6 Count Basic - Learn to Lindy Hop from the Ground Up

Support my channel by going to / lauraglaess
Lindy Hop is more than just moves -- it's a vibrant dance full of history and culture. In this video, we tell you a little about that history, as well as go into one of the basic rhythms, closed position, open position, and rotation.
00:00 - Welcome to Lindy from the Ground Up
00:17 - What is Lindy Hop?
01:21 - Dancing is More than Just Moves
03:28 - Basic Rhythm
06:22 - Connecting with a Partner
07:31 - Dance the Basic with a Partner
08:19 - Open Position
09:18 - Rotate the Basic
10:15 - Put it All Together
PLAYLISTS
MUSIC: open.spotify.com/playlist/2QV...
HISTORY: • Lindy Hop History
INSPIRATION: • Inspiration
RHYTHM PRACTICE: • Rhythm Practice for Li...
MUSIC:
Brooks Prumo Orchestra - brooksprumoorchestra.bandcamp....
MERCH:
Prints: www.etsy.com/shop/lauraglaessart
Other: lauraglaess.threadless.com/
50% of the money made from this channel is donated to organizations that support African Diasporic art forms, because Lindy Hop is a Black dance, and preserving and cultivating Blackness is very important to its identity. My current charities are:
Black Lindy Hopper's Fund: blacklindyhoppersfund.org/
National Jazz Museum in Harlem: jazzmuseuminharlem.org/

[@chr1sj4]

"listen to the music, if that fails ask your partner, if that fails pick whatever" sounds like the perfect way to explain musicality to beginners :D

[@LauraGlaess]

Ha! Trying to get people dancing a quick as possible!

[@eckdavid2472]

@@LauraGlaess Hey, it's working, you've got me dancing! The proof is that I've got sore calf muscles.

[@LauraGlaess]

@@eckdavid2472 ha!! Thanks to the pandemic, me too! They build up. We'll all be busting out of pants soon.

[@BaconEggsRL]

I don't know if this was explained but the basic rythm is "rock step, triple step, triple step" on repeat.

[@maxschott4368]

I'm attending my first social dance in a few days and this was so very helpful, thank you so so much!

[@michaelpeltsman4958]

Straightforward, no BS, just to the point. Excellent work!

[@gabrielescharf6]

Every cell of my body starts bouncing by watching you dancing. So funny!!! Thank's for the good explaination.

[@theplinkerslodge6361]

Best intro to 6 count, and I have been looking thru many. Getting the beautiful, fun dynamics is WHY YOU ARE DANCING! Cool.

[@LauraGlaess]

Yes! Because dancing is FUN!!

[@erikr007]

Laura and Brooks, this is an awesome series of videos! And thank you for reminding us experienced dancers how fun simples moves can be!

[@nev_aeh]

Loved this video! Will be using it in my history class this week as we study "The Roaring 20's"!

[@davidalen2590]

Great approach to feeling right off the bat.Basics are ALWAYS good. Cheers!

[@kayleejsunshine]

Fantastic. Looking forward to checking out the other videos

[@motus6867]

Great Video! I‘ve started with LH this week and your videos are a fantastic support.

[@albertlaque]

Excellent instructions! Your teaching is inspiring and very modest in a way to make any student comfortable in expressing their art through the style of dance. Great job. ☺️

[@sheba021]

Lovely video! Just had my first class and this gives me stuff to practice until the next one. Thanks a lot!

[@user-qb4kn1hw4n]

very nice way to explain and show the basic steps... THANK YOU!!

[@elizabethhanna1785]

You are a goddess of skill and POSITIVITY!

[@annarepublic]

Amazin. I'm glued. I've always wanted to lindy hop.

[@sierraconway-7755]

I literally just created a KZbin account to subscribe to you guys! This video was just the best in so many ways! In five minutes this video taught me more than any lesson I’ve had so far! 👏😄

[@LauraGlaess]

This means so much! We're really trying to help ❤️

[@sheilagreenedartley9104]

Thank you for that great intro!

