Murray used this term quite frequently to describe West Coast Swing. The basic music for West Coast Swing is generally the Blues which, is generally made up of swung eighth's (a type of shuffle rhythm.) The Sugar Push (or push break) The Side Pass (Left Side Pass and Right Side Pass) and the 8 count Basic Whip. These have a syncopated rhythm, often counted 1-a-2, 3-a-4. It is executed by shifting weight from one foot to the other: left, right left or right, left right left. West Coast Swing is the 'Official State Dance of California'. When Collins started winning contests everyone wanted to learn his style. Other free form style dances would follow and a whole generation grew up without partner dancing. West Coast Swing is a partner dance, so before you begin trying out the steps, grab a partner! Because of the vast music style variations or 'Genres' the West Coast Swingers dance too, this dance is always under attack from the "Other Dance Purists." Most people did not have to leave their homes for an evenings entertainment as in the past. Country mix includes the dances of Country Two Step, West Coast Swing, Night Club 2, Waltz, Cha Cha, Hustle, Fox Trot, East Coast Swing, country line dances and country partner dances. Characteristics: East Coast Swing is traditionally danced to big band music, has a slight bounce, and lots of energy! 0:00 / 33:24 Learn the Basic West Coast Swing Steps for Beginners West Coast Swing Online 36.2K subscribers 4.5K views 4 weeks ago West Coast Swing Steps If you're new to West Coast. Collins started teaching "his version" to L.A. and soon everyone on the West Coast was doing it. Check out our curated Spotify playlists created with dancers like you in mind. It is the base for all swing dances and is a simple dance. Dance Starts in a Closed Starter Basic and/ or Preparatory Basic. Check out this funny, vintage instructional video. DanceOKC.com is here to help you find out about dancing in Oklahoma City. 4 tips on how to learn to dance from home. A great pair of shoes feel good, improve your motion, and are also stylish. Learn patterns & techniques. These new dancers of the 1970's did not know of most of the earlier dances and/ or copied some of the Swing and Salsa dancers that they saw or that a few could remember. . Group classes have between 20-40 students, and partners are notrequired because we rotate frequently. West Coast Swing has gained in popularity partly because it can be danced to a wide variety of music genres, including: slow and fast blues, contemporary, hip-hop, pop, top 40's, and country. Sign up for an introductory dance lessonnow to get started! However, there were still a small group that did dance partnered dances and kept it alive, these dancers formed Swing Dance Clubs and would continue to pass it on when they could. The Hustle resembles the West Coast Swing pattern. September 5, 2022 | Alise Borne # Beginner Guides Born in California during the 1940s, the West Coast Swing evolved from Lindy Hop. Triple step right, Triple step left. Then when West Coast Swing developed, around 1980, someone decided that everything else must be "East Coast . The Ballroom community, looking for a much more simple and mild form of swing, invented a much simpler and milder form called "Eastern Swing" (East Coast Swing) in the forties. Newcomers are encouraged to begin their dance journey during the first week of any month, as the lessons will progress. Although most of these are partner dances, you do . Swing (aka: Jitterbug) is a wonderful dance form in all it's versions that fits all types of music, Personalities, Finances etc. | Goodman's next stop was at the Paramount Theater in New York, again the newspaper reported that the "Kids were Jitterbugging in the Isles to Goodman's music" (every aisle I have ever seen was a slot!). The West Coast Swing is a "slotted" dance which means the lady or follower travels forward and backward along a straight line on the floor and the leader guides the turns and variations from a single spot on the floor. Today there are EIGHT BASIC STEPS that the whole dance revolves upon. The dance is on Sunday evening from 7:00 -10:00 pm. What is Country Swing? Then in the 1970's, Disco dancing & Music became the rage, especially after the movie Saturday Night Fever with John Travolta and these Swing Dancers were now dancing to the new Disco music trying to survive and entice younger members while dancing the dance they loved. As you watch