Hand dancing

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Hand dancing, also known as "D.C. hand dancing" or "D.C. swing", is a form of swing dance that can be traced as far back as the 1920's, when Harlem gave birth to the Lindy Hop. From the Lindy Hop emerged the Jitterbug in the 30's and during the 50's Washington, D.C. developed its own version and named it Hand Dance. From the early 50's to the mid 60's, Hand Dance was the hub of the Washingtonian dancing experience. It is characterized by gliding footwork and continuous hand contact between the partners, hence its name. In the 80's, following an extended hiatus, Hand Dance resurfaced and has gradually moved to reclaim its place in the Washington dance community.

Hand dancing was introduced to a wider U.S. audience on May 29, 2008, by Markus Smith and Deonna Ball in their audition for the television contest So You Think You Can Dance. Their performance followed a brief exposition on its history and video footage from a hand dancing party at a VFW hall in Suitland, Maryland.

[edit] Competitions

TRI-State Connection holds an annual hand dance competition in Tyson's Corner each September. Tri-State Connection's mission is to bring together the various swing dance communities to showcase the different styles of swing and line dance nationwide.