For 20 years, Camp Jitterbug has invited Seattle to learn from talented musicians and spectacular dancers. Now their incredible Jump Session Show returns, filling Town Hall’s stage with a celebration of Jazz, Tap, Lindy Hop, and Swing dances featuring some of the top dancers and musicians from around the world. It takes place on May 24 at Town Hall’s Great Hall. Tickets are on sale now!
To get your toes a’tappin’ before the event, we offer up a few videos of some of the dances you might see the night of the show!
Lindy Hop:
The Lindy Hop was born in Harlem in 1928, evolving with the jazz music of the time. A fusion of many dances, including tap and the Charleston, it was exceedingly popular during the swing era of the 1930s and 40s.
Interesting Factoid: It’s named for Charles Lindbergh who “hopped” over the the Atlantic on his famous flight.
Swing:
Swing dance is an umbrella term for a variety of specific dances, including the Lindy Hop, the Balboa, the Collegiate Shag, and the Charleston. The majority of swing dances originated in African American communities.
Tap:
Tap dancing has many variations: flamenco, jazz, classical, Broadway, and post-modern tap. With roots in the fusion of several ethnic percussive dances, from Spanish flamenco to African tribal dances, English clog dancing to Spanish jigs, it gained prominence in the mid-1800s with minstrel shows.
Famous tap dancers include Master Juba, Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, Gregory Hines, and Savion Glover.
Watch some of the greatest dancers in the world on the Great Hall stage on May 24. Hot-foot it over to Town Hall after you buy your tickets.
