My name is Sharon Davis

I am an Australian dancer, based in London.
I dance Lindy Hop, Charleston, Blues & Burlesque

email / me@sharondavis.com.au
phone / (+44) 0777 444 6100 (UK)

Archives Page

// on August 2008
Savoy Ballroom Timeline

Savoy Ballroom Timeline

1912: A jazz orchestra organised by James Reese Europe plays at Carnegie Hall 1913: Darktown Follies at Lafayette Theater (the “beginning” of Harlem nightlife) 1919: 369th Regiment (AKA the Harlem Hellfighters) parades up Fifth Avenue to Harlem after WWI 1920: Nationa...
Burlesque FAQ: Is all burlesque the same?

Burlesque FAQ: Is all burlesque the same?

Burlesque Frequently Asked Questions Part 2 Is all burlesque the same? Burlesque takes many different manifestations, as varied and unique as the many individuals who strut the burlesque stage. Burlesque is not a danceform that you need to conform to, but a danceform that moulds ...
1942: Jitterbug Jumps From Low To High

1942: Jitterbug Jumps From Low To High

The 12 October 1942 edition of the New York Times (page 13) gives us this little gem, an article about the New York Society of Teachers of Dancing finally accepting jitterbug – in a modified form – into the world of ballroom dance. This is the beginning of the end for...
1939: Doctor Advises Jitterbugs to Train

1939: Doctor Advises Jitterbugs to Train

A short article I found in the New York Times, 25 January 1939 edition (page 18). Advises Jitterbugs to Train Jitterbugs should train in the same way that athletes do, or face the prospect of thick ankles, broken, maladjusted feet and exhausted nervous systems, according to Dr. J...
Burlesque FAQ: What is Burlesque?

Burlesque FAQ: What is Burlesque?

Burlesque Frequently Asked Questions Part 1 What exactly is burlesque? Burlesque is the hottest trend in town, a type of performance bringing together a sizzling dance style with elaborate vintage costumes, cool retro tunes and a lot of sassy fun! Burlesque as an entertainment ar...
Swing Dance Etiquette

Swing Dance Etiquette

Here is an article I wrote years ago for the Perth Swing Dance Society. Funny to read it years later, but it still holds true… Social dancing is what swing is all about, and just like any other social situation there’s a level of etiquette required to make sure everyo...
From Syncopated Sin to American National Dance: Lindy Hop and the Dominant Racial Order

From Syncopated Sin to American National Dance: Lindy Hop and the Dominant Racial Order

This is a paper I wrote whilst studying US history at university, to do with racial issues surrounding Lindy Hop. It covers some of the history of Lindy, though there are some generalisations (it was written for the academic eyes of a lecturer who had no interest in dance). It...
Vintage Lindy Hop Photographs

Vintage Lindy Hop Photographs

A lot of the wonderful vintage swing dance photographs you see on this blog are thanks to this fab Picasa album. Enjoy!...
What is Lindy Hop and why’s it so special?

What is Lindy Hop and why’s it so special?

Here is an article I wrote for AusDance magazine a few years ago. It’s more of an academic/professional magazine, read mostly by dancers in other styles (especially contemporary, classical and ballroom), who in Australia don’t tend to know much about Lindy. So it̵...
The Lindy Hoppers Fund

The Lindy Hoppers Fund

If you’re a swing dancer and you haven’t heard about The Lindy Hopper’s Fund yet, this is dead important. Essentially, it’s a not-for-profit organisation run by a group of passionate and caring Lindy Hoppers (including many names you’ll know well), t...