West Coast Swing
Concepts:
(1) The lady goes back and forth in the 'slot', and the man stays out of the way
on the 'rails'
(2) Stretch the connection when going away from your partner, and Compress
when going towards your partner. Remember the example analogy of the
theraband and rubberball.
(3) Keep your 'flashlight' (or ironman powerlight) pointed to your partner at all
times
(4) Keep your arms relaxed with the hand at the level of the lady's center (let's
say bellybutton, for now)
Additional point:
For those familiar with lindy, ec swing, and jive, there is a key element in west
coast that is not present in those dances. It is called the 'anchor'. At the
completion of every figure, there is either an 'anchor step' (RLR for the men, LRL
for the lady), or a substitute step with a similar function. Both people 'sit back'
gently on this 'anchor' to re-establish the connection in preparation of the next
figure. I noticed that some people neglected this at the social dance and it made
the dances appear hectic. The anchor is a chance to 'breathe', especially for the
follower.
Viennese Waltz
Basic timing: 123 456
RF forward Closed change (box step):
1 M: RF fwd, L: LF back
2 M: LF side, L: RF side
3 M: RF close to LF, L: LF close to RF
Natural Turn:
1 M: RF forward down LOD, L: LF back down LOD
2 M: LF side backing C, L: RF side pointing DC
3 M: RF close to LF backing DC, L: LF close to RF facing DC
4 M: LF back down LOD, L: RF forward down LOD
5 M: RF side pointing DC, L: LF side backing C
6 M: LF close to RF facing DC, L: RF close to LF facing DC
Reverse Turn:
1 M: LF forward down LOD, L: RF back down LOD
2 M: RF side backing W, L: LF side poitning btwn DW and LOD
3 M: LF cross in front of RF, backing LOD, L: RF close to LF facing LOD
4 M: RF back down LOD, L: LF forward down LOD
5 M: LF side pointing btwn DW and LOD, L: RF side backing W
6 M: RF close to LF facing LOD, L: LF crosses in front of RF facing LOD
Suggested groups:
Dance around the room using only natural turns. These are easier because they
can go around the corner simply by using slightly less rotation. Reverse turns on
the other hand would require more rotation to turn the corner.
Dance: 6 counts of natural turn (123 456), then 1 RF closed change (123), then
6 counts of reverse turn (123 456)
Tips:
To avoid getting dizzy:
1) Swing each group of 3 in one direction, don't continuously rotate.
2) Keep your head pointing in one direction for each group of 3.
3) Use a closed change to switch from turning R to turning L.
Jive
Basic timings:
6-count:
1 2 3a4 5a6
8-count:
1 2 3a4 5 6 7a8
Basic:
"Rock" 1 (M: LF back) (L: RF back)
"Step" 2 (M: RF replace) (L: LF replace)
"Tri-" 3 (M: LF small step side) (L: RF small step side)
"-ple" a (M: RF close to LF) (L: LF close to RF)
"Step" 4 (M: LF small step side) (L: RF small step side)
"Tri-" 5 (M: RF small step side) (L: LF small step side)
"-ple" a (M: LF close to RF) (L: RF close to LF)
"Step" 6 (M: RF small step side) (L: LF small step side)
Underarm turn from R to L:
Man: same footwork as basic.
Raise LH during "3a4", with fingers pointing straight up.
Lady: press slightly in with RH on count "4"
Turn to the R (clockwise) under his arm on "(4) &"
Chasse away on 5a6.
Underarm turn from L to R:
Man: same footwork as basic
Raise LH during "3a4", with fingers pointing to the right (like you're looking at
your watch on your LH)
Lady: press slightly in with RH on count "4"
turn to L (counter-clockwise) under his arm on "(4) &"
Chasse to the L with him on "5a6"
Stop and Go:
Start with "123a4" of Underarm turn from R to L.
Begin an Underarm turn from L to R, but stop in the middle:
"Rock" 1 (M: LF back) (L: RF back)
"Step" 2 (M: RF replace) (L: LF replace)
Man: As you lift your LH on "3a4", place your RH on the small of the Lady's back
to indicate a "stop":
"Stop" 3 (M: LF small step side) (L: RF small step side)
" the" a (M: RF close to LF) (L: LF close to RF)
"Girl" 4 (M: LF small step side) (L: RF small step side)
"Stop" 5 (M: RF forward check) (L: LF small step back)
" Go " 6 (M: LF replace) (L: RF replace)
"Tri-" 7 (M: RF small step side) (L: LF small step side)
"-ple" a (M: LF close to RF) (L: RF close to LF)
"Step" 8 (M: RF small step side) (L: LF small step side)
Rumba
Closed Basic:
Music
Man
Lady
2
LF fwd
RF back
3
RF replace
LF replace
4
LF side
RF side
1
hold (LF side) hold (RF side)
2
RF back
LF fwd
3
LF replace
RF replace
4
RF side
LF side
1
hold (RF side) hold (LF side)
New Yorker:
Music
Man
Lady
2
LF fwd
RF back
3
RF replace
LF replace
4
LF side
RF side
1
hold (LF side)
hold (RF side)
&
turn 90° to left on LF
turn 90° to right on RF
2
RF fwd
LF fwd
3
LF replace
RF replace
&
turn 90° to right on LF turn 90° to left on RF
4
RF side
LF side
1
hold (RF side)
hold (LF side)
Solo Spot Turn:
Music
Man
Lady
2
LF fwd
RF back
3
RF replace
LF replace
4
LF side
RF side
1
hold (LF side)
hold (RF side)
&
turn 90° to left on LF
turn 90° to right on RF
2
RF fwd
LF fwd
&
turn 180° to left on RF turn 180° to right on LF
3
LF replace fwd
RF replace fwd
&
turn 90° to left on LF
turn 90° to right on RF
4
RF side
LF side
1
hold (RF side)
hold (LF side)
Hand to Hand:
Music
Man
Lady
2
LF fwd
RF back
3
RF replace
LF replace
4
LF side
RF side
1
hold (LF side)
hold (RF side)
&
turn 90° to right on LF turn 90° to left on RF
2
RF back
LF back
3
LF replace
RF replace
&
turn 90° to left on LF
turn 90° to right on RF
4
RF side
LF side
1
hold (RF side)
hold (LF side)
Foxtrot
Example music to download:
Nice and Easy - Frank Sinatra
Nightengale Sang in Berkeley Square - Bobby Darin
Basic timing: Slow, Quick, Quick (i.e. S QQ)
Man (M) starts with Right Foot forward, Lady (L) with Left Foot back.
