Jive Steps and Swing steps

Jive is the faster version of the swing. Dancers use a more bouncy type movement using the balls of the feet a lot. A lot of kicks are used in jive.

Jive is an American dance that evolved from a dance called the Jitterbug by removing the lifts and acrobatic elements. The Boogie, Rock & Roll and the American Swing also influenced this dance.

Jive is a very fast, energy-consuming dance. It is the last dance danced at the competitions.

The Jive is danced to music written in 4/4 time. The same time value (6 beats in 4/4 time) is used for single, double or triple jive. The difference in rhythm is determined by the number of steps, according to the speed of music.

• Jive steps:
  • Basic (double)
  • Basic (triple)

Jive Basic (double)

Man's foot position

Rhythm - Quick, quick, quick, quick, quick, quick

Jive Basic triple

Man's foot position

The footwork to Triple Swing is the same.

Rhythm - Quick a quick, quick a quick, quick, quick.

The lady's steps are the opposite, starting on her right foot.

See also: History of Swing, Jive Syllabus

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