If you're interested here's a very brief history :
The change in the dance performed by the original Lindy Hoppers at the Savoy in the late 1920s is closely related to the change in music at that time. Jazz changed from two beats in the bar (like a march) to four beats in the bar & so it became smoother. Around the same time Louis Armstrong was becoming just about the most important Jazz musician (Duke Ellington fans might have something to say about that). Louis Armstrong is widely creditied with teaching the world to swing by subtly changing the timing of the notes he played (of course he probably nicked it off somebody else). Ellington popularised swing with his song "It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing", but it wasn't until Benny Goodman took the white American population by storm that swing became the American dance, some 10 years after it began in Harlem.
Rock 'n Roll is decended from Lindy as is Boogie Woogie, Balboa and when it comes down to it so is modern jive (Jive is the English word originally used to describe Jazz). The difference is that MJ didn't stay with its origins and has used dance moves from anywhere and everywhere, partly reflecting the change in music in wider society. BUT if you see Lindy Hoppers or Rock 'N Rollers dance you will recognise many moves
Sorry if that was a bit dull.
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