[@namiqahmadov8967]

Thanks a lot for the simple way of tutoring!

[@xwarped1]

Awesome stuff. Thanks

[@loiclaperou4431]

Many thanks frome France, you both help me to progress so fast !!! Cheers !

[@LauraGlaess]

That makes me so happy. Thank you

[@darkslider802]

Thanks for teaching the history thats amazing!

[@gabecast1]

awesome video!

[@eckdavid2472]

Thanks for the great video! Really useful for beginners like me. I’ve been hearing the term ‘vernacular jazz’ and was unsure what it means so I checked on the internet. I was under the impression that it was dance steps set to swing music with odd names like Tack Annie, Susi Q, and Fish Tails, but Wikipedia and others tell me it’s much broader than that. Vernacular dances are developed ‘naturally’ within a culture, so I understand vernacular jazz was developed by African Americans and actually includes a range of dance styles and steps, alone and with a partner. The creativity of African Americans is amazing, both music and dance, so I’m so glad you support them.

[@LauraGlaess]

Yes, Vernacular jazz is a massive category of dancing and a massive contribution to dance. And Black Americans have contributed SO MUCH. It's truly amazing.

[@leoparcoeur]

Thanks for this precious content. It's been a while I want to learn this dance. It will help despite there's not much courses around here. It also makes me think about starting over tap dancing that I did a bit 20 years ago. (Just to say how it is inspiring)

[@LauraGlaess]

Yes! Get back into tap! It'll be so helpful

[@ksr55555]

Awesome!

[@yoga_ilsub]

Now I know Milk and honey served here. it's totally essential of lindy! I'd like the way of your approach to teaching. It's soooooo good !! thank you 😻

[@LauraGlaess]

I'm so happy this resonates! Hopefully more coming soon!

[@zentember]

i appreciate your encouragement to keep it simple and fun

[@LauraGlaess]

It's so easy to think that "dancing" is more complicated. I find that the more complicated the moves, the harder it is to really dance. Don't get me wrong - I LOVE complicated moves and variations. But that's not what the dance is to me.

[@doug6280]

Wow this KZbin I followed you and you made it so simple to understand I know it’s the basics but I felt great dancing along thanks guys .

[@LauraGlaess]

The basics are beautiful. It should feel great to dance some basics!

[@kellyeaton6341]

Need to learn these with the hubster 😍 thanks 🙌🏻

[@LauraGlaess]

Get that hubster to work!

[@hbilletter]

Great video! Laura, can you please post of link for your shoes. Love them!

[@LauraGlaess]

Glad you like them! It doesn't look like they make that model anymore, but this is the company: www.slideandswing.es/

[@ralucach6428]

You two are amazing! 🤩 Just started some Lindy Hop courses last month and your videos really helped me and my boyfriend understand and practice more at home. Keep on rockin'! P.S. Could you tell me from where is your banana shirt? I really love it. Have a great week! ☺️

[@LauraGlaess]

Yay! I'm so happy we helped. YOU keep on rockin'! Shien. Instagram told me about it. That dang algorithm got me good.

[@ralucach6428]

@@LauraGlaess Thank you so so much for your reply! Hahhaha totally understand! Can't wait to see more videos from you! Hugs from Romania

[@ericl1678]

Laura… Great Videos. I just started to take swing (EC) lessons at 51. I understand the 6 count swing outs etc for the rock step triple step triple step (repeat). What I dont get is the 8 count. I know its a R-S, triple swing, 1-2, triple swing, but my misunderstading is when to do and what to do during the 8 count Lindy. Can you please explain? Thanks. Eric

[@zandra7966]

I'm looking for a Lindy Hop 8 count follow swing out foot placement decal or guide for my floor do you have any ideas?

