{{Short description|Form of swing dance from Washington, D.C.}} {{for|the dance performed only with the hands|Hand jive}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2024}} [[File:DC hand dancing demonstration.webm|thumb|D.C. hand dancing in Franklin Square (no audio)]] thumb|Hand dancers at the 45th Annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington, D.C., in 2011 '''Hand dancing''', also known as '''D.C. hand dancing''' or '''D.C. swing''', is a form of swing dance that can be traced as far back as the 1920s, from Lindy Hop and the Jitterbug, to the 1950s when dancers in the District of Columbia developed their own variety. It is characterized by gliding footwork and continuous hand connection/communication between the partners, hence its name.<ref name="smoothnezdance">[http://www.smoothnezdance.com/] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210226042519/https://www.smoothnezdance.com/|date=26 February 2021}}, from the Smooth & Ez Hand Dance Institute</ref> It fell out of favor during the disco era, but in the 1980s, Hand Dance resurfaced in the Washington dance community.<ref name=observer/>
In 1993, the Smithsonian Institution recognized Hand Dance as an American Art Form, and the Smithsonian exhibit led to the establishment of the National Hand Dance Association.<ref name=smoothnez>[http://www.smoothnez.com/introduction.htm "Introduction"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080615124527/http://www.smoothnez.com/introduction.htm |date=15 June 2008 }}, from the Smooth & Ez Hand Dance Institute</ref><ref name=observer>{{Cite journal |last=Johnson|first=Rebecca|url=http://observer.american.edu/2004/mar3104/hand.html |title="Raising a hand for D.C. dance tradition" |work=The American Observer |publisher=American University |volume=9 |number=7 |access-date=4 September 2008 |archive-date=6 November 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041106055236/http://observer.american.edu/2004/mar3104/hand.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
In 1999 it was formally recognized as the official dance of D.C.<ref name=observer/>
In 2000, the book ''D.C. Hand Dance: Capitol City Swing'' by Kim L. Frazier was published about the history, definition, philosophy, culture, structure, steps, and styles of Hand Dance. It provides discussions on etiquette, the competitive and social dance environment, the benefits of the dance, social norms, the traditional and contemporary variations.
In 2008, hand dancing was featured on the television contest ''So You Think You Can Dance'' with the auditions of contestants Markus Smith and Deonna Ball.{{Page needed|date=September 2010}}<!-- The template page number is being used here because the inline reference appears sufficient however more details are still required. For example, please add the original date of airing, the channel, the broadcaster, the producer, year of production, etc.--> Their performance followed a brief exposition on its history and video footage from a hand dancing party at a VFW hall in Suitland, Maryland.
On 1 January 2011, the ''Washington Post'' featured an article on Hand Dancing highlighting District of Columbia Mayor Vincent Gray's participation in the art form.<ref name=washingtonpostgray>{{Cite web |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/01/AR2011010102400.html |title="Mayor on the move: Vince Gray is the No. 1 fan of a D.C. art form, hand dancing" |access-date=30 October 2017 |archive-date=12 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121112022308/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/01/AR2011010102400.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
The TRI-State Connection <ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.tristateconnection.net/ |title=TRI-State Connection |access-date=21 October 2007 |archive-date=9 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071009213800/http://www.tristateconnection.net/ |url-status=live }}</ref> holds an annual hand dance competition in Tyson's Corner each September.
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20030417224255/http://www.dchanddanceclub.com/history.html The History of D.C. Hand Dance] *[http://www.nationalhanddanceassociation.org/ National Hand Dance Association] *[http://www.dchanddanceclub.net/ DC Hand Dance Club]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hand Dancing}} Category:Swing dances Category:Culture of Washington, D.C.