparable to this video.

[KuteFairytale]

Do you happen to know what year this is? I'm doing some research to see if I can find my grandmother. She and her partner "killer joe" piro won the 1943 H.M.B in the servicemens division. Apparantly there is some footage of her somewhere out there and since I never got to meet her, I'm really interested in finding her! I also know that she was seen briefly dancing with her partner in a PBS special about WWII that aired in the 70's...I really hope I find something! Any help would be great!

[srchmb]

Hi, great footage! How were you able to get it? I have a personal interest in the H.M.B.!

[timboswingdancer]

amazing how modern lindy hoppers seem to dance so slowly, and all do the same moves. are they all taught the same way?????/

[alexf1225]

thanx for posting