them and learn the basics, you can begin to learn other swing dances as well. Swing (pulsing down. Other forms of communication, such as visual cues or spoken cues, are often considered to spoil the dance, unless used in specific circumstances, e.g., practicing figures, or figures which are purposely danced without physical connection. What Are the Three Main Styles of Ballroom Dancing? and others of days gone by. Carolina Shag footwork is being added to its already extensive list of WCS footwork patterns (Swag,) Zouk (Swouk) and even the Tango has been injected (Swango). of DAYS GONE BY (To bad they did not have Hustle, Disco, Lambada/Zouk, Dirty Dancing, Mambo, Latin, Cha-Cha, freestyle dance, Hip-Hop dances etc. Ready to start learning? (International style) swing. But not all swing dances are created equal. See the explanations and demonstrations of dances your just learned. The Triple Step swing is a circular dance that has a bounce. Swing is a partner dance, so youll want to dance with different partners instead of the same one all the time. Basically overnight, all nightclubs became disco's. Copyright 1996 all rights reserved: Sonny Watson! 1-2) Slow step on the Lead's left and Follow's right foot. Get ready to have a fun, new experience. Dance shoes are your primary tool when dancing. UCWDC Syllabus. It is especially important in Argentine Tango, Lindy Hop, Balboa, East Coast Swing, West Coast Swing, Salsa, Contra dance, Modern Jive and other styles of partner dance. When Big Band Music waned and died out in the 1950's for various reasons and Rock and Roll music became popular, swing dancers had to adapt and swing dance to Rock and Roll music. It may be a little intense, but attending a swing camp, Lindy Hop exchange, or workshop can really help you learn how to swing dance. Each basic has 6 count of music and is comprised of a rock step and two triple steps. These are like swing dance boot camps. Without a good understanding of the 'Classic Style', you can not master the other. While dancers do follow specified foot patterns, improvisation is also a large . Click Here For Programs Beginner West-Coast Swing Steps West Coast Swing Basic How To Dance West Coast Swing Basic Under Arm Turn How To Dance West Coast Swing Underarm Turns Release to Sugar Push How To Dance West Coast Swing Throw out Intermediate West-Coast Swing Steps Sugar Push Basic The L.A. dancers had to squeeze together and thus maintained a "Slotted type movement" to avoid hitting each other. There are usually dances at night that have advanced swing dancers or professional dancers to inspire you to continue to swing dance and get better at your craft. The overall progression is, of course, the same. This clip shows WCS being social danced at our Wednesday pre dance to the US Open in November (2012). Bored with your dancing? West Coast Swing, which is a strictly slotted (a 3'X6' or 3X8' rectangular dance space has the leader dance in place (Center of the slot) while the follower travels back and forth. Warm Up for Dancing with These 8 Exercises: Full Instructions Included! Triple step left, Triple step right, Follower: Step forward right, left. It's known as a triple step swing. We strive to balance providing a safe environment while returning to a normal social setting. The newspaper reported that they were "Jitterbugging in the Isles." And the basics are easy. Walk forward left, right. West Coast did not look like the reckless abandon of the previous swingers and looked much more smooth, polished and stylish. In the Mood, Sing, Sing, Sing, Mack the Knife. Do you recognize these tunes? She knew Dean Collins and some of the other dancers and documented what they did with swing dance along with the Sailors in San Diego and Long Beach were doing at the time by Arthur Murray. West Coast Swing is also a specific kind of swing. Televisions were now affordable in almost everyone's home. On the social side however, it's not near as serious except for being taught like you are a future champion dancer (you could be the next champ-right!) Then the 1960's came along and the Twist again they adapted to the music. In one of Arthur Murray's dance books in the mid 1940's, Murray describes a dance called "Rock and Roll dancing." They Are: In the 1940's Ms. Laurie' Haile (d.) was hired by Mr. Murray to document the dances set in Murray's curriculum and the current dances being done around town. They are easier than the basic sugar push.The