The Tranky Doo is a Jazz Dance

Jazz dance

Jazz dance is a classification shared by a broad range of dance styles. Before the 1950s, jazz dance referred to dance styles that originated from African American vernacular dance. In the 1950s, a new genre of jazz dance—modern jazz dance—emerged, with roots in Caribbean traditional dance...

 choreography

Choreography

Choreography is the art of designing sequences of movements in which motion, form, or both are specified. Choreography may also refer to the design itself, which is sometimes expressed by means of dance notation. The word choreography literally means "dance-writing" from the Greek words "χορεία" ...

. It was choreographed by Frankie Manning

Frankie Manning

Frankie Manning was an American dancer, instructor and choreographer. Manning is considered one of the founding fathers of the Lindy Hop.-Early years:...

 and first appeared at the Savoy Ballroom

Savoy Ballroom

The Savoy Ballroom, located in Harlem, New York City, was a medium sized ballroom for music and public dancing that was in operation from March 12, 1926 to July 10, 1958. It was located between 140th and 141st Streets on Lenox Avenue....

 in Harlem

Harlem

Harlem is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, which since the 1920s has been a major African-American residential, cultural and business center. Originally a Dutch village, formally organized in 1658, it is named after the city of Haarlem in the Netherlands...

 during the 1940s .

At that time, it was danced to Tuxedo Junction

Tuxedo Junction

"Tuxedo Junction" is a song co-written by Birmingham, Alabama composer Erskine Hawkins and saxophonist and arranger Bill Johnson. Julian Dash is also credited for the music. The song was introduced by Hawkins's orchestra. Lyrics were by Buddy Feyne...

, however many modern day performances of the dance use other swing jazz songs. It is most common these days to perform the dance with the song "Dipsy Doodle" by Ella Fitzgerald

Ella Fitzgerald

Ella Jane Fitzgerald , also known as the "First Lady of Song" and "Lady Ella," was an American jazz and song vocalist...

 because the dance appears in the Spirit Moves

The Spirit Moves

-External links:**...

documentary film with a playback of the song. However the film originally had no sound, and the song "Dipsy Doodle" was artificially superimposed on that section of the film.

It was common to Lindy Hop

Lindy Hop

The Lindy Hop is an American social dance, from the swing dance family. It evolved in Harlem, New York City in the 1920s and '30s and originally evolved with the jazz music of that time. Lindy was a fusion of many dances that preceded it or were popular during its development but is mainly based...

pers, like the Shim Sham

Shim Sham

The Shim Sham Shimmy, Shim Sham or just Sham originally is a particular tap dance routine. It is credited to Leonard Reed, who originally called it Goofus, or to Willie Bryant...

.

Step List:

Fall off the Log: Kick R on 8, L on 4 - (1) 8 count

Shuffles: step R L R L on +8+1; side-press-lunges: step R on 2, press L on 3, step L on 4 press R on 5, etc. - (1)8 count
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Repeat
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Forward-press-lunges: Start facing R, step R on 8, press forward on 1, hold 2.3; step L on 4, press forward on 5, clap 6.7 - (1) 8 count

Boogie Forward - (1) 8 count
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Repeat
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Apple Jacks - (2) 8 counts

Rocks facing R - (1) 8 count

Rocks facing forward - (1) 8 count

Boogie Back - (1) 8 count

Shorty George - (1) 8 count

Boogie Back - (1) 8 count

Break Step - (1) 8 count

Knee Slap, ba-da-dum: Slap R knee on 8 hold for 1, step R L R on +.2.3; repeat to L and R once more. [ala Big Apple] - (1.5) 8 counts

Transition: Cross L over R on 4, step R on 6, clap 7 - (.5) 8 count

Suzie Q: start L on 8 - (1) 8 count

Reverse Break: Kick R across L on 8, rock step 2.3, lock turn 4.5.6.7 - (1) 8 count

Mess Around - (1) 8 count

Fall off the Log turning: Kick R on 8, perform 1/2 the Fall off the Log while turning to the left; plant feet together 3, spread 5, together with weight L on 7. End facing forward. - (1) 8 count

Eagle Slide: Kick-ball-change step scoot step kick-ball-change lock turn.
Timing is 8 + 1 2 3 4 5 + 6 7 8

Drop Boogie: R 1.2.3.4; L 5.6.7 together 8 - (1) 8 count

Mambo Walks: Tap R on 2, cross over L on 3, tap L on 4, cross over R on 5, etc. - (1) 8 count

Push Turn (paddle turn): Keep weight on L 1.2.3.4 while pushing out with R on 1 and 3, step R on 5, step L on 6, down on 7, kick R on 8 (turns 360 degrees) - (1) 8 count

Fall off the Log turning: perform 1/2 the Fall off the Log while turning to the left; plant feet together 3, float back on R 4.5.6.7.8 - (1) 8 count

Truckin': Start L on 1 - (2) 8 counts

Float Back on R 1.2.3.4.5.6.7, step L on 8 - (1) 8 count

Low Cake Walk - (1) 8 count

Walk About - (2) 8 counts

Box Step: Start crossing L over R on 1 - (3) 8 counts

Shouts: Pop hips Back 1.2, Forward 3.4, R 5.6, L 7.8 - (4) 8 counts

Clap and Point: Start with weight on L, point R leg out on 1, clap as the knee comes up on 2, etc. - (4) 8 counts

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Repeat from the top until music ends.

External links

• Tranky Doo in "Spirit Moves" on YouTube