How to Jive
Become familiar with the 6-count foot pattern., Understand the “chasse” movement., Understand the “link step” or “rock step”., Step backward with your left foot for the first count in the rock step., Lift your right foot up and then place it down...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Become familiar with the 6-count foot pattern.
Learning how to jive can be easy once you master the beginning steps or basic movement.
There are 6 counts to the basic movement, and the beat sounds like: 1-2-3-a-4, 5-a-6.
Counts 1 and 2 are called the “link steps” or "rock steps”.
Counts 3 and 4 are a triple step to the left called a "chasse”.
Counts 5 and 6 are a triple step, or "chasse" to the right. -
Step 2: Understand the “chasse” movement.
The “chasse” in dance is when you glide one foot to the side.
In jive, these steps are three short and smooth movements to the side, so the movement is called a “triple step”. , A “link step” or “rock step” is when you step one foot behind the other and then lift the front foot up.
The idea is to rock back on your back foot and then rock forward on your front foot, shifting the weight to your back foot and then to your front foot.
However, you should always lift your feet up as you shift the weight backward and then forward.
Practice a few “rock steps” to get the feel for this move.
It is an essential step to the jive. , Leave your right foot in place and shift your weight to the back (left) foot.
This is the 1 count. , This is the 2 count of the rock step. , This is the 3 count, or the first count in the triple step to the left. , This is the “a” count, or the second count in the triple step. , This is the 4 count, or third count in the triple step. , This is the 5 count. , This is the “a” count. , This is the 6 count, or last count in the jive. , Remember to use the 1-2-3-a-4, 5-a-6 count. , Leave your left foot in place. , This is the 2 count. , This is the 3 count, or the first count in the triple step. , This is the “a" count, or the second count in the triple step. , Leave your left foot in place.
This is the 4 count, or the third count in the triple step. , This is the 5 count. , This is the “a” count. , This is the 6 count, or final step in the jive. , Remember to use the 1-2-3-a-4, 5-a-6 count. , Jive is danced with the woman and the man facing each other.
The man leads the jive and the woman follows his movements.
The man will start with his left foot and the woman will start with her right foot so that there is no bumping of knees and the dance moves smoothly.Imagine an invisible string connecting the man’s feet to the woman’s feet.
As the man moves, the women’s movements should follow. , This means the man will have his right hand on the left side of the woman’s upper back and the woman will have her left hand on the man’s right shoulder.
The woman’s arm should sit above the man’s arm.
There should be roughly an arm’s length of distance between the man and the woman.
The man and woman’s other hands should be clasped together rather loosely.
In jive, you don’t want to keep the arms too stiff or rigid.
There should be a looseness to the arm position. , Rotate your bodies so your feet are turned slightly away from each other at an angle.
This will allow you both to move freely without bumping knees. , You can both count out loud to hit each count.
Make sure the man begins on his left foot and the woman begins on her right foot.
Keep your arms loose and relaxed. , This will help you master the basic jive movement and avoid getting distracted by the music.
Once you both feel comfortable with the basic jive steps, begin to jive to music.
There are several popular mixes with good jive tracks available online.Jive music tends to have a faster tempo than swing music, so as you practice the steps and get better, you can also learn to move at a faster speed or tempo.
Mimic the music’s tempo by accenting your foot and leg movements.
To do this, shift your hips as you shift your weight back to your left foot or your right foot in the rock step.
Keep your knees bent and try to highlight the counts in the music with the 6 counts in the jive steps.
Continue practicing the basic jive steps with accented movements to music until you both feel confident enough with the dance. -
Step 3: Understand the “link step” or “rock step”.
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Step 4: Step backward with your left foot for the first count in the rock step.
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Step 5: Lift your right foot up and then place it down.
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Step 6: Step to the side with your left foot.
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Step 7: Move your right foot to meet your left foot.
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Step 8: Step to the side with your left foot.
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Step 9: Shift your weight to the right foot.
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Step 10: Step to the right with your left foot.
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Step 11: Step to the right with your right foot.
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Step 12: Repeat the rock step and the triple step again
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Step 13: moving from left to right.