whip is the first 8 count pattern in WCS. (not totally true). A couple of years ago (around 1997), the Retro-Swingers started to use a term called "Hollywood Style Lindy" before they realized it was basically "Hollywoods West Coast Swing they were doing." Occasionally, we also feature Hustle, Salsa, and Night Club Two-Step. As long as they can count it and feel the "swing" or pulse of the Down and Upbeats and is basically of good rhythmic sound, it becomes a song you can dance West Coast Swing to (however, it is not swing music.) Swing dancing is for people of all ages. Leon and Kim will show you the basic steps, how to turn, and more: 1&2: Triple step (chasse) to the left (left-right-left), 3&4: Triple step to the right (right-left-right), 1&2: Triple step (chasse) to the right (right-left-right), 3&4: Triple step to the left (left-right-left). You can learn to swing dance at the Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Durham. Kids packed the Palomar and lined up for blocks to see him play. You can dance it to almost anything, and you can be creative! Many of the old time West Coast Swingers who are still around today have helped them with this "authentic style" which is really very kewl. Learn all about the great dancingin Oklahoma City. The end of each night's lessons are capped with a fun dance party. Right foot steps behind, left foot steps side. Our dance facility is smoke and alcohol free. Steele Shane for Two Step, West Coast Swing, Nightclub 2, Waltz, Cha Cha and Hustle, Alan Gaskell for Hustle, Waltz, Nightclub 2, Cha Cha, Two Step, Triple Two Step, East Coast Swing, Polka, and Salsa. Whether or not either of these theories can account for it, West Coast Swing developed a unique in-and-out pattern. Best Ballroom Dance Lessons for Beginners, What To Bring To Your First Salsa Dance Lesson. To make sure they had enough room to dance, they had to stay in a specific, rectangular area. This "slotted-style" eventually caught on as the norm and STAYED STRICTLY SLOTTED! In Competition, West Coast Swing has become a highly technical dance, that is not very friendly to the average competition dancer, in other words, they devour their young!. Im enjoying your site LOTS to learn and motivate me, thanks for all youre doing for the WCS community! The slot is not original to West Coast Swing but is strongly linked to it today. Characteristics: The Lindy Hop has a syncopated rhythm to match the Jazz music to which it is danced. Leader shifts weight onto their left font, follower will shift weight onto their right foot. As you get better at this dance, you can do it to fast tempo music. Use our search function to find the perfect video. Brian, finally getting time to explore WCS Online. If you're partner only knows one style of swing, then their style would be the best style to dance with them at that time. The Longfellow Tennis & Health Club at 524 Boston Post Road in Wayland, MA offers a variety of dance classes for beginners through advanced dancers. We have a step by step guide for you to feel comfortable fast! These are the basics you need. The leader's role is to lead their partner through moves, usually setting the emotional or stylistic 'tone' for the dance as well as initiating moves. Then a few years later, Country Western music and dancing gained popularity (erly 80's) and people were now confusing "Western Swing (WCS)" with Country Western dancing or Western Swing. If they only know one style they usually will declare that the style they know is the best style above all others and usually will make derogatory statements about other styles for many varied reasons. Triple steps. Club Photo's Dance History Archives Dance Films Dance Books DJ Stuff Dance Gifts Dance Timing Page Basic Foot Positions CA. West Coast Swing roots back to or originated from an earlier dance known as the Savoy . Enter your email - I'll send you the video! 