Swing Dancing from the Movie Hellzapoppin' (1941)

[@noirchild58]

These were the dances of the day. We're seeing awesome professional musicians and dance artists here who worked hard as hell for their money and for the opportunity to show their talent in films (which was often denied them). The dancers were uncredited individually (I checked IMDB) but were credited as a dance group called the Harlem Congeroos. That we are still marvelling at this performance from a 75-year old film is certainly a testament to enduring talent.

[@GBMotorworks]

I threw my back out just sitting here watching this ! This is fantastic !

[@anthonybtwc]

lol!

[@lindyhop411]

It's considered the greatest swing routine ever captured on film.

[@CuteCatFaith]

This movie played in Saint-Denis France where I now live. I studied swing and danced with George Lloyd in 1983 in NYC. Bless you.

[@jimmines1342]

Man. I can't get enough of this. No matter how many times I watch this clip I never get tired of it.

[@54nomore]

this was song and dance at it's very best. What athleticism and energy by these great dancers. This is truly awesome!

[@olekbrzeski]

They certainly don't make films like this anymore, what a crying shame!!!!! Both the dancing and music are out of this world!!!!!

[@scientificpatriot7607]

WOW! Now THAT is an amazing dance scene!

[@MsLala8282]

OMG I LOVED this. Watched it 4 times in a row...lol. Now I have to find this movie and download it.

[@frejascircle]

one of the greatest dance scenes I've ever seen. Absolutely marvelous.

[@rebelphi]

this is the greatest movie clip on the planet

[@toniann3416]

My mouth was open for that whole dance number. O my god!

[@alicethegreat2101]

Nobody then and nobody today has ever danced this good ever. They are the best!

[@richardbrinker9364]

Watch the Nicholas Brothers. Of course, they were tap dancers, but they are often listed as the best dancers in the world. Everything James Brown, Prince, or Michael did came from them.

[@squiddlemethis]

Don't forget about jazz, soul, rock and roll, and rhythm and blues.

[@TheTheTheTV]

holy smokes that was amazing! I wish I could move like that

[@powee2003]

How can anyone put thumbs down on this? This is just so damn beautiful, awe-inspiring, intelligent and exuberant human activity!!!

[@StylistecS]

+Rosamund daisy lol get your jealous ignorant ass outta here.

[@timmytriga4able]

+Rosamund daisy it's call performance art ...you're looking at it through a European lens and saying that you are black

[@miffy1950]

Amazing!!! Great musicians, great dancers. Love it!!!

[@fastnbulbouss]

I must have watched this clip a hundred times...and everytime is like the first time, just floored by that beautiful dance number.

[@nimeshsingh9271]

To think this was way back in 1941, this just made me realize how much do we undervalue our past.

[@thecartoonclub7176]

Thank you, Eric Weinstein and JRE for introducing me to this

[@yeahyeahyeah688]

Yeah they refused to show the whole clip. We only got to see their reactions

[@karianncoe9894]

goshm it's such a shame that you don't see such raw talent like this nowadays . I would give anything to see them film this in real life 😁😁😁

[@kylowjayseenior9064]

Man I wish I was born in those times

[@IndependentGeorge76]

tough gig if you were black, to be fair...

[@buddacafe]

Holly Jesus! This is some hard core swing dancing! They would make millions today.

[@Paranovilist]

The Drummers face though! I've never seen anyone happier to be playing music!

[@massageistherapy]

Amazingly fun-looking. Such high energy! I love it!!! Must learn this....!

[@erinminer3207]

Man can't people just comment about the level of talent in this video and how awesome they were without making it a discussion of race?! I mean geez they are amazingly talented enough said!

[@findingyourwaytoday]

Entertainment that is about talent, refined skills, relentless practice and HIGH energy.

[@tanjonzou9840]

many of our people didn't do any practices, that dance was based on call and respond and one mind one accord- that was inherited from the bloodlines of my people

[@richardbrinker9364]

@Tanjon Zou Not to deprive you of your theories, but this particular routine was choreographed and performed by Frankie Manning long before he and the others performed it in this clip. It was a routine he choreographed and performed in other venues. You can find videos of those performances elsewhere on KZbin. THIS IS NOT WHAT SOCIAL LINDY HOP LOOKED LIKE AT THAT TIME. You can also find videos online of social Lindy Hop dancing at the Savoy. This is a performance piece made to show off certain tricks than he and "your people" seldom did in social dancing. It was more laid back. Don't get me wrong, Frankie and Whitey's Lindy Hoppers were the best. This is just a steroid version of how they danced in clubs back then. And not every black person could move like Frankie. Just saying.

