Jamaica Swing

In New Orleans a Lindy variant called the ”Jamaica” is very popular. Barbara Horridge of the New Orleans Jamaica Dance Club recounted how the dance became popular in the 1950’s in the Jamaica Lounge on Magazine Street where the city’s good dancers tended to hang out. Alice Palmer of the west bank of the Mississippi (the clubs are identified as west and east bank clubs–Barbara’ s club is on the east bank) says the Jamaica is an east coast circular-style dance which uses Dallas Push tempo music. Jamaica dancers don’t drink much. Which is to say that although nightclubs have teachers teaching the Jamaica in the early evening hours, once the bands begin to play most of the floor space is given over to tables. There are perhaps 1500 people belonging to Jamaica dance clubs in the New Orleans- Metararie area.