Jive

Category: International Latin
Also known as: International jive
DWTS performances in dataset: 304
Average total score: 25.32
First appearance: Season 1, Week 3 — Evander & Edyta (Reet Petite)
Lift rule on DWTS: Not allowed (core ballroom/Latin style on DWTS).

Origins and history

International jive grew from African-American swing dances of the early–mid 20th century (jitterbug, boogie-woogie, Lindy influences) and was formalized as the fifth International Latin dance. It is faster and more kick-oriented than American East Coast Swing, with a continuous competitive bounce.

Sources

• Wikipedia: Jive (dance) — Swing roots; International Latin placement
• World Dance Foundation: History of ballroom dance — Harlem swing → jive
• WDSF: WDSF Competition Rules — 42–44 bars/min

How it is danced

Aspect	Detail
Time signature	4/4
Tempo (MPM)	42–44 (WDSF)
Tempo (BPM, approx.)	168–176
Character	Energetic, kick-and-flick, American swing-derived Latin dance; continuous bounce.
Hold / frame	Open Latin holds; lots of turns and kick ball-changes.
Basic steps & figures	Basic in place, fallaway throwaway, link, change of places, American spin, whip, stop and go. Kicks and flicks on & counts; knee lift with pointed foot.
What judges look for	Relentless energy, clean kicks/flicks, bounce without looking heavy, sharp timing; no lifts.

Competition tempi cite WDSF Competition Rules E.3.2 and related DanceSport charts where applicable; theatrical styles are song-driven.

History on Dancing with the Stars

Statistics below are computed from the Data with the Stars SQLite performance and score tables (not invented).

• Times danced: 304
• Score range: 12.0 – 40.0 (total judges’ score as stored)
• Perfect nights (every judging mark = 10): 28

Average score by era

Era	Performances	Average total
S1-10	77	23.68
S11-20	104	25.51
S21-30	88	26.32
S31+	35	26.11

Best scores

• 40.0 — S18 W9: Meryl & Maks — Hound Dog (Elvis Presley)
• 40.0 — S19 W11: Alfonso & Witney — 3-6-9 (Cupid feat. B.o.B)
• 40.0 — S20 W8: Nastia & Sasha — Diane Young (Vampire Weekend)
• 40.0 — S24 W9: Simone & Sasha — Faith (Stevie Wonder feat. Ariana Grande)
• 39.0 — S24 W8: Normani & Val — Feeling Alive (Earl St. Clair)

Lowest scores

• 12.0 — S11 W2: Michael & Chelsie — Hound Dog
• 12.0 — S35 W1: Tatyana & Jan — Knock on Wood
• 13.0 — S1 W3: Evander & Edyta — Reet Petite
• 14.0 — S2 W3: Master P & Ashly — Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting
• 14.0 — S35 W1: Sarah Jane & Hailey — Sk8er Boi

First perfect nights (all marks 10)

• S2 W6: Stacy & Tony — Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go (total 30.0, 3 judges)
• S2 W8: Stacy & Tony — Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go (total 30.0, 3 judges)
• S4 W7: Joey & Kym — Slippin' and Slidin' (total 30.0, 3 judges)
• S4 W9: Ian & Cheryl — All Shook Up (total 30.0, 3 judges)
• S4 W9: Joey & Kym — Jump, Jive, and Wail! (total 30.0, 3 judges)

Most-used songs

• Don't Stop Me Now — Queen (9×)
• Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go — Wham! (7×)
• Footloose — Kenny Loggins (5×)
• Hound Dog — Elvis Presley (5×)
• I'm Still Standing — Elton John (4×)
• Jailhouse Rock — Elvis Presley (4×)
• Crocodile Rock — Elton John (4×)
• We're Not Gonna Take It — Twisted Sister (4×)

Charts

• Data CSV: data/jive-by-season.csv
• SVG: charts/jive-frequency.svg, charts/jive-score-trend.svg

Watch top performances

• Dylan Efron’s Rock Hall Night Jive | Dancing with the Stars — S34 W8, score 36.0, I'm Still Standing
• Drew Scott and Emma Slater Jive w/Jonathan Scott (Week 4) | Dancing With The Stars — S33 W3, score 34.0, Shout
• #DWTS Finale Chandler Kinney & Brandon Armstrong Redemption Jive — S33 W3, score 33.0, We're Not Gonna Take It
• Maura Higgins and Mark Ballas’s Disney Night Jive | Dancing with the Stars — S35 W8, score 32.0, _ You Can Fly! You Can Fly! You Can Fly! _
• #DWTS Finale Chandler Kinney & Brandon Armstrong Redemption Jive — S33 W9, score 30.0, Apt.

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Educational fan reference. Dance histories paraphrased from cited sources; DWTS stats from project data. Not affiliated with BBC Studios or Disney.