4) Print out the COVID waiver, and bring it with you to your first class. Whether youre learning the Lindy Hop or Jive, you can learn any type of social dancing at any age. The two main styles of West Coast are "Classic W.C. DanceOKC.com is here to help you find out about dancing in Oklahoma City. There are no bouncy movements to this dance, and it has a very smooth feel. He would get to know some of the other local dancers, which they have been said to have "not seen that style of swing before, but they liked it very much." The Jive is the European version of East Coast Swing dancing. Follower: Rock step right. West Coast Swing roots back to or originated from an earlier dance known as the Savoy Style Lindy, which was done at the Savoy Ballroom in New York in the early 1930's. You wont see many high kicks or moves that require the dancer to leave the floor. The soldiers and U.S.O. The Savoy Ballroom in New York held famous Lindy Hop competitions every Saturday, pushing dancers to reinvent and perfect their moves. We offer private, semi-private and group lessons for Two Step, Waltz, West Coast Swing, Salsa, Night Club 2, Hustle, Cha Cha, and Triple Two Step. Leader: Step left, right. The clip here represents the Showcase Division of competitive WCS of Benji and Torri in the 11/2012. Characteristics: West Coast Swing is a slotted dance, meaning the dancers stay in a rectangular area, or panel, of the floor. As well as Dean featured in the other two clips. Yet, another story is that because Los Angeles had many small night clubs rather than Ballrooms that provided swing music, and there was a huge migration happening in California at the same time. Duet Dance Studio is located in Chicago West Bucktown. Shuffle). The Lindy Hop is an African American dance that originated in Harlem, New York. If you like West Coast Swing, Country Two-Step and Shuffle, Cha-Cha, Tango, Rhumba, Waltz, Fox Trot, East Coast Swing, and more, then this is the place for you. Swing is one of the most versatile partner dances you can learn - very social and beginner friendly. The clip here shows Dean Collins later in life "adapting" to the music, as he's seen here dancing his WCS to Michael Jackson's song Billy Jean (1982). Perfect for beginners, which is why we'll focus on this version here. Get our weekly newsletter, important announcements and discount offers. When you first start out, youre going to make mistakes. Want access to 400+ WCS videos? You can visit NRG Ballroom at: 931 E. Elliot Rd, Suite 101 Tempe, Arizona 85284. F.A.Q. They are done in a slot. Steps: The jitterbug basic is similar to the East Coast Swing. West Coast Swing is the ' Official State Dance of California '. Here are some great resources. West Coast Swing seems to have been born during the late 1930s through early 1950s, the same time-frame of many of the other forms of Swing: East Coast Swing, Lindy Hop, Jitterbug, etc). One can alter these structures, of course, as dancers also use tap steps, kick-ball changes, hitches, and way . All eight (8) of the UCWDC's competitive Couples and ProAm dances are represented. These 3 West Coast Swing Basic Steps are all you need. Then the Disco beats of the 1970's and they adapted again where as today we no longer adapt we embrace the new dance-able music. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Instead of a rock step, the woman walks forward on count one. Steps:The West Coast Basic is danced in 6 counts. A musical person has the ability to perceive differences in pitch, rhythm and harmonies. If its a crowded floor, keep the steps small so you dont bump the other dancers around you! It's ok. You're normal. Swing is a lively, non-progressive partner dance that can be danced to a wide variety of music, from blues to rock & roll. If you are willing to learn, you will learn to be more coordinated as you learn to swing dance. Finish with a triple step right. Frame is the body position maintained by dancers during partner dancing that provides connection between the dance partners, making leading and following possible. The Intermediate/Advanced seriesintroduces more complicated patterns, footwork, and musicality. Our home base is conveniently located at Dance Dimensions in Norwalk, CT, close to the junction of I-95 and Route 7. West Coast Swing is a form of swing dancing that is danced in a slot to moderate tempo blues, R&B and, in recent times, contemporary music. West Coast Swing is a form of swing dancing that is danced in a slot to moderate tempo blues, R&B and, in recent times, contemporary music. Dance Vision Blog - 2023 All rights reserved. Leader: Rock step left. Perform another triple step in place this time, stepping left, right, left, almost like a march on the spot. Although WCS was not invented by, it was indirectly spawned by a man whose name was Dean Collins, who also danced at the Savoy while he was living in New York. Beginner West Coast Swing Dancers this is for you! One of the most famous stories of the time was when Benny Goodman played at