[@LauraGlaess]

Oh, that sounds fun. I think this is a really great idea for a decoration, but I don't think foot placement is helpful as an informative guide to actual dancing. As far as decal sources, I'm so sorry I have no idea. But post a picture if you get it! It sounds so beautiful

[@patrickholland6848]

Can the Lindy be danced to some of our more modern up to date music?

[@AnnaAnna-zi8ri]

Looking for a video that is basic and to the point. Any recommendations?

[@LauraGlaess]

What are you trying to learn?

[@antonellavalerio8267]

Bellissime lezioni ma perché i sottotitoli non in italiano?

[@LauraGlaess]

I don't know Italian! I'm open to posting translations, though.

[@simona1688]

🥰😍🤩😘😋

[@Ultra-Collector]

Now all I need is to find a partner!

[@ryddragyn]

Where on earth is the "6"? There are alternating combos of 2 and 3 (5 total before repeating) in the basic rhythm; or 2 then a pair of 3's for 8 total when actually dancing.

[@zumazuma568]

Huh? 2 and 3 of what? 6 means 6 beats of the music that cover the dance move

[@ryddragyn]

@@zumazuma568 Yes, I now recognize that. But it was not explained clearly, it was assumed we would recognize that.

[@darkslider802]

The step is counted Rock step 1 2 triple step 3n4 5n 6 6 steps to 6 beats of music.learn to count music. @3:56

[@ryddragyn]

@@darkslider802 Your arrogance isn't appreciated. Also, by your own description it is 8 steps/foot movements within 6 "beats". 2+3+3.

[@ryddragyn]

@@darkslider802 Thanks for bringing some elitist toxicity to the situation...

[@ryddragyn]

It would help if you explained that step≠beat. Otherwise your explanation is incomprehensible.

[@LauraGlaess]

Do it! Both rolls are wonderful. I dance both of them, and I think it should be more common. I'm happy you are undeterred and going to go out dancing!

[@ryddragyn]

@@LauraGlaess I think you responded to the wrong comment here...

[@LauraGlaess]

@@ryddragyn haaa!!! The are too many. I don't understand your question.

[@ryddragyn]

@@LauraGlaessInitially it was not clear why it was called "6 count" when the basic clap rhythm contained patterns of 2's and 3's. I'm not coming from a musical background, so I had to ask someone for clarification, and they explained that music was broken into units of time, and the pattern of the steps repeated after 6 of those units. I do mean this constructively, while also recognizing that most of your audience may have a music background already. It's just that for non-musicians it can be frustrating at first.

[@zecalimazeca]

I don't know about this guy yet but I saw some of your videos last 3 days and realized that you have musicality as good as a good musician. But to dance doing phrases of 6 pulses in a song that has phrases of 4 pulses is something impossible. Afro-descendent people are known for NEVER falling the rhythm. That I observed my whole life being a professional musician almost 60 years as well as a teacher. I can't believe they could dance in this kind of counting of 6 against 4. If you have a video of them teaching or dancing with this count could you please let me know? As a musician that loves and studies dance this is something totally wrong. It would be like a musician playing a waltz in a song 4/4 count. Sorry about my English, I am from Brazil. Thank you.

[@zumazuma568]

Wow. So, if you look closer at the intro of this video, "what is lindy hop", and check out the couple at 0:27, they are doing three 6-count figures in a row before doing a longer aerial figure. They are not doing triple steps, because the tempo is crazy fast: instead they are just doing a longer, 2-count step, which is identical to a triple step in terms of length and shape. That's common on fast tempos. Despite your 60 years experience, you might wanna slow the video down to half speed, because it might be hard to catch if you haven't actually danced swing. And if it doesn't look "out of rhythm", that's because... It isn't. In lindy hop tutorial by Frankie Manning (easily found on KZbin) he frequently doew six count figures, but doesn't even name or explain them, because they are so intuitive and common. Getting from position to position, switching places, switching hands etc would become a lot slower, and the dance would be more limiting and less dynamic if 6-counts weren't a thing.

