When there’s music, there’s dancing! The 50s, 60s and 70s were known for having the most energetic dancefloors, which means we can’t not recreate this magic at Cooly Rocks On!
If you’re looking to rock ‘n’ roll dance or swing dance, then keep reading to see what we’ve got planned at this year’s festival!
Swing Dance
The history of swing dancing originated from African American communities in the 1920s with the original swing era. Inspired by a revolution of jazz, swing music rose to popularity and was typically played by big band ensembles. And with new music came new dancing! Swing dancing came in many styles with the ‘lindy hop’ becoming the most famous of it all.
Lindy hop is improvisational, playful and the fast, bouncy movements are what’s earned its nickname of the jitterbug. The eight count dance continued to evolve over time and by the mid 1930s to 1940s, the terms lindy hop, jitterbug and swing were all used interchangeably to describe dancing that occurred on the streets, in nightclubs, contests and movies.
Rock ‘n’ Roll Dance
Rock ‘n’ roll dancing emerged from the original lindy hop swing in the 1950s after the success of the film ‘Blackboard Jungle’, which featured the song ‘Rock Around the Clock’ by Bill Haley & his Comets.
The rock ‘n’ roll music of the 50s was easier to dance to with its four beat rhythm and became popular amongst teenagers. Though this style gained a bad boy, delinquent image, rock ‘n’ roll dancing quickly dominated dance clubs and diners, thanks to popular rock ‘n’ roll artists like Chuck Berry, Little Richard and of course the King of rock ‘n’ roll himself, Elvis Presley.
What’s on at Cooly Rocks On?
As dancing was such an integral part of the lifestyle of yesteryear, we couldn’t not put on two very special events for you to show off your best moves!
Cooly Rocks On Moonlight Swing Dance
Put on your best dancing shoes and outfit for the party of the year at the Cooly Rocks On Moonlight Swing Dance! Swing into history with live music by one of Australia’s hottest swing bands, Lucky Seven! Enjoy a glass of complimentary bubbles on arrival, give a toast to the moonlight, then hop onto the dance floor for a night to remember!
Beachside Rock ‘n’ Roll Dance
The latest addition to Cooly Rocks On, The Beachside Rock ‘n’ Roll Dance is the perfect way to bid farewell to another year of festivities. Featuring rock ‘n’ roll favourites like Shadoogie, The Rockafellas and Swingabilly Ray, you can request your favourite songs to dance to and we’ll create the perfect playlist of the most popular to keep you dancin’ all night long.
Eager to get on the dance floor but not much of a dancer? Don’t stress!
We’re bringing back the much-loved Rock On Dance Workshops so you can get your feet a-movin’! From rock ‘n’ roll to swing, rockabilly, lindy hop, balboa, shag, line dances and more, you’re bound to learn a thing or two.
Start practicing now by checking out this tutorial by one of our Pin-up Pageant Ambassadors Miss Chrissy, and Swingabilly Ray. We hope to see you on the dance floor at Coolangatta from 7-11 June!
