The fastest Latin dance
Jive: three minutes of pure bounce
Jive is what happens when rock ‘n’ roll meets the ballroom. It’s quick, sharp and joyful, full of kicks and flicks, and it leaves even fit people out of breath. It’s also enormously fun once your feet catch up.
- Rated 4.9 on Google
- Founded by World and British champions
- Adults only
- No partner needed
Jive’s place in the swing family
Jive sits in two worlds at once, which confuses people. Here’s the short version.
East Coast Swing
A rock step and triple steps in a circular pattern, danced to rock ‘n’ roll, big band and upbeat pop. The easiest way into swing.
Jive
Built on the same pattern but quicker, with kicks, flicks and bouncy footwork. It’s one of the five competition Latin dances.
West Coast Swing
Slower, stretchier and danced in a slot to modern music. Nearly the opposite feel, as our West Coast Swing guide explains.
What your feet are doing
The jive basic is a rock step followed by two triple steps, often counted 1, 2, 3-a-4, 5-a-6. The triples are where the bounce lives: quick, light, and kept under you rather than travelling.
Kicks and flicks come once the triples are steady. A kick goes from the hip; a flick is a quick snap from the knee. Both look effortless on a good dancer and tend to look like a karate demonstration on a nervous one, which is fine. Everybody’s first jive kicks look a bit like that.
Building the legs for it
Jive is a workout. Competitive dancers save it for last in a Latin final for a reason. For a beginner, that means short bursts: a minute of triples, a rest, another minute. Your calves will let you know how it went the next morning.
It helps to arrive warm. On a January evening that means not going straight from a frozen streetcar platform into kicks. Give yourself a few minutes of easy walking and basic steps before you push the pace.
Light feet beat big kicks. If you’re landing heavily, make everything smaller.
Learning jive at Beach Ballroom
East Coast Swing and Jive are coached by our ballroom and Latin team, the same team founded by two-time World Champion Richard and British Champion Laura. Swing group classes are added to the schedule when there’s interest, and private lessons can start any week, from $140 + tax.
Ask about upcoming swing groups through the booking form. If you’re more interested in jive as part of competition Latin, mention it at a consultation; our page on competitive ballroom dancing explains how that training works.
Bring your energy
Not sure whether to start with East Coast Swing or go straight to jive? A $99 consultation with a senior coach will help you decide, and you’ll leave with a plan.