Lindy Hop is known as the "grandfather of all swing dances." During the period of slavery, African slaves danced for their own entertainment. These dances incorporated elements of traditional African dance. Inspired by those dances, the Cakewalk, Black Bottom and Charleston went on become American dance crazes that swept the nation. In the late 1920s, the Lindy Hop originated at Savoy Ballroom in Harlem. The energetic dance was done to the sound of big bands. Lindy Hop started the worldwide craze that evolved into the Jitterbug. West Coast Swing, Rock 'n' Roll and Boogie Woogie are all forms of the Lindy Hop.
Originating in California, the West Coast Swing is the official dance of the Golden State. It was derived from an earlier dance known as the Savoy Style Lindy. It is a contemporary dance, similar to the Charleston, which is much smoother and tighter than Lindy Hop. The West Coast Swing also combines all elements of the Charleston. It is performed to many types of music including pop, funk, R&B, hip hop, soul and blues.
The American Society of Teachers of Dancing is credited with inventing the East Coast Swing, although the name wasn't coined until there was a West Coast Swing. The two dances on opposite coasts are completely different in terms of style and technique. East Coast Swing is a simplified form of the Lindy Hop and can be danced to similar music. Using a Foxtrot base, the East Coast Swing was refined around 1942 to suit ballroom dancing styles. After the 1920s, all forms of swing were commonly called Jitterbug.
The Jitterbug was the dance craze of the 1940s. It got its name from an early 20th-century slang term used to describe alcoholics who suffered from the jitters. The word "jitterbug" became associated with the uncontrolled drunken-looking dance movements of swing dancers. It was particularly popular in the African-American community in Harlem nightclubs. Unlike the rigid upper body posture of white dances, black dancers infused African dance movements consisting of quick leg work and staggered upper body movements. East Coast Swing, West Coast Swing, Jive, the Big Apple, the Push and Lindy Hop were all referred to as "Jitterbug" dances.