Acrobatic Rock’n’Roll is a very athletic, competitive form of dance that originated from lindy hop. Unlike lindy hop, however, it is a choreographed dance designed for performance. It is danced by both couples and groups, either all-female or 4-8 couples together.
During the development of the musical genre rock and roll, dances to go with the music were also created. From swing, which came into being around 1920, Lindy Hop emerged, the first partner dance ever to feature acrobatic elements. Lindy Hop was modified around 1940 to suit faster music, creating the style known as boogie woogie. With rock and roll music coming into fashion around 1955, its adherents converted boogie woogie to the even more athletic rock and roll dance.
A 1959 dance book describes “ROCK-AND-ROLL” as “performed without undue tension, the body and legs being flexible, so that there may be a physical rhythmic expression of co-ordination with the beats of music.” “…a dance which leaves much scope for personal expression and interpretation in style, movement, rhythm, and even in the manner in which the figures are constructed.” The basic rhythm is Slow, Slow, Quick, Quick. The Slow steps “will be taken first on to the ball of the foot, the heel then lowering”.

When you are learning a new dance, getting some good music to practice to, or just to enjoy, can be very difficult. The music is taking over and you want more of it in your life, but don’t know where to start.

To make the process a little easier, we’ve rounded up a selection of our favourite pieces by genre, and provided links to iTunes where available. If you have a particular track that you think should be featured here, let us know. Remember, musicians have to earn a living too. If you like it, please buy it.

Artist	Title	Level	Buy
The Beatles	Twist and Shout	Beginner
Eddie Cochran	C’mon Everybody	Beginner
Beach Boys	Surfin USA	Beginner

Rock and Roll Dancing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SH0m4VKoVuM

Black and White Footage of Rock and Roll Dancing