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Step 14: Step backwards with the right foot for the first count in the rock step.
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Step 15: Shift your weight back to the left foot.
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Step 16: Step to the side with your right foot.
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Step 17: Move your left foot to meet your right foot.
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Step 18: Step to the side with your right foot.
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Step 19: Shift your weight to your left foot.
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Step 20: Step to the left with your right foot.
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Step 21: Step to the left with your left foot.
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Step 22: Practice the rock step and the triple step again
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Step 23: moving from right to left.
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Step 24: Always let the man lead.
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Step 25: Face each other and place your arms in the closed position.
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Step 26: Move your body position so you both face slightly outward.
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Step 27: Use the 6-count to complete the basic jive steps.
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Step 28: Practice the steps without music.
Detailed Guide
Learning how to jive can be easy once you master the beginning steps or basic movement.
There are 6 counts to the basic movement, and the beat sounds like: 1-2-3-a-4, 5-a-6.
Counts 1 and 2 are called the “link steps” or "rock steps”.
Counts 3 and 4 are a triple step to the left called a "chasse”.
Counts 5 and 6 are a triple step, or "chasse" to the right.
The “chasse” in dance is when you glide one foot to the side.
In jive, these steps are three short and smooth movements to the side, so the movement is called a “triple step”. , A “link step” or “rock step” is when you step one foot behind the other and then lift the front foot up.
The idea is to rock back on your back foot and then rock forward on your front foot, shifting the weight to your back foot and then to your front foot.
However, you should always lift your feet up as you shift the weight backward and then forward.
Practice a few “rock steps” to get the feel for this move.
It is an essential step to the jive. , Leave your right foot in place and shift your weight to the back (left) foot.
This is the 1 count. , This is the 2 count of the rock step. , This is the 3 count, or the first count in the triple step to the left. , This is the “a” count, or the second count in the triple step. , This is the 4 count, or third count in the triple step. , This is the 5 count. , This is the “a” count. , This is the 6 count, or last count in the jive. , Remember to use the 1-2-3-a-4, 5-a-6 count. , Leave your left foot in place. , This is the 2 count. , This is the 3 count, or the first count in the triple step. , This is the “a" count, or the second count in the triple step. , Leave your left foot in place.
This is the 4 count, or the third count in the triple step. , This is the 5 count. , This is the “a” count. , This is the 6 count, or final step in the jive. , Remember to use the 1-2-3-a-4, 5-a-6 count. , Jive is danced with the woman and the man facing each other.
The man leads the jive and the woman follows his movements.
The man will start with his left foot and the woman will start with her right foot so that there is no bumping of knees and the dance moves smoothly.Imagine an invisible string connecting the man’s feet to the woman’s feet.
As the man moves, the women’s movements should follow. , This means the man will have his right hand on the left side of the woman’s upper back and the woman will have her left hand on the man’s right shoulder.
The woman’s arm should sit above the man’s arm.
There should be roughly an arm’s length of distance between the man and the woman.
The man and woman’s other hands should be clasped together rather loosely.
In jive, you don’t want to keep the arms too stiff or rigid.
There should be a looseness to the arm position. , Rotate your bodies so your feet are turned slightly away from each other at an angle.
This will allow you both to move freely without bumping knees. , You can both count out loud to hit each count.
Make sure the man begins on his left foot and the woman begins on her right foot.
Keep your arms loose and relaxed. , This will help you master the basic jive movement and avoid getting distracted by the music.
Once you both feel comfortable with the basic jive steps, begin to jive to music.
There are several popular mixes with good jive tracks available online.Jive music tends to have a faster tempo than swing music, so as you practice the steps and get better, you can also learn to move at a faster speed or tempo.
Mimic the music’s tempo by accenting your foot and leg movements.
To do this, shift your hips as you shift your weight back to your left foot or your right foot in the rock step.
Keep your knees bent and try to highlight the counts in the music with the 6 counts in the jive steps.
Continue practicing the basic jive steps with accented movements to music until you both feel confident enough with the dance.
About the Author
Alexis Stevens
Creates helpful guides on practical skills to inspire and educate readers.
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