Side Charleston

The Side Charleston is another common Lindy Hop move that originally derives from the Charleston Basic step. The leader is performing the same steps as for a Back Charleston, while the follower is performing the mirror image of those steps.

Rhythmically, the Side Charleston is effectively the same as a Jockey, and like the Jockey it is useful in social dancing to provide time for the leader to think and to look for space on a crowded dance floors. The St Louis Shag Basic is also very similar to this move, and can be used interchangeably with it.

As for any kicking move, on a crowded floor it's important that the dancers look where they are kicking, particularly for kicks backwards.

front view reverse view facing view
1. M:BL W:BR Start with the follower standing on the leader's right, side by side, facing in the same direction. The leader takes a step backward on his left foot, momentarily rocking his weight back onto that foot. The follower takes a step backward on her right foot.
2. M:RR W:RL The leader replaces his weight on his right foot, rocking back forwards. The follower replaces her weight on her left foot.
3. M:KfL W:KfR The leader performs a kick forward with his left foot, slightly lifting the follower's right hand side with his right hand on her right side. The follower performs a kick forward with her right foot.
4. M:eFL W:eFR The leader takes a step slightly forward on his left foot, lowering the follower's right hand side. The follower takes a step slightly forward on her right foot.
5. M:KfR W:KfL The leader performs a kick forward with his right foot, slightly lifting the follower's left hand side with his right shoulder under her left hand. The follower performs a kick forward with her left foot.
6. M:StR W:StL The leader lifts his right foot next to his left foot, with the right knee bent. The follower lifts her left foot next to her right foot, with the left knee bent.
7. M:KbR W:KbL The leader performs a kick backward with his right foot. The follower performs a kick backward with her left foot.
8. M:eBR W:eBL The leader takes a step slightly backward on his right foot, lowering the follower's left hand side. The follower takes a step slightly backward on her left foot.
 
 
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Welcome

Welcome to an incomplete book about Lindy Hop.

I wrote the text here five years ago, based on my notes from when I was originally learning Lindy Hop in the mid-1990s. My original plan was to take a large number of illustrative photographs, which would make the bare text much more comprehensible.

However, that was five years ago and I've not gotten as far as taking a single photograph. So rather than waiting any longer, I thought it worth releasing the text as-is, in case it's useful to anyone else.

I'd interested to hear any feedback, but unfortunately I can't promise to do much about it.

And maybe one day I'll get as far as illustrating the book, and creating the originally-intended printed version:

This book is dedicated to the memory of Frankie Manning (1914-2009), Ambassador of Lindy Hop.

David Drysdale
November 2012

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