Originally called Barrelhouse. Boogie Woogie was more of a Piano musical style (C,G,A,G) than a dance with Pinetop Smith writing the first official Boogie Woogie song in 1928. However, there were main parts of the music style as far back as 1900.
If there is such a dance, it is known as swing dancing (any style) usually called "Jump Swing" done to faster Blues or Boogie-Woogie music, hence the term "Let's Boogie" (Move Out, Go, Get it in Gear etc) as well as the term "boogie" meaning: let loose, don't hold back, get down etc. Boogie Woogie Music is not always fast however and can be danced to this slower form, usually among the West Coast Swing dancers.
'Eight to the Bar' is basically a double boogie Woogie, these Piano Keys ARE HIT TWICE, such as: (C,G,A,G = C key x2, G key x2, A key x2, G key x2). Country Boogie basically are the piano keys: C,G,E,G (can be done eight to the bar also) a shuffle rhythm can also be applied. In 1938 the "Cotton Club Revue" featured Cab Calloway and the Whitey's Lindy Hoppers. Cab sang and the Hoppers danced to the song "A Lesson In Jive" and it is said the Boogie-Woogie dance formed from this. Not all Boogie Woogie is fast however, some Boogie-Woogie beats have an excellent feel for slower swing music with a BOOGIE WOOGIE beat. West Coast Swing, Hollywood style and Jitterbug were all Boogie Woogie dances when the music became fast. Movements would sometimes consist of Jumps, Stomps, Flying Feet, Hops etc. The movements are not sloppy but tight and clean considering the speed at times. The Boogie Woogie has a definite distinctive 8 beat rhythm that makes you want to swing. * Rockabilly style was a fusion of Blues and Boogie Woogie by white singers or musicians such as Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis etc. Today the Europeans have a dance they call 'Boogie Woogie (see clip on left).' It is in thier Le Roc / Ceroc / Jive family of swing dances (It is not Lindy Hop ... it's closer to old skool West Coast Swing's flying Lindy!.) It works on the East Coast Swing / Jive basic of 1-2-3a4-5a6. There are two styles: 1) Floorwork (Slotted, Girl walks fwd on 1, no aerials) ... When viewed it closely resembles (but its not) old skool "West Coast Flying Lindy" et al: (Skip-Skip---Skip 2,3---Skip 2,3) for the 6 count and (Skip-Skip---Skip 2,3---Skip-Skip---Skip 2,3) for the 8 count and stays pretty slotted... does use Hitch kick timing. 2) Acrobatic (Gymnastic-Lifts etc.) [This style will probably eventually be the dancesport usage in the Olympics].
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