The celebration of a joint Lindy hop and Blues festival in Porto is not a random event. These dance forms are both deeply connected to their roots in African American culture, a shared history, values and aesthetics. It is impossible to talk about the history of Lindy hop or blues without facing up to the history of racial oppression and resistance and affirmation that gave rise to these dances. Swing, jazz and blues are all part of this cultural tradition, music that was always principally dance music, its main purpose being to free us from the blues.