[@tanjonzou9840]

Richard Brinker we know this was a movie- a racists ass one if you have watched the whole film- We, especially I, don't need YOU to even make a comment because you want to correct something you know nothing about- sit down

[@fredgarvinMP]

@ Tanjon Zou - Man you are dumb. Pick your battles better...

I was born in "49 so guess what? yup, you guessed it Heard it as seen it all. Thank you, Lord. What a blessing

[@yeahyeahyeah688]

And you're still a perv a see

[@yeahyeahyeah688]

Damn boomer

[@TheGooner01]

great music and great dancing, brilliant

[@kimberlycaballero3722]

This is what I call dancing!! Man!! Thy are are awesome !! Love it!

[@yeahyeahyeah688]

I don't

[@gwoman6071]

I've been lucky enough to take a lesson from Norma Miller, and also from Frankie Manning before he passed. Really extraordinary people - both of them!

[@iPursueHappiness]

This is amazing! I wonder if any of the dancers in this video are still alive. If so, it must cool for them to be able to look online and see themselves when they were young.

[@dvader4731]

Wow! This is some insane dancing. ..totally speechless

[@smooooth_]

That dancing looks so aggressive. Yet fun

[@AWesome9749]

Smooooth thats Harlem's dance "creation" African Americans in Harlem created this and well look at it. Beautiful ain't it?

[@leverdia]

Just look at them go!! There was so much more Black talent to be showcased back then. It's too bad that they rarely got the recognition and appreciation that they deserved, especially since they were probably told that they had to be "twice as good." I've seen a lot of great swing dancing, but they turned it up a few notches. They were sensational! Some people have commented that race should not be a part of this discussion, but it's hard for an African American to see a black and white clip from long ago, and not think of the restrictions and hatred that Blacks faced...not because they weren't smart, not because they were poor, not because they were bad, but just because of their skin tone. You can never change who you are, and you shouldn't want to as long as you aren't hurting anyone. There were some Blacks who could pass for white back then and were accepted because of their character, their talent, and what they could contribute until someone found out they were really Black. What different did it make by then? Remember Sarah Jane in Imitation of Life? So please don't dismiss the race element that many Blacks will see and feel while watching a time capsule like. Please, let's just try to appreciate the performance here, and if we choose to respond, let's try and do so with tact.

[@BowerbirdRed]

holy WOW! there is SO much talent here!!

[@sinetwo]

Wow, a lot of breakers have gotten loads of inspirations of these old dance forms. Amazing what they did back then. People are so constrained now :)

[@vkorchnoifan]

I don't think The Soul Train would appreciate this wonderful and very energetic dance routine, but I think its great. Thank you Olson and Johnson.

[@MichelleCzarneckiakaBoogawes]

I can dance a bit, but nothing like this! This is my second time watching this video clip and, oh, man, do I wish I could do that!!

[@MichelleCzarneckiakaBoogawes]

Neat!! I could definitely recommence swing dancing as a hobby someday!

[@Yochab]

Wooooow!!!!! This is unbelieveable! Amazing! What an inspirational source!

[@Billie4Mozzarella]

My reaction throughout this entire video: WHAT THE FUCK Amazing

[@cavaleer]

Yeah, swing dance has to be the most fun anyone has ever had dancing.

[@drwinkle101]

Slim Gaillard on guitar. Dark Gable they called him, a back handed compliment if ever I heard one!!

[@dan51556]

crazy good!!! This is the best swing dancing I've ever seen!

[@dancinman74]

This video is poetry in motion! WOW! Inspiring!

[@klainski2]

The Hottest, Heppist Jivin'. I honestly wish I could have played with the likes of these folks, Cab Calloway, etc. The energy is true and natural, talented galore and hard to beat in any age.

[@slobomotion]

Just about perfect. I danced the Lindy with George Lloyd in NYC in 1983.