the Palomar Ballroom in Los Angeles in the early 1930's. Triple step right. Although many songs definitely have a style of dance in mind when they were written and are not crossovers, meaning that, the particular dance style should be done to that particular song (example: Hernando's Hideaway=Tango, not another dance.) Get styling tips to look great! This was no easy task, but Haile did it beautifully. It took many dance teachers to call it "West Coast Swing" to veer away from any Country Western association, however, rare, the term West Coast Swing in print was used as far back as the mid 1940s to late 1950's. It's tricky to switch from 6 to 8 counts but the whip will open up lots of intermediate patterns for you later.What is west coast swing? Historically San Diego, San Francisco, and Los Angeles all argue about what city West Coast Swing originated in, however, the Los Angeles California area tends to win the debate on its evolution. Improvisation is encouraged, which means although there are patterns that can be learned, there are also many opportunities for both the leader and follower to insert their own moves and find a unique style. There is a huge event in Southern California known as Camp Hollywood. While western swing music tracks back to the 1930's or 1940's the dance style of Country Swing as we see it today look a lot like the hustle of the 1970's. Leader: left foot steps back, right steps in place, triple step. They require a rock step back. It will help you with rhythm and breaks. It names the "Under Arm Pass, the Whip and the Sugar-Push." However, West Coast Swing is a "Living Dance", meaning it is an old dance form constantly evolving, growing and changing to the music style of the ever changing times, (but we will never leave the Blues) with the 'old skool classic style' being highly sought after so as the dancer possesses great roots and feel (fundamentals/basics) in the dance, rather than just having what's called a 'temporary-contemporary' style that may change or be dead and gone next year. We dance the Foxtrot, Waltz, Cha-Cha, Rumba, Swing and a variety of other dances. If so, then swing dancing may be a good fit for you to learn out of all of the dance styles out there. If you can boil it down to these 3 core basics, you'll be well on your way to dancing soon.The sugar push is the #1 basic pattern. Youll find that dancing with different people can teach you new things and will help you become a better dancer. Alise Borne, May 27, 2021 If it's written in 4/4 time and has a tempo between 135-170 beats per minute, you can swing it. This makes West Coast Swing a highly versatile dance form. Welcome to SwingShoes! There's Lindy Hop, Boogie-Woogie, Jitterbug, Shag, Charleston, West Coast and East Coast Swing, just to name a few. It can be very energetic and acrobatic or smooth and sophisticated. West Coast Swing Boogie Woogie and a few others Here is a great little video that will give you an introduction to the swing dance era. This was right about the time of Murray's book (above.). "We loved Swing dancing and would West Coast Swing has added a lot of the old hustle patterns (Swustle) as well. Then as you turn the toes inward, pick up your other foot, and shift your weight. Save your favorite videos. For a time many Country Western establishments outlawed West Coast Swing being done in the clubs (only a few dancers were doing it at the time) as being too Sexy and having too much Attitude along with stating that it "NOT" being Country. There are numerous national newspapers advertising West Coast Swing dance lessons throughout the country from the early 1940's by various studios. The West Coast Swing is danced in a 4/4 timing, counted as 1,2, 3a4, 5a6. However, there is no best style. This style of swing has some to say that this slot was born out of "WIDE ANGLE LENSES" not having been invented yet! The best style would depend on what type of music you are dancing to at the time, geographic's, the theme of the dance being held, the speed in which the music is played and the dance knowledge of you and/or your partner. Speeds of music for this type of swing vary greatly but will generally fall between 90 to 120 beats per minute, or bpm. What a value. They are some of the top swing songs of all time. Not at all! strictly slotted, slight edge use) and "Funky or Contemporary W.C. 0:00 / 3:24 Basic West Coast Swing Terry Dean 3.02K subscribers 1.2M views 10 years ago Free West Coast