Eight-count blocks make the sequence manageable
When putting it together, one distinction helps: your feet know the movement unit, your memory knows its place. This guide therefore assumes that you can already perform each of the steps mentioned individually. It lays out the common Lindy Hop version with breaks in the first pass and freeze spots in the second. A freeze here means stopping your footwork while the music continues.
Count the music continuously in eights. The first four sections each take up four eights. Shim-Sham steps, Pushes with Crossovers, and Tacky Annies each have three movement eights and one closing eight. The Half-Break section, however, has two pairs of Half Break and Full Break. This difference in internal structure is the most important thing to remember. A pickup belongs to the movement, but does not extend the musical block.
Write down only the section names, not a long list of every foot action. For short practice sessions between classes, the practice plan between two classes can help. If you’re still missing individual movement units, the guide to a Swing course that fits your learning goal offers guidance for focused technique training. When putting it together, keep your attention on the transitions, not on extra embellishments.
