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General Notes: Jive

1, 2 is the Rock Step and 3, &, 4 is the Jive Chasse.

The music has the time signature of 4/4 and the beats may be accented on ‘1’ and ‘3’, or ‘2’ and ‘4’, or all the four beats. The ideal tempo is 40 to 46 bars per minute.

The two rhythms that form the basis of jive are:
a) 1, 2, 3, &, 4
b) 1, 2, 3, &, 4, 3, &, 4

1, 2 is the Rock Step and 3, &, 4 the Jive Chasse. The group or three steps, the Chasse, can be taken forward, backward, sideways (to the left or right), and turning (to the left or right). The feet are never together on the count ‘&’, although when practising one should endeavour to keep them as close to each other as possible. The step on the count ‘3’ is large as compared to the one for the count ‘4’. The movement of the feet should is small.

All the steps are on the ball of the foot and the heel is always just of the floor. The weight of the body is kept slightly forward with the knees flexed naturally. The hip is relaxed to allow it to swing naturally towards the foot taking the body weight.

Thus, every step is on the ball of the foot with the knee flexed. As the weight transfers on the foot the heel lowers (however, it does not rest on the floor), the knee straightens and the hips move softly in the direction of the stepping foot. At the same time, the heel of the opposite foot rises further from the floor. This movement is less pronounced on the counts ‘3’ and even lesser on the count ‘&’.

Generally, there is a continuous tension in the man’s arms, which the lady resists continuously. This is very necessary or else; it would be very difficult for the man to lead the lady into various figures.