Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 5, 2026

Single-time swing

Single Swing is a fast dance rhythm in the larger swing family of dances.

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Jun 5, 2026
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Single Swing1 (also called single-time swing) is a fast dance rhythm in the larger swing family of dances.

Swing or Jive is danced to popular rock-and-roll or jitterbug music that has 4 beats per measure and a tempo of 35 - 46 measures per minute. Most figures are written to span a measure and a half of music with a rock, recover, and two triples at the slower tempos: eight steps over six beats of music. When the tempo gets faster, it becomes more difficult to fit those triples in, and "single swing" is more comfortable. Each 6-count figure becomes, rock, recover, step, step, or slow, slow, quick, quick: four steps over the six beats of music. Swing bounces a little on soft knees and dances mostly in place on the dance floor.

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