Feather Step (M: HT T TH) (L: TH TH TH)
Reverse Turn (M: HT T TH) (L: Heel Turn: TH HT TH)
Feather Finish (M: THT T TH) (L: HT TH TH)
Three Step (M: H HT TH) (L: TH TH TH)
Natural Turn (S S S ) (M: TH, Inside edge of foot, H) (L: HT, Inside edge of foot,
TH)
Tango
Note: "DC" stands for "Diagonal Center"
"DW" stands for "Diagonal Wall"
Two Walks (Commence facing DW: S S )
Progressive Link (QQ: ends in Promenade Position)
Closed Promenade (S QQS )
Two Curving Walks (S S )
Reverse Turn, Lady Outside (Commence facing DC: QQS QQS )
(End with last step forward, facing DW)
Rock step (QQS )
Closed finish (QQS )
Progressive Side Step Reverse Turn (Commence facing DC: QQS S S QQS )
Samba
Example music to download:
Hey Mama (Black Eyed Peas)
Mas Que Nada (Black Eyed Peas, with Sergio Mendez)
Basic timing: 1a2 3a4
Beat breakdown: "1 e & a, 2 e & a"
Each count is 1/4 of a beat.
So "1a2" is "3/4 1/4 1" in duration.
Basic steps:
(All steps are described starting with the RF. They can also be started with the
LF.)
Side Samba Walk:
Close RF to LF, place LF to the side and end in a side-lunge on your RF.
Stationary Walk:
Close RF to LF, place LF back and end in a lunge on your RF.
Bota Fogo:
Cross in front with your RF, place LF to side, and end in side-lunge on your RF.
Volta:
Cross RF in front of LF.
Whisk:
Lunge to side with RF, cross LF behind RF, and end with legs crossed.
Solo Spot Turn:
Lunge to side with RF, and turn 3/8 to place LF, finish 5/8 turn to R as you drop
into your RF.
Corta Jaca:
Lunge (Man: fwd/ Lady: back), then alternate pressing (LF/RF) (heel/toe) and
(RF/LF) slips to the side, lightly brushing the floor, then (LF/RF) (toe/heel).
Basic choreography:
Begin facing each other, with 2-hand hold. Man on RF with LF back, Lady
mirroring on LF with RF back.
Stationary Walks [1a2 3a4 5a6 7a8]
Criss Cross Bota Fogos (cross and hold) [1a2 3a4 5a6 7a8]
Criss Cross Voltas (cross and cross and cross and cross) [1a2a3a4 5a6a7a8]
Whisks [1a2 3a4 5a6 7a8]
Lady's Underarm Turn [1a2]
Whisk [3a4]
Lady's Underarm Turn [5a6]
Corta Jaca (fwd/back lunge, then: press slide, press slide, etc.) [7 (hold 8)
1a2a3a4a]
Cha Cha Cha
Basic timing: 2 3 4 & 1
Example music to download... legally:
Need to know (Marc Anthony)
Smooth (Rob Thomas / Santana)
Lots of stuff by Tito Puente
Closed Basic:
Music
Man
Lady
2
LF fwd
RF back
3
RF replace
LF replace
4
LF side
RF side
&
RF close to LF LF close to RF
1
LF side
RF side
2
RF back
LF fwd
3
LF replace
RF replace
4
RF side
LF side
&
LF close to RF RF close to LF
1
RF side
LF side
New Yorker:
Music
Man
Lady
2
LF fwd
RF back
3
RF replace
LF replace
4
LF side
RF side
&
RF close to LF
LF close to RF
1
LF side
RF side
&
turn 90° to left on LF
turn 90° to right on RF
2
RF fwd
LF fwd
3
LF replace
RF replace
&
turn 90° to right on LF turn 90° to left on RF
4
RF side
LF side
&
LF close to RF
RF close to LF
1
RF side
LF side
Solo Spot Turn:
Music
Man
Lady
2
LF fwd
RF back
3
RF replace
LF replace
4
LF side
RF side
&
RF close to LF
LF close to RF
1
LF side
RF side
&
turn 90° to left on LF
turn 90° to right on RF
2
RF fwd
LF fwd
&
turn 180° to left on RF turn 180° to right on LF
3
LF replace fwd
RF replace fwd
&
turn 90° to left on LF
turn 90° to right on RF
4
RF side
LF side
&
LF close to RF
RF close to LF
1
RF side
LF side
Waltz
Basic timing: 123 456
Example music:
Anymore (Orlando Johnson)
Amore E Musica (Russell Watson)
RF Closed Change:
Music
Man
Lady
1
RF fwd
LF back
2
LF side
RF side
3
RF closes to LF LF closes