Swing lesson; for ad-free lessons and more advanced material visit. East Coast Swing has a basic count of 1&2, 3&4, 5,6. You can learn from other swing dancers and see how they move. There are many variations of swing dance that developed throughout the last century. By taking swing dance lessons, you can improve your technique and your style. East Coast Swing Basic Steps The east coast swing basic steps are easy to learn. Its basic patterns are both 6 and 8 beats, but those patterns can be varied by +/- 2 beat increments. (Gil & Nicky, Freda Angela, Lennie Smith, Lou Southern and others). American Bandstand (and others) and Arthur Murray's television show's introduced many a dances over time such as the Twist, Hully Gully, The Swim, Watusi, the Bop, the slop with West Coast Swing having some air time as well but not named as such (except thru the A.M. Television show.) There are several different types of swing that fall under the general swing umbrella. We enjoy visiting other clubs and hosting other clubs at our dances. It is a stationary dance, so dancers usually stay in the same spot on the floor, dancing in circular movements. It was a lot different than what they were doing at the time which they called it "The Whip" (NOTE: different than the later "Houston Whip" which is a Descendant of WCS to make a slightly long story short,) "Sophisticated Swing" and/or sometimes the "New Yorker". The clip here represents the Showcase Division of competitive WCS of Benji and Torri in the 11/2012 US Open Swing dance championships. It may seem a bit intimidating at first, especially if you're watching those who really mastered it. It's also a formal ballroom dance and the easiest to learn. History: The original swing style, the Lindy Hop was created as Jazz music gained popularity in the 1920s and 30s in Harlem, New York City. Broadly speaking, the leader guides the overall structure of the dance, deciding which moves or figures will be danced, and how the couple will move around the dance floor. It was created by dance studios in the 1940s as a more simplified version of the Lindy that could be taught to the masses. Take our playlists with you to the studio or use it to practice from home. Occasionally, we also feature Hustle, Salsa, and Night Club Two-Step. Variations Starter Steps The Sway (see sendouts below) Anything from Blues/Fusion Sendouts (6 & 8 counts) Cross Body Inside Turn Sendout Tuck Spot Turn Sendout Tuck Turn Down the Tracks Sendout Tuck Double Underarm Turn Sendout It is not music dependent, (meaning that) IT CAN BE DANCED TO ANY 4/4 time music available (old or new) but wether you want too or not is a whole 'nother story. West Coast Swing is a partner dance with roots in the Lindy Hop. It is known for being danced "in a slot", meaning that it does not take up a lot of room on the dance floor. If the dancers rotated while dancing it would not have shown the moviegoers as much facial dancing. During this time, the movies billed WCS dance as "Jitterbug or Rock and Roll." COMMUNITY FRIENDLY INCLUSIVE TO ALL Record yourself dancing so you can watch the footage back and see what youre doing right and what youre doing wrong. While dancers do follow specified foot patterns, improvisation is also a large part of West Coast Swing. The follower does this by planting one foot on the ground with toes pointing outward. The Directors needed to put the dancers in straight lines to get them all in the camera. West Coast Swing is a dancers dance, it's a living dance, meaning, that this dance will always change to challenge you but still be based on the original form, with many dance styles / movements inbred into the dance. Partners will often switch between the traditional face-to-face stance and a side-by-side hold. There are group classes every night of the week in a variety of dance . Collins, after dancing in Hollywood for a couple years and swing dancing in many night clubs began dancing and competing in dance contests. Rock step on the left foot, Follower: Step right, left. However, some independent studios taught both. Once you learn the fundamentals, you'll be swinging in no time. A bouncer there by the name of Herbert Whitey White put together a team of dancers called Whiteys Lindy Hoppers that popularized the Lindy Hop across the nation. Let's get started! Focus on technique, spins and turns, and moves to become a more proficient dancer.

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