United States / Europe, 1930s-1960s
JIVE
The competition version of Lindy Hop
Jive was born in the United States out of Lindy Hop and Jitterbug before being exported to Europe by GIs during World War II. Codified and sped up in the 1960s by European ballroom dance federations, it became one of the five international competitive Latin dances, alongside Samba, Cha-Cha-Cha, Rumba, and Paso Doble.
Danced at a very fast tempo (often 176 bpm and above), Jive stands out for its sharply marked chassés, energetic kicks, and the couple's high, toned posture. It is a spectacular, athletic dance, highly visual in competition, but one that keeps at its core all the infectious joy of American swing.
How it's danced
Technique & figures
Jive is danced as a couple to very fast four-beat tracks. The basic structure is 6 counts (rock-step plus two chassés), with constant bounce in the knees and a high, toned posture.
Styles and fundamentals
Weight is carried on the balls of the feet, with very fast footwork and tight chassés. Partner turns follow one another without pause, in a constant back-and-forth energy between the two dancers.
Main figures
- 01
Rock step
A backward-forward sway over two counts that opens each figure.
- 02
Chassé jive
Three quick steps over two counts (1 and 2), the technical signature of the dance.
- 03
American spin
A free turn of the follower launched by a simple impulse from the hand.
- 04
Whip
A partner whip borrowed from West Coast Swing, widely used in competitive Jive.
Reading the music
Fast rock'n'roll, jump blues, and sped-up Latin tracks (170-200 bpm).
Did you know?
Explore the rhythms
Same family
Standards & Latines de Salon
Cross connections
Styles from other families that share a common language with Jive.