Hand dance is a form of swing, and a close cousin of the jitterbug.
All are descended from the Lindy hop, created by Shorty Snowden, an African-American dancer of the big band era. The benefits of hand dancing go far beyond just learning cool moves. In the old days of swing, there were entire rituals surrounding the dance. Men went and picked up their dates, then escorted them to the dance. They learned how to dress up, and how to behave.