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Jitterbug

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Jitterbug stamp
Jitterbug stamp

The Jitterbug is a term used to describe various types of swing dancing. The name comes from an early 20th century slang term used to describe alcholics who suffered from the "jitters" (delirium tremens). This term was famously associated with swing era dancers by band leader Cab Calloway because, as he put it, "They look like a bunch of jitterbugs out there on the floor" due to their fast often bouncy movements. In popular culture it became generalized to mean a swing dance or the practioner of swing dancing (i.e. you were a jitterbug or you did a jitterbug dance). This has led to confusion within the dance community as many regional forms of Swing Dance are referred to as jitterbug. Probably the most famous practitioner of the jitterbug (hence his nickname) is Michael J. Fox (the J stands for Jitterbug).

Jitterbug dancers in 1938

See also