Balboa

The Balboa, also known as "Bal", is a swing dance that emerged in Southern California during the early 1930s as a response to swing music. The earliest recorded reference to Balboa is 1932. This date coincides with what is generally accepted to be the beginning of swing. The dance enjoyed huge popularity in California during the 1930s and 1940s, and was still being danced by original dancers into the 21st century.

Balboa is a social partner dance that distinctively relies on closed position. The earliest form of the dance emerged in the high schools and dance venues of southern California. Spaces were often limited, the floor was waxed and there was traditionally a line of dance around the room. Balboa is danced into the floor and drifts without a prescribed line of dance. Although it is not clear when, strict codes of conduct could be enforced in some venues with signs stating 'no breaks'. These dance halls were usually addressing wild kicks of other dances, specifically So Cal Swing, or simply unruly dancers. Ballrooms famous as Balboa venues displayed 'no-break' signs, with bouncers monitoring the dancers.

'Pure' Balboa is characterized by an upright posture with forward intent, and partners closely connecting (in numerous ways) at the lead's right side. The dance generates shared movement, creating many different rhythmic variations most noticeable in the feet. It is a dance built around the feeling of rhythmic movement between dancers, rather than performed movements and step patterns. The dance was so varied, that original dancers might recognise where another dancer came from based on their specific style.

Balboa is danced at any tempo, but was one swing dance that enabled dancers to reach especially high speed. While most dancers differentiate between Pure Balboa and Bal-Swing, both are considered to be a part of the range of the dance. Bal-Swing evolved when original Balboa dancers broke hold and experimented with including features of So Cal Swing dancing. In this form of Balboa, a variety of rotational and linear movements — mainly generated by 'out and in' movement — create spins, turns, dips, and occasionally tricks.

As swing became more popular, the jitterbug craze emerged and the lines between bal swing and a jitterbug style often seen in movies of that date, become blurred. Original dancers mixed many dance styles together, also creating a distinctive So Cal style.

Much footage of original Balboa dancers, such as the Hignetts, the Thompsons, the Rafterys, the Takiers and the Steinbroners dancing at Bobby McGees can be found online.