[@rjr1227]

Oh man..thats just sick!! I had to watch it again.. Amazing sync there...I love it!

[@MrsSbj2011]

wow this is great, thank you for sharing this

[@lindyhop411]

That's Slim Gaillard, easily the coolest person to ever live.

[@adamlebuffe7542]

Coming from someone who can actually do this, it disappointing to see how many people have put race into it. Swing has many different styles just like ballroom has Latin and smooth styles. Swing has its roots in the music itself coming from the amazing folks in harlem(jazz). Jazz is where it all started kind of, this new style of music sparked up a kind of dance called swing. Now new people started to hear about this new sound, well some big band composers asked some jazz players to join in with them. With this new configuration in the big band made what we called swing music we all love today. Through progression in music we had progression in new ways to dance. Swing and the big bands made America into a golden age culturally.

[@redwallace]

+Adam LeBuffe (xBLITZx) Racism put "race" in it. Jazz and swing come from slavery and Jim Crow. They just do so lets not try to pretend or re-write history because it sounds nasty or because (perhaps) your family didn't experience it.

[@adamlebuffe7542]

+Julia Wallace Explain how swing comes from slavery maybe from black people being in a different social class.

[@adamlebuffe7542]

+Julia Wallace and im not rewriteing history you guys are saying something that is wrong its called educating

[@MsTokies]

+Adam LeBuffe (xBLITZx) swing originated in Harlem in the early 1930s. the reason why Harlem segregated was jim crow, which was a result of slavery or we should say fallout from slavery no longer being legal. (which came about before the civil war. [for new york which had an area to buy and sell slaves in it] (I really shouldn't have walked into this convo) mainly because proving a negative to someone isn't easy. you shifted the burden of proof onto someone else instead of proving your point it's just sad to see someone who didn't realize where this dance form spread from. Many others as well come from that same segregation.

[@adamlebuffe7542]

+MsTokies your right i see that u actually know your stuff about this dance, i just wish we would stop bring race up in everything i understand there was a time when segregation was a thing. I also dont quite understand why people keep saying white people cant dance? there was plenty of black and white great dancers at the time, Fred astaire being one of my favourite includeing the nichilous brothers who were black, great dancers all of them.

[@zaylazales2153]

4:09 lol i love how she jumps over her. I LOVE THIS

[@toserveman1496]

The level of athleticism is just amazing in this number

[@2dasimmons]

Yes, that's the fabulous Rex Stewart from Duke Ellington's orchestra. What a horn player. In fact the whole ensemble is tremendous!

[@MsGgla]

The absolute best dancing ever!

[@smookbottom]

All I can say is Dayuum - that's some serious dancing - nice video

[@snackcakeman]

Fabulous. It's entertaining to watch.

[@DelilahDavis]

I loved this wild and fun power dancing

[@megarouge6417]

Watch 4:04. The guy who slides down onto the floor. It looks cool as hell, but he's actually a spotter to catch the girl if she overshoots her partner.

[@AaronGRandall]

Now this is the cat's meow!!! We need this to make a HUGE comeback!

[@JonasClark]

Awesome! Nothing short of awesome! Looks like a lot of fun... Glad this got posted. Yeah, they ARE hoofin' it up!

[@jonhcontreras]

WOW! what such great talent....

[@gynnygp]

Absolutely amazing!

[@silafuyang8675]

Unreal dance moves.

[@jamesamoore_jam]

I could never dance like this...but I tried, and trying was great!

[@Samandrosajonesar]

This is really great!!!! Thanks

[@hyenapaw]

Whitey's Lindy Hoppers were the professional dance troop who perform in this number. I think it's from 1941. They went by a couple different names as well. Their expertise was essentially unparalleled for contemporary popular dance at the time.

[@massageistherapy]

The quality of food we eat today versus what they were eating back then...amazing energy 🔥 🔥 🔥

[@boscojacko2485]

Damn!!! We lost this raw beautiful talent over 70 years ago and counting....look what we wound up with over the past 20 years. Twerking, popping, breaking, shooting, slamming, smoking, drive-bys, jacking,.... That was the greatest generation. Shucks...they have such a good time..if they don't on hold tight...somebody going out a window

[@dukeofmystery]

i just read about Slim in Kerouac's On the Road. i's awesome to see what he was talking about. youtube is great.

