Some call it Swing others call it Huslte or maybe even Stepping but if you grew up in the Washington, DC area in the 50's-60's you called it Hand Dancing. It is also referred to as Jitter Bugging and was done to the big band & jazz sounds of that era.
The dance has now evolved and a younger generation has taken over. Dancers even younger than myself (LOL because I am a baby boomer) are doing it. I first began dancing in 2000 after attending a function where the older guests where given an opportunity to boogie on the dance floor. Because I grew up free-styling I did not know how to Hand Dance so I asked one of the gentlemen at my table to show me. It was very awkward because you had to stay in sync with your partner. Later, I saw a demonstration at Landmark Mall in Alexandria, Virginia. The flyer that was passed out told me where I could take classes. I loved to watch Fred Astaire and Ginger Rodgers movies, but this dance was a little different. It was done to music that I was more familiar with such as the Temptations and Smokey Robinson & the Miracles.
My first class was at Bolling AFB with Buster and Mary. Their method of teaching was a basic 6 count to help students get the feel of the rhythm. Men extended their hand to the female as a gesture to ask for the honor of a dance, which I thought was so cool. The basic steps are left, right, left/left, right/right for the man and right, left, right/right, left/left for the woman. This is so that when the two are standing face to face they are in sync with each other. Men 
are the leaders of the dance and they give their partners indications with their hands. If done properly, the woman knows when to turn, which direction to turn and if he wants her to do multiple turns. He can lead her forwards or backwards, tell her to pause or dip her. Normally if the male does some fancy footwork, his partner must join him on the second and third set. Then when the song is over the gentleman ESCORTS his partner back to her seat and thanks her for the dance before he goes to ask the next person to dance.
Once I learned the basic and was able to feel the rhythm without counting, I moved on to other instructors to define my own style. Those instructors taught me to be more graceful, spin on a dime, and create my own dance moves. On Saturday mornings, I listen to WPFW's the House Party with Capt'n Fly from 8:00 - 11:00 and then the Andrea Bray Show with Andrea the Hat Lady and her side kick Millie Ware from 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. (WPFW is located on your radio dial at 89.3 and is an alternative programing station supported solely by volunteers and contributions they receive from listeners). Hand Dancing is not restricted to music from the 60s-70s. We also dance to more up-to-date tunes from Country, Rock, Blues, Jazz, -, R&B. Some people would be surprise to hear songs from Cher, Bonnie Raitt, and Shania Twain. We do a little salsa, line dancing, cha-cha, walking and free style.
When I am asked why I love to hand dance I generally say: "Because I love the music, it is good exercise, and I have meet some very interesting people. Some are 20 years my senior. Their generation really knew how to have a good time". I even met the love of my life while hand dancing. Most hand dancers don't drink alcohol. We typically drink water or soft drinks. I have had the opportunity to compete. Our group was named Footworks and we took first place in the team competition. With my dance bag and face towel in hand, extra dance shoes in the trunk and a little baby powder, I am always ready for an evening of good clean fun with no drama.
MY FAVORITE SONGS: Set It Right by the Temptations, Drop by Plunky and Oneness, You Just Have To Be There by M People, A Long Way From Brooklyn by Down to the Bone, I feel Like A Woman by Shainia Twain, 8-3-1 by Lisa Stansfield, Pedestal by Baby Washington, Loves Makes a Woman by Barbra Lewis and so many other that I can not name them all.
MY FAVORITE PLACES TO DANCE: The VFW (Suitland, MD), The Elks Lodge and Club Elite (Temple Hills, MD), Martini's (Fort Washington, MD). Tradewinds (Camp Springs, MD), The Chateau and The Solar Eclipse(Washington, DC), The Departmental Club (Alexandria, VA) and the Hollywood Ball Room (Silver Spring, MD)
MY FAVORITE DJs: DJ Mack Attack, Disco Byrd, DJ Lady D, DJ Swamee, DJ Funk, Oldies, Inc., DJ 007, DJ Reggie
MY FAVORITE INSTRUCTORS: Buster Jenkins, Priscilla Wiley, Leroy Green, Laurence Bradford/Smooth & EZ, Mel & Antonio, Kermit and Novella and Ron and Bunny.
Please do not be offended if you are an instructor and I did not mention you. I'm still learning from watching and dancing with each one of you.
MY FAVORITE WEBSITES: The National Hand Dance Association, The Teenarama Story, The Next Generation of Hand Dancers, Markus and Deonna, Smooth & EZ
HAND DANCE TRIVIA: How can you tell an old school dancer from some one who has taken classes? (Answer: selos rebbur htiw ecnad nac serloohcs dlO)
UPDATED 9/3/07: The Teenarama Story is now the Emmy Award Winning documentary and its availalble on DVD. See website.
We're going to be "doo-wopping on the high sea"!
"Nuthin' But Doo-Wop Cruise", April 5-12, 2008 on the Royal Caribbean cruise line. The event will have 6 pioneers of Doo-Wop in 2 nights of private concerts, as well as a Sock Hop, meet and greet the pioneers, reception and autorgraph session. Visit the website at http://www.doowopcruise.com/ for the listing
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