SWING

The Swing can be used for multiple dance genres and is popular at social dances, country dances, and other social events.

When you first learn to dance the first dance should be Swing. Swing is the All-American good time dance. It developed in the 1920s in New York with Lindy Hop as the root of all modern swing dances. Today, there are many common swing dances – East Coast, West Coast, Country, Lindy Hop, Jive, Shag, Balboa, Hustle, etc. Swing dances are danced to 4/4 timing with a very wide range of tempo or beats per minute (bpm). Fast swing dances are often referred to as Jitterbug. This term became associated with swing dancers because, like the “jitters” of alcoholics, they were seen to be out of control. The two most useful and well-defined swing dances to learn are tjhe East Coast Swing and the West Coast Swing.

Here is a video describing these two swing dances:

East Coast versus West Coast Swing

EAST COAST SWING

The East Coast Swing can be used for multiple dance genres and is popular at social dances, country dances, and other social events.

Sometimes called six count swing, the dance started in the 1940s as an offshoot from Lindy Hop and Jive. This should be the first swing dance to learn with Single Time, Double Time, and Triple Time Versions. The basic step changes for each of the three versions (Single Time, Double Time, Triple Time) but the patterns are the same.

WEST COAST SWING

The West Coast Swing can be used for multiple dance genres and is popular at social dances, country dances, and other social events.

This is a partner dance with roots in the Lindy Hop. It was developed in the 1960s.This dance is considerably more complicated than East Coast swing. Modern West Coast Swing is in large part defined by an emphasis on musicality and connection. It is also a fundamentally improvised dance, and thus such defined figures are simply starting points for the skilled dancer. Additionally, West Coast Swing can be said to rely on the leader creating and redirecting the momentum of the follower in order to communicate how he wishes to lead the dance. The follower's step is different from the leader's; partners do not mirror each other. West Coast Swing can be danced to almost any music written in 4/4 time and is best with preferred speeds of 100-130 bpm. It is traditionally danced to slower, blues-style swing music, but many are dancing West Coast Swing to country, hip hop, R&B, and pop music.

Music Examples:

• Ballroom (Blues Style) - T-Bear and the Dukes of Rhythm: She Moves Me – 110 bpm
• Ballroom (Blues Style) - Keb Mo: She Just Wants to Dance – 112 bpm
• Ballroom (Blues Style) – Tracy Chapman: Give Me One Reason – 100 bpm
• Country - Toby Keith: A Little Less Talk and a Lot More Action – 125 bpm
• Country - Ty Herndon: Steam – 102 bpm

Tutorials:

• Brian B: Pushes, Passes, and Whips
• Brian B: Beginner Patterns
• Brian B: More on Sugar Push, Side Pass, Whip
• Brian B: How to do the Sugar Push
• Brian B: Sugar Push Details
• Brian B: Learn to Connect in Your Sugar Push
• Brian B: Improve Your Smoothness, WCS Footwork
• Brian B: 7 Patterns Every leader and Follower Should Know
• Brian B: Advanced Patterns