Jack and Jill (dance)
Format of competition in partner dancing / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jack and Jill is a format of competition in partner dancing, where the competing couples are the result of random matching of leaders and followers. Rules of matching vary.
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The name and format were created by Jack Carey at Hank & Stans in Norwalk, California in the early 1950s to encourage a variety of dancers to enter competitions.[1][2]
The gender-ambiguous term Pat and Chris has been used, particularly in LGBT dance venues, to refer to events where the gender of lead and follow isn't specified.[3] In the swing dance community, the name Mix & Match (M&M) is now used as a gender-neutral, more inclusive name.[4]
In dance competitions J&J is included as a separate division (or divisions, with additional gradations). J&J is popular at Swing conventions, as well as at ballroom dance competitions in the US.
J&J competitions are intended to test social dance skills, whereas fixed partner "showcase" competitions test performance dance skills.[5]