Balboa - Hal Takier and Venna Archer

Balboa danced by Hal and Venna. Reportedly, Venna called this the jig trot.

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Entertainment

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• Balboa

[EastlakeZoo]

All the jig trot dancers I've known danced with the man kicking forward, with a double kick, and the woman kicking backward. It looked quite different than what Hal does in this clip.

[EastlakeZoo]

When you watch the clip, you can see Hal change his footwork and style during the clip. It's like he's doing two different dances (and they may have been considered that in the thirties and may even had different names then, too).

[EastlakeZoo]

At the beginning and the end of the clip, he dances more vigorously, kicking behind himself. Then, in the middle of the clip he smoothes out and changes his footwork. To me, that middle is unquestionably Balboa.

[twobarbreak]

Both dancers in this clip called it Jig Trot, not just Venna...

[EastlakeZoo]

Whenever I've talked to Hal, he's called what he dances the Balboa. He's still around; you can ask him.

[2barbreak]

@EastlakeZoo I can see that as well...OR an 80 year year old, that can't keep his 16 year old style going. To say that he purposefully "slipped" into another dance, sounds as if you never spoke to Hal about this.

[2barbreak]

@EastlakeZoo Jig trot was done all over the USA....in the south is was done with a kick forward, in Los Angeles Beach cities it was the same timing, but there were no "rules" as to were you kicked.

The only people that "Kicked" forward, were Laurie who learned the step in New Orleans, and all those that learned from him, or copied him....such as Dean Collins...and of course all that followed him.

[2barbreak]

@EastlakeZoo Jig trot was done all over the USA....in the south is was done with a kick forward, in Los Angeles Beach cities it was the same timing, but there were no "rules" as to were you kicked.

The only people that "Kicked" forward only as a step, were Laurie who learned the step in New Orleans, and all those that learned from him, or copied him....such as Dean Collins...

[2barbreak]

Jig trot was done all over the USA....in the south is was done with a kick forward, in Los Angeles Beach cities it was the same timing, but there were no "rules" as to were you kicked.

The only people that "Kicked" forward only as a step, were Laurie who learned the step in New Orleans, and all those that learned from him, or copied him....such as Dean Collins...

[havoc2nite]

This is my mother and I miss her so very much she will live my in heart for ever~ Your baby Jeffrey

[twobarbreak]

yes, I'd consider that a variation of the basic step. The double kick on 2&3 with the left before stepping down on 4 and kicking on the right 6&7 stepping down on 8 became the trademark step when done in other dances, like swing and Lindy etc...

Jig Trot dancers came out of the redondo beach area during the early 30's and should not be confused with the Jig trot,Jig Kicks,Jig Walk being done around the country by other dancers...

[twobarbreak]

Yea, it's like he almost goes into Balboa, however decides to be a showoff and try's to continue Jig Trot...but it's too tiring. If he would of done Balboa he would of been out there the whole song...

[twobarbreak]

all i know is Hal said this style was called Jig Trot, same count as Balboa however with kicks and fast.

Venna had the same definition and followed up by saying we were kids from the beach cities, we didnt even know what Balboa was until years later...