Dance Craze: The Jitterbug

Soundcheck | Apr 30, 2012

The word's roots go back to the early 20th century slang for alcoholics who suffered from tremors - but the "jitterbug" truly caught hold when bandleader Cab Calloway starred in the short film "Cab Calloway's Jitterbug Party" in 1935. Since then, the term has been associated with dances like Lindy Hop and swing - and even developed into its own dance craze. Today, we look back at the acrobatic moves of the 1930s and ‘40s with Chris Calloway Brooks - grandson of Cab Calloway and leader of the modern-day Cab Calloway Orchestra.

Check out Cab Calloway's 1935 short film, "Cab Calloway's Jitterbug Party" below. 

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