Frame in Lindy Hop

In the amazing (albeit problematic) film Dirty Dancing, Patrick Swayze’s character Johnny Castle talks about concept of "frame.”

“This is my dance space. This is your dance space. I don’t go into yours, you don’t go into mine. You gotta hold the frame.”

Does this apply to lindy hop? Simply put, no it does not.

Lindy hop requires movement throughout the body to be more fluid and responsive. When it’s slower it’s like walking, faster like jogging, and even faster like running. There is a reason you do not hold your arms in one place when you run!

Dancers of other types often try applying the concept of frame to lindy hop. It is for this reason that many initially find the connection of lindy hop perplexing or unclear. While there are many dance skills from other dances that are extremely helpful when learning to lindy hop, frame is not necessarily one of them.

Strangely, I’ve always felt this better explains the feeling and connection in lindy hop.