Hand jive
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Hand jive is a kind of dance game to Rock and roll and Rhythm and blues music in 1950s. It involves complicated patterns of hand moves and claps at various parts of the body, following and/or imitating the percussion instruments while sitting at the concerts or crowding around jukeboxes. It could also be a highly elaborate version of Pat-a-cake. Hand moves include thigh spalling, cross-wrist slapping, fist pounding, chest slapping and pounding, hand clapping, elbow touching, hitch hike moves, etc.
Hand jive was particularly popularized by 1958 Johnny Otis' hit song Willie and the Hand Jive:
- "Mama, mama, look at Uncle Joe
- Doing the hand jive with sister Flo..."
It is also featured in the Grease movie:
- "Born to hand-jive, baby, born to hand-jive, baby - yeah..."
The term is also used by some jugglers in reference to certain hand motions in the Mills Mess juggling pattern.
[edit] See also
- Hambone
- Cowboy Hand Jive, a four wall line dance.