[@zecalimazeca]

@@zumazuma568 Hello. Thank you for your time trying to help. I am saving your explanation and this video to study with time because I am very busy this month ( 13 Shows plus recording in the studio). I have a lot of interest in this subject and I am very curious if the Afro-descendent people dance a whole piece of music 4/4 for instance counting phrases in 6. I hope I can't find it because this is going to be my first disappointment about black people dancing out of music/rhythm. This is common to see white people. In music, we have in all genres some period 3 against 2 or 4 and other variations. We find a lot of this in jazz but all the musicians never lose where the one is. This is a kind of hemiola. But when it stops, always we come back to the 1 of the bar. But if you dance the whole music that is in 4/4 using phrases of 6 pulses this is out of music, out of rules of music and the dance may be in the pulse but out of dance musicality. Thank you for your help. As soon as I have time I will research what you told me here and I will surely grow with this. Best wishes and greetings from Brazil

[@zumazuma568]

@@zecalimazeca like I said, it's not "out of rhythm": they follow the rhythm, they just start figures at different times than the beginning of a bar. I'm sure you've noticed not every melody starts on 1, especially in jazz: it's the exact same thing with dancing. Typically people combine 6- and 8- count figures to fill a phrase (eights bars), for example 6-6-8-6-6-8 makes a full phrase, and then uou start on 1 again. People also frequently extend or shorten their figures with arbitrary rhythms and steps to accentuate the music, so it could smth like 6-4-8-10-4. Laura even has a whole separate video about this with more examples from lindy hop pioneers and explanation why 6-count figures actually let you work better with the music, check it out.

[@mihirlakhamje9575]

step 1: get a partner

[@LauraGlaess]

I hear what you're saying, but consider how important solo jazz is to Lindy hop, and the fact that you don't have to have a partner in any of the classes or dances I know if.

[@baguettegott3409]

In my (pretty limited) experience, lindy hop is actually much easier to get into alone than standard dances. Most standard dance classes (for waltz, fox, latin etc.) for adults require you to already have a partner when you sign up. Lindy hop usually doesn't, they just make sure they have an even number of participants for the class and then you figure it out there.

[@harrychristenson4938]

Yeah I don't think I've gotta learn about it. Dance is dance no matter who does it

[@LauraGlaess]

I think I understand why you say that, but of course I disagree. Art is a dialogue between history and the present. If you want to have something meaningful to bring to the conversation, I feel like it's better if you know what the conversation is about. That said, dancing is also just fun! By all means, have fun shaking it on a Thursday night. I just feel like participation without knowledge will necessarily be more shallow.

[@annarepublic]

There is absolutely value to learning the history and origins of a movement, of art, of dance. Dance is a language, a conversation. Indeed that belongs to everyone, if you should wish to take part.

[@Conn30Mtenor]

Not what I saw back in the 90's, not anything like what the Lindy dancers of the 30s-50's. Not in the slightest. Bounce...bounce...bounce...

[@LauraGlaess]

Bounce bounce bounce :) Yeah, a lot of thing have changed and continue to change. The beauty of a living art form.

[@DiscoBoogieNJ]

Created by black Americans, but I haven't yet seen one black person do it, in person. Just in old videos. Black people created some pretty cool dances back in the day, but now they create twerking and a$$ clapping. SMH..... What happened to society?

[@williammcneill1864]

In my opinion your comment lacks a basic understanding of American American culture. Because I am a generous person I will not leave you to stew in your own ignorance. Here are some dances African Americans have contributed to the art form outside of twerking. Breakdancing, Waacking, Memphis Jookin, Detroit jit, House Dance, Gumboots, Hambone, Tap Dancing just to name a few.

[@zumazuma568]

First, watch Spirit Moves: there's a very twerking-like scene there, as well as some incredibly dirty (for those times) blues moves. Lindy hop at the time was often considered vulgar, improper and chaotic.