Size Differences

By Elaine Buchignani from Swing Dance SCT

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As Lindy Hop teachers, we hear these questions a lot - Can we dance together if we have a height difference? Can we do tricks with a size difference? Can I follow socially if I’m tall? Can I lead socially if I’m short? There’s a lot to unpack when it comes to the pressures we feel to conform to societal body expectations, but here’s one simple truth: You don’t have to be size or height matched to have great dances. Not at all.

There are plenty of examples of talented couples with mismatched sizes in the modern scene, but let’s take it back to the original Lindy Hoppers to appreciate some of the greatest size disparate couples to ever grace the floor. Check out this compilation on our YouTube channel: ​

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​More about the dancers and how they used their bodies to express themselves to jazz --

• “Shorty” George Snowden used his height to great effect when executing tricks with his partner, Bea, and while dancing his signature bent-knee move, the Shorty George. 
• Little is known about Beatrice “Big Bea” Gay outside of her famed partnership with George Snowden, but, luckily, her presence, grace, and lightning fast feet are immortalized in film as proof that there’s no correlation between excellent following and size. 

• “Long” George Greenidge was known for his inventive Charleston moves and the exaggerated effect he could achieve with his famously long legs.
• John “Tiny” Bunch was known for his smooth movement and comedic performances. He and his petite partner, Dot Johnson, used their size difference to achieve lofty tricks with ease in the Radio City Revels clip.
  It’s important to note that as a bigger man and a Black man, John Bunch was often not treated with the respect he deserved. We recommend this blog post for a deep dive into the social and personal context surrounding his performances and representation in media: https://swungover.wordpress.com/2020/09/24/the-life-of-tiny-bunch-pt-1/

There are many complex and valid concerns that dancers face when trying to find partnerships, community, and acceptance in Lindy Hop, but we hope these original Lindy Hoppers inspire you to celebrate the unique talents and abilities of every body type and the infinite, creative ways they can interact with each other to jazz. ​