The Killer Dillers

The term “swing dancing” is an umbrella term for any dance done to swinging jazz music, from the 1920s, 30s and 40s. The most popular (and spectacular) of these dances was the Lindy Hop.

Lindy Hop is a partnered swing dance, that evolved out of the Charleston in the late 1920s, in the ballrooms and on the streets of the African-American district of Harlem in New York City. The dance evolved alongside swing music itself, emerging in the late 1920s when hot jazz (born in New Orleans) was transforming into swinging jazz, and died out (as we know it) in the late 1940s as the swing era gave way to bebop and rock ‘n roll. Throughout the 1930s and 40s, as swing music spread across the USA and the world, Lindy Hop spread with it.

Legend has it that Lindy Hop earned its name in 1927 when one of its original dancers, George “Shorty” Snowden, was asked its name by a reporter, and dubbed it Lindy Hop after aviator Charles Lindbergh and his famous solo flight across the Atlantic that year (newspaper headlines read “Lindy Hops The Atlantic”). It is sometimes simply called The Lindy, and some parts of the world knew it as The Jitterbug.

While the acrobatic aspect of Lindy Hop is perhaps most familiar to many people, Lindy Hop has many characters. Though it can indeed be danced wild and fast, with spectacular airsteps, it can also be slow and smooth, elegant or sexy.

Lindy Hop is the mother of a variety of other dances, that evolved out of Lindy from the 1950s onwards, including Rock ‘n Roll, Boogie Woogie, Jive, Ceroc and West Coast Swing. Lindy Hop is the original swing dance!

Burlesque is a feminine and sensual kind of performance, reserved for the lady Killer Dillers! It brings together a sizzling dance style with elaborate vintage costumes, cool retro tunes, and a whole lot of sex appeal. Today, burlesque (or neo-burlesque) is one of the hottest trends in town, but just like jazz and swing dancing, it’s original heyday was in the first half of the 20th century.

Burlesque as an entertainment artform evolved from the late 1800’s through to the “bump and grind” era of the 1940s and 50s. In burlesque’s heyday (those golden days before television, when people had to go out to be entertained) burlesque was a grand affair! A burlesque show combined live music, comedians, variety acts, a chorus line and of course, glamorous burlesque headliners, in an elegant theatre with a full orchestra, grand sets and elaborate costumes.  A burlesque queen in this golden era would enchant with her beauty, delight with her dance, and captivate her audience with the art of the tease!

As a dance form, burlesque brings together the glamorous and sensual elements of a myriad of dance styles: vintage jazz dances, showgirls and chorus line dancing, European cabaret, sensual blues dance, and even exotic Middle Eastern, Oriental, African and Latin styles. Add to this the fine art of the Tease, as these burlesque glamazons slither out of their satin gloves and silk gowns, with grace and finesse. But don’t worry, there’s plenty of tease, but definitely no sleaze!

The Killer Diller brand of burlesque brings you a glittering spectacle of vintage glamour, sophistication and fantasy. Don’t miss their graceful feather fan dances and sparkling showgirl numbers, all a whirlwind of ostrich feathers, Swarovski crystals, tightlaced corsetry, silk stockings and high heels.