Jive dance is one of a collection of different dance styles that originated with swing music in the early twentieth century. It is an energetic, upbeat partner dance with one partner leading and the other following. Jive dance relies heavily on kicking and spinning, which makes it very similar to East Coast [swing dance](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-swing-dance). 

This dance style has origins in the early US jazz music scene of the late 1920s and early 1930s. Modern jive refers to one of the five ballroom competition dance styles that make up the International Latin dances in dance sport showcases, along with cha-cha, samba, rumba, and paso doble.
Jive first rose to popularity as a Black American social dance in jazz dance halls and swing clubs in the United States in the early twentieth century. Its name is derived from “jive talk,” which was a vernacular slang term used in the Black community at the time meaning “deceptive talk.”

In the 1930s, [swing musicians](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/swing-music-guide) like Cab Calloway attracted large crowds of jive dancers at [big band](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/big-band-music-guide) venues like New York’s Savoy Ballroom. Later on, jive became the generic term that referred to several forms of swing dancing, including jitterbug, boogie-woogie, and the Lindy hop. 

The dance gradually moved across the United States, diverging into separate styles of East Coast swing and West Coast swing as the dance mutated. Jive eventually made its way to Europe, with “jive” becoming a synonym for “swing.” In 1968, jive was accepted as the fifth International Latin dance in competitive ballroom dancing. A modern jive rendition called French jive developed in the late twentieth century, which is typically performed to popular music.
Here are some of the qualities that differentiate jive dancing from other styles of ballroom dance. 

1. __Fast-paced__: Jive dancing is one of the fastest styles within the International Latin dance category. Competitive jive dancers perform their routines at a tempo of 176 beats per minute. Jive is often performed to swing or rock music, giving it a faster speed and a higher energy.
2. __Bouncy__: Jive dancers move lighter on their feet than many other dancers. It is an energetic, peppy dance that is characterized by bouncy footwork full of small jumps and kicks. 
3. __Energetic partner work__: There is a heavy emphasis on attached partner work in jive dance, including sharp changes in direction, quick spins, as well as the leading partner lifting the following partner and throwing them around. 
4. __Uses a small part of the floor__: Partners that are performing jive typically stay within a small section of the dancefloor, while other ballroom dance styles involve a lot of movement throughout the floor.

1. __Basic jive__: The basic jive step is a 6-count step with the dancers in a closed position. It begins with a rock step, where both dancers step back and forth over two counts, followed by a chassé step to the side and another chassé step back to the other side.
2. __Throwaway__: A throwaway is the same as the basic jive step, but the dancers transition to an open position during the second chassé.
3. __American spin__: The American spin begins with the dancers attached in an open position. The dancers perform a basic jive step, then the leading partner spins the following partner into a spin on the second chassé. The following partner lets go of their hold during the spin and catches their partner’s hand at the end.
4. __Chicken walkers__: Chicken walkers begin with both partners taking four steps. The partners place their free foot towards each other as they swivel their hips. The move is done with an open position hold, and the leading partner travels backwards as the following partner steps towards them.
Practice ballet with Misty Copeland, the principal dancer with the American Ballet Theatre. Get the [MasterClass Annual Membership](https://www.masterclass.com/) and learn how to put individual barre techniques together to create powerful performances and introduce artistry to your choreography.
Jive dance is an upbeat, energetic dance style that originated in the early 1930s in the United States, and has since become a competitive ballroom dance. Read on to learn more about this popular style of dance.

Jive dance is an upbeat, energetic dance style that originated in the early 1930s in the United States, and has since become a competitive ballroom dance. Read on to learn more about this popular style of dance.

