Irene Thomas, original SoCal jitterbug

A Swungover (tm) collection of Irene Thomas's dancing from several different sources:
-"Juke Box Joe's" an old soundie (I don't have the date, but it looks like Irene's earlier dancing.) She's in the white blouse and black skirt.
- (1942) "Swing Shift Swing."
- (1943) "Jive Junction," (She's the brunette with the big bow in her hair).
-(1944) "Groovie Movie"
-(1980s/90s) Dancing Bal-Swing and Lindy Hop with Jonathan Bixby at Bobby McGee's in California where the old-timers would regularly meet to dance.
As of March 2011, Irene Thomas is still alive and living in mid-California.
www.swungover.com

[@2KRW]

PRICELESS!

[@karenhenke6898]

Just a note regarding Irene Thomas. Irene just passed away 21 Feruary 2020 at the age of 94

[@martynelson2666]

Irene was a tall lady....sorry to hear she passed.....her & jean veloz were the best!!!......must add Jewel McGowen to that list

[@leelarson107]

Jewell McGowan indeed! At age 12, I had the hots for her when I first saw her in 'Buck Privates' with Abbott & Costello.
My hormones were screaming.

[@JH-ws2kd]

❤️

[@earaneeniedzwiecki7656]

Do you know who the follower in dark socks and high heels is?

[@leelarson107]

Socks and high heels? That's not appealing.

[@snakeblskn]

Juke Box Joe's is 1945 according to Sony Watson

[@starburstlatinhustle7950]

Sonny Watson knows his stuff!

[@troymackenzie1232]

So is Jitterbug a step or a style

[@MrPJayres]

Delayed reply - it’s a generic term for swing dance / swing dancer.

[@davidalen9279]

originally a dancer...thereafter pretty synonymous with lindy or eastern swing-type dancing...people use the term pretty interchangeably with dancing to swing music

[@myaccount9745]

@@davidalen9279 It depends, in some places on the East Coast a "Jitterbug" is someone with poor control over their dancing who just lets go to the music.

[@davidalen9279]

@@myaccount9745 Yes. Thank you. The term is used a lot of different ways; in Canada a double rhythm/delayed single swing is taught as Jitterbug; other places I have read the term referred to the way white folks danced ( upright and a little jerky) contrasting with the black dancers ( deeply flexed and counterbalanced). It's all very interesting but often requires explanation. Thanks again and cheers!

[@charleswyler4268]

@@davidalen9279 The many, many, many followers that I danced with who learned directly from Frankie Manning (I also took lessons from him, 1980s) all danced with their weight forward with NO counterbalance. I think it would behoove you to realize this dance and how it is done is quite dependent on the individual. Yes, in the segregated America of the 1930s, 40s, 50s, and 60s before video tapes, before the internet, folks of different races danced differently, just as people from different High Schools, different regions, danced differently.