Jam circles carry a punch of energy so potent that any first time viewer cannot help but watch the violent beauty in awe. This is the climactic act of a swing dance evening that meshes the energy of the musicians and dancers perfectly in a tight nucleus, generally at the base of the stage.
A jam circle is what captured my heart and launched me on the journey of mastering lindy hop many years ago. I hope you are inspired as much as I’ve been by these fantastic clips. Below are my top 3 best lindy hop jam circle moments of all time – for now.
#3 Lone Star 2010 Jam Circle
This jam started gradually, and then exploded as it went along. Who do you think won this jam?
See what’s next on my top 3 lindy hop jam circles of all time – for now list!
#2 Lindy Fest 2010 Jam Circle
This jam circle is what launched me into lindy hop professionally. I was pretty close to the person filming this clip. Standing completely mesmerized like many other first timers around me, I couldn’t believe how fast these dancers were moving without getting injured. One of my all time favorite lindy hop leaders Chance Bushman is dancing in this clip at :15 mark. So much style and coolness! Who is your favorite in this clip?
And my all time favorite lindy hop jam circle is……
#1 Savoy Ballroom 1950’s Footage
This clip captures the essence of Lindy hop! Raw creativity and improvisation. We are very lucky to have the few clips we have of the older generation of lindy hoppers. My favorite part about this clip is the diversity of every dancers style. They didn’t have workshops and events to teach the technique of how the dance works without style – they just had to do the best with what they had.
Many of the moves in this clip are mimicked by our favorite lindy hoppers today. My favorite section starts at 1:12 highlighting my favorite vintage lindy hop leader Leon James!
My hope is that in the near future there will be a resurgence of value in personal style and creativity. This spirit of creativity balanced with technical understanding will allow each new generation to add to the dance without taking anything away from its’ foundation. Enjoy this clip!