Jive Dance: Learn the History and Characteristics of Jive Dance

Jive dance is one of a collection of different dance styles that originated with swing music in the early twentieth century. It is an energetic, upbeat partner dance with one partner leading and the other following. Jive dance relies heavily on kicking and spinning, which makes it very similar to East Coast <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-swing-dance' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-swing-dance","linkCopy":"swing dance","category":null}'>swing dance</a>. This dance style has origins in the early US jazz music scene of the late 1920s and early 1930s. Modern jive refers to one of the five ballroom competition dance styles that make up the International Latin dances in dance sport showcases, along with cha-cha, samba, rumba, and paso doble.

What Is Jive Dance?

Jive first rose to popularity as a Black American social dance in jazz dance halls and swing clubs in the United States in the early twentieth century. Its name is derived from “jive talk,” which was a vernacular slang term used in the Black community at the time meaning “deceptive talk.”In the 1930s, <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/swing-music-guide' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/swing-music-guide","linkCopy":"swing musicians","category":null}'>swing musicians</a> like Cab Calloway attracted large crowds of jive dancers at <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/big-band-music-guide' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/big-band-music-guide","linkCopy":"big band","category":null}'>big band</a> venues like New York’s Savoy Ballroom. Later on, jive became the generic term that referred to several forms of swing dancing, including jitterbug, boogie-woogie, and the Lindy hop. The dance gradually moved across the United States, diverging into separate styles of East Coast swing and West Coast swing as the dance mutated. Jive eventually made its way to Europe, with “jive” becoming a synonym for “swing.” In 1968, jive was accepted as the fifth International Latin dance in competitive ballroom dancing. A modern jive rendition called French jive developed in the late twentieth century, which is typically performed to popular music.

A Brief History of Jive

Here are some of the qualities that differentiate jive dancing from other styles of ballroom dance. <ol class="mc-m-4"><li class="mc-my-4"> 1. Fast-paced: Jive dancing is one of the fastest styles within the International Latin dance category. Competitive jive dancers perform their routines at a tempo of 176 beats per minute. Jive is often performed to swing or rock music, giving it a faster speed and a higher energy. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 2. Bouncy: Jive dancers move lighter on their feet than many other dancers. It is an energetic, peppy dance that is characterized by bouncy footwork full of small jumps and kicks. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 3. Energetic partner work: There is a heavy emphasis on attached partner work in jive dance, including sharp changes in direction, quick spins, as well as the leading partner lifting the following partner and throwing them around. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 4. Uses a small part of the floor: Partners that are performing jive typically stay within a small section of the dancefloor, while other ballroom dance styles involve a lot of movement throughout the floor. </li></ol>

4 Characteristics of Jive Dance

<ol class="mc-m-4"><li class="mc-my-4"> 1. Basic jive: The basic jive step is a 6-count step with the dancers in a closed position. It begins with a rock step, where both dancers step back and forth over two counts, followed by a chassé step to the side and another chassé step back to the other side. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 2. Throwaway: A throwaway is the same as the basic jive step, but the dancers transition to an open position during the second chassé. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 3. American spin: The American spin begins with the dancers attached in an open position. The dancers perform a basic jive step, then the leading partner spins the following partner into a spin on the second chassé. The following partner lets go of their hold during the spin and catches their partner’s hand at the end. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 4. Chicken walkers: Chicken walkers begin with both partners taking four steps. The partners place their free foot towards each other as they swivel their hips. The move is done with an open position hold, and the leading partner travels backwards as the following partner steps towards them. </li></ol>

4 Basic Jive Dance Steps

Practice ballet with Misty Copeland, the principal dancer with the American Ballet Theatre. Get the <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/","linkCopy":"MasterClass Annual Membership","category":null}'>MasterClass Annual Membership</a> and learn how to put individual barre techniques together to create powerful performances and introduce artistry to your choreography.

Learn More

Jive dance is an upbeat, energetic dance style that originated in the early 1930s in the United States, and has since become a competitive ballroom dance. Read on to learn more about this popular style of dance.

Jive dance is an upbeat, energetic dance style that originated in the early 1930s in the United States, and has since become a competitive ballroom dance. Read on to learn more about this popular style of dance.
