Balboa-Swing Dancing in the short Maharaja (1943)

Balboa-Swing Dancing in the short Maharaja (1943). Dancers Hal & Betty Takier. Brought to you by the San Francisco Jitterbugs, www.jitterbugs.info

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[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.

[jackp780]

wow Betty had some nice stems!

[Logan Vega]

thanks I was like...wait!

[benzejaa]

Secondly, we know very little about the origins of Balboa.

Thirdly, Lindy Hop originated from Charleston, which had its roots in other dances, so there's never a point where you can say, "oh well that's just actually this other dance". Dance is forever changing.

Fourthly, Frankie contributed a lot, both to the modern scene and back at the Savoy (such as aerials), but he DIDN'T invent it. Shorty George sometimes has that credit, but that's unlikely too.

Just giving credit where it's due ;-)

[benzejaa]

I'm not sure if you're trolling or just mistaken so here we go:

First off, this is a mix of lindy hop, charleston, balboa, and bal-swing. Watch the very beginning: They start in tandem (charleston), do a few swingouts (lindy), an aerial, then go into a pure-bal basic (balboa), then some lollies (bal-swing, usually just called "swing" by early SoCal dancers as @LamarDL mentioned). Also Hal was famous for making up steps, so while most of this is inspired by said dances, much is improvised.

[smooth iclove]

Thats all Lindy Hop style dancing. The Lindy Hop Originated form Harlem. Frankie Manning invented the dance. No matter where you live, its still Harlem's Lindy Hop. Give credit where credits due.

[59cadcoupe]

WoW - Some acrobatic moves!

[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.

[Allen Lewis]

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!