Jitterbug Stroll


The Jitterbug Stroll is a swing line dance choreographed in 1992 by Ryan Francois, a Lindy Hop dancer and teacher. It is danced to swing music with 12 [bar blues] structure such as Woody Herman's "Woodchopper's Ball" or Count Basie's "One O'Clock Jump".
In the 1990s, the dance was very popular among Lindy Hoppers, like the Shim Sham.
The step list for the Jitterbug Stroll is as follows:
The dance is organized in groups of 6 bars of 8 beats each. each group of 6 bars faces a different direction on the dance floor - meaning the dancer turns 90 degrees every 6 bars. every group of 6 bars is organized in the following way: 3 bars of a signature step, 1 bar of stroll around/pivot turn, 1 bar of signature step and 1 bar of a break step that helps the dancer turn 90 degrees. The signature step is different for every group of 6 bars.
  • first group
  • *Hustle forward
  • *Skip back
  • *Boogie Forward twice
  • *Hustle forward
  • *Skip back
  • *Boogie Forward twice
  • *Hustle forward
  • *Skip back
  • *Boogie Forward twice
  • *Stroll Around
  • *Hustle forward
  • *Skip back
  • *Boogie Forward twice
  • *Break step
  • *Turn 90 degrees
  • second group
  • *Knee slap right
  • *Knee slap left
  • *Kick right and Shorty george 3 times
  • *Knee slap right
  • *Knee slap left
  • *Kick right and Shorty george 3 times
  • *Knee slap right
  • *Knee slap left
  • *Kick right and Shorty george 3 times
  • *Stroll Around
  • *Knee slap right
  • *Knee slap left
  • *Kick right and Shorty george 3 times
  • *Break Step and Turn around
  • third group
  • *Suzie Q left
  • *Suzie Q right
  • *Suzie Q left
  • *Stroll Around
  • *Suzie Q left
  • *Break Step and Turn around
  • fourth group
  • *Boogie back kicking with right leg
  • *Tick Tock
  • *Boogie back kicking with left leg
  • *Tick Tock
  • *Boogie back kicking with right leg
  • *Tick Tock
  • *Stroll Around
  • *Boogie back kicking with right leg
  • *Tick Tock
  • *Break Step and Turn around
  • and repeat from the top
When doing the Tick Tock you can tilt your head as a pendulum, starting in the direction you are moving.
This dance can be danced to any song that has a 12 Bar structure or a 6 bar AABA chorus structure. The AABA chorus structure would allow you to do the Suzie Q's on the B chorus line, adding enhanced musicality to your dance.