[@AntonioBustillos]

Increiblemente geniales!

[@MrBlinkee]

Most excellent!

[@Ryan679g]

its like dancing combined with judo

[@jio-lito]

Abdul Sharif capoeira comes to mi d with your comment... 🤔

[@MYsequinedsky]

i met norma at this year's awesome beantown camp - hope she is there in 2014 as well.

[@51362879]

Talent. Pure Talent!!!

[@HeyCrotchCricket]

Makes you wonder if everyone's arms were about 6 inches longer after that.

[@nirikshashetty89]

this is Lindy hop right?? east coast swing and west coast swing are different... this one needs a lot of physical strength!!! fabulous dancing!!

[@farfetched9296]

Niriksha Shetty and lots of red bull to keep up....they have wings......

[@kurtb8474]

Why is this NOT the popular music of today?

[@lindyhop411]

@Filmwolf1 It had a choreographer, Frankie Manning. He was the last guy to dance, and he actually invented aerials.

[@itsmegp46]

These dancers generate enough energy to light up all of Broadway.

[@eecorr]

omg great video, great dancing and playing you dont see that nowadays anymore, what a shame but great video! :D

[@vkorchnoifan]

@lindyhop411 Thanks for the FYI I had no idea. And God Bless those dancers.

[@Kaalec]

Holy cow, these guys were talented!

[@crunkface11]

I love my People! We always could get our dance on

[@MYsequinedsky]

one of the mysteries of the universe - how / why is this a best kept secret [best dancing and music era]

[@TT-ho5xc]

cool thanks for the footage

[@lindyhop411]

It's already back. Just do a video search for "Lindy Hop" and look at all the videos out there of current dancers doing this dance.

[@Andy-SwingDJ]

Norma Miller (second couple) is still very much alive. Amazing lady....

[@hypotheticalpineapple]

Esp with that last couple it feels like such aggressive swing was means to sublimate stress between them

[@sofiashevel]

THANK YOU

[@lindyhop411]

@vkorchnoifan I think you should thank Frankie Manning and Whitey's Lindy Hoppers for the routine.

[@katalinalove1115]

Love this

[@gonzalorvol]

SIN PALABRAS SIMPLEMENTE QUE MARAVILLA

[@The40ounceBMX]

incredible

[@WaldenFalden]

Increible!!!!!

[@MrFalconford]

Opportunity prevailed!

[@moisesfunes24]

man, these people can dance!!

[@JackiePhillipsTheSocialPet]

Was that all at regular speed film? I thought I saw the film being sped up in a few parts. Incredible that people can move that fast and remain so accurate.

[@tanjonzou9840]

no

[@ejdarly4733]

+Jackie Phillips You should see Nicholas Brothers

[@tanjonzou9840]

yea- the Nicholas brothers

[@tanjonzou9840]

Jackie Phillips, it ran in the family and my Grand mother was one of the dancers an her sisters- against great grandmama and papa rules but that is what they did, you could tell if there is a speed- hun the song and the dances was on beat- always second guessing my people smh

[@JackiePhillipsTheSocialPet]

Tanjon Zou What do you mean "Always second guessing my people?"

[@468kimkim]

Where do you find dance like this now days I'm so curious about swing but this kind in particular with the up beat not the softer looking kind. The only time I've seen swing similar to this was in idawild with outkast

[@farfetched9296]

468kimkim rearrange the furniture and practice....

[@daniel14]

all until the end...best video ever. lol

[@TChaositself]

2:40 son! They....get.....down! I swear half of wrestling moves came from this type of dance.

[@LegendTierGaming]

I wanna know how many people for hurt doing this Lol

[@StephanBerry]

This is too crazy! Black people stand up!

[@EUR0BEAT]

Jennifer Bode Holy shit. lol

[@tanjonzou9840]

that's Africa bombata dance too brotha

[@msjanegrey]

Jennifer Bode ha when i first saw this i immediately thought of raga doll too. sorry to hear about your feet i always thought that was typical for ballet. if i look at the dancers they all seem to wear healthy shoes and stand on their hole foot except once when she lands flat on her upper foot ca 3:43. 4:05 looks like a possible tooth loosing scene. anyway i envy your ability to move like that i want that too.