Jive Introduction to Jive
MUSIC
TIMING: 4/4 (4 Beats to the Measure) Accenting Beats: 1 and 3; 2 and 4; 1 2 3 4; 1a2a3a4a; TEMPO: 40/46 (Measures per minute)
RHYTHM CONSTRUCTION
"JIVE" 1 Measure of Music
Foot Action Step Step Chassé
Timing Q Q Q a Q
Beat Value 1 1 3/4 1/4 1
1 1/2 Measures of Music
Foot Action Step Step Chassé Chassé
Timing Q Q Q a Q Q a Q
Beat Value 1 1 3/4 1/4 1 3/4 1/4 1
"SINGLE TIME or SINGLE SWING" 1 Measure of Music
Foot Action Step Step Step Step
Timing Q Q S S
Beat Value 1 1 2 2
"DOUBLE TIME" 1 1/2 Measures of Music
Foot Action Step Step Tap Step Tap Step
Foot Action Step Step Step Tap Step Tap
Timing Q Q Q Q Q Q
Beat Value 1 1 1 1 1 1
JV - 1 Introduction to Jive (continued) Jive
RHYTHM CONSTRUCTION
"TRIPLE SWING"
TEMPO 30/36 (Measures per minute)
1 Measure of Music
Foot Action Step Step Chassé
Timing Q Q Q & Q
Beat Value 1 1 1/2 1/2 1
1 1/2 Measures of Music
Foot Action Step Step Chassé Chassé
Timing Q Q Q & Q Q & Q
Beat Value 1 2 1/2 1/2 1 1/2 1/2 1
JIVE CHASSÉS The Chassé used in Jive consists of a group of three steps, which may be thought of as Little, Littler, and Big matching the timing /beat value. The first step being little, the second step being half closed to the stationary foot requiring a quick hop or skip action, the third step with the greatest time/beat value being the big step. All steps are small because of Tempo.
The Chassé may be taken with or without turn forward, backward, sideward or in place. The actual amount of turn in the charts is sometimes shown over three steps.
The Chassé may use a locking action on the second step for man and lady when moving forward or backward. Chassé Techniques
HIP, HIP, HIP ACTION - uses hip action on each of the three steps DOWN AND DOWN ACTION - maintains a dropped hip over the three steps UP AND UP ACTION - uses a strong foot rise of the supporting foot raising the body to create a bounce on each of the three steps.
FOOTWORK The Basic footwork for a Rock and Recover step is ball-flat. As a step is taken on the BALL of FOOT the (heel) FLAT lowers to the floor, at the same time the heel of the unweighted foot is released from the floor. At slower tempo the Jive Chassé is usually danced as ball-flat on each step, or ball-flat, ball, ball-flat. At a faster tempo the footwork is ball, ball, ball-flat. JV - 2 Introduction to Jive (continued) Jive
NOTE:
The inside edge of the foot touches the floor first and then rolls over to the ball of foot on all steps. The feet will generally have toes turned out.
KNEE ACTION The knees are flexed in ALL of the steps. At no time should the knees be locked. The knee is veering in and downward. This knee action can only be accomplished by turning the toes out.
LEG ACTION Should be through the raising of the thigh, bending of the knee and flexing the ankle with the toe barely leaving the floor and then replacing it toe, ball, flat.
ARM ACTION Generally, the arms move freely. When passing partners the arms swing in or are drawn in close to the body. When moving away from partner to Open Position the arms swing out or are extended away from body. The body moves away, towards and around the hand when in Closed, Open or Promenade (Semi-Closed) Position. Other arm movements may be used for individual expression. It is best to keep the arm movement simple.
DANCE TECHNIQUES The following are some techniques used in dancing the jive.
1: Raise the thigh of the moving foot on "a" as a preparation action before transferring weight to the foot on the beat count.
Example: "a" raise thigh, 1 place foot
2: Use a little bounce in the body with hip movement on each step
3: use a strong foot rise of the supporting foot raising the body on the "a" count creating a bouncing action in the body before transferring weight to the ball of the moving foot on the beat count.
BODY POSTURE Forward poise with weight carried over the balls of the feet.
CLOSED POSITION HOLD Stand facing partner about 6" apart with Lady's Right foot pointing between Man's feet and Lady's Left foot outside of Man's Right foot. The Man should place his Right Hand on Lady's Back on her left shoulder blade, holding her Right Hand in his Left Hand with the arms close to the body and the hands about Lady's eye level. The Lady will rest her Left arm lightly on the Man's Right arm, following the curve of his arm to the shoulder. Man's Left and Lady's Right hands are joined palm to palm. The Man's fingers close on the back of Lady's hand, the Lady's fingers close on the back of Man's hand.
ALTERNATE HAND HOLD The Lady's Right Hand will be Palm down with Man's Left JV - 3 Introduction to Jive (continued) Jive
Hand underneath and palm up. His thumb will be on the back of Lady's Fingers just below the knuckles. The Hands are held about waist level.
OPEN POSITION HOLD Use the same hand position with either hand or handshake hold as in the Alternate Hand Hold.
PROMENADE POSITION (Semi-Closed) Note In some figures the man is in Promenade Position while the lady is not as shown in the charts.
JV - 4