Lindy hoppers and street dancers face off

Name: Lindy hoppers and street dancers face off
Uploaded: 2015-10-10T04:24:12Z
Duration: 20 min 23 s
Description: On one side of a Montreal dance floor are the swing dancers. On the other are the street dancers. It's a battle, and nobody showed up to sit still.

On one side of a Montreal dance floor are the swing dancers. On the other are the street dancers. It's a battle, and nobody showed up to sit still. more

This is the Swing Riot Invitational Battle, an event that used to go by a blunter name, Lindy Hoppers vs Street Dancers. Vintage meets modern, and between them the two crews bring swing, jazz, soul, funk and break beats.

Early on, a man in red pants and a cap dances up front beside a man in jeans and a vest, while others watch from the back. Dancers on both sides keep mirroring each other's moves.

Two men dance on a stage while others watch from behind; one wears red pants and a cap, the other jeans and a vest. A headline runs in white letters across the lower third. — Early in the battle, two dancers take the front while the others watch from behind.

That's the big surprise. Old swing footwork slides right into break beats, and street moves sit easily on top of jazz. A lot of modern moves turn out to be old ones in new shoes.

Later, a man in a vest, a hat and sunglasses steps out in front of the seated crowd for his turn, cool as you please. The battle runs long, turn after turn, and neither side seems to run out of ideas.

A man in a vest, hat and sunglasses dances on a stage in front of seated audience members. A headline runs in white letters across the lower third. — A dancer in a vest, hat and sunglasses takes the floor in front of the seated crowd.

One older dancer with a beard looks like he might teach history, right up until he starts to move. After that, he is as smooth as anyone on the floor.

Then comes the slide. One dancer glides across the floor, and for some fans that settles the battle right there. It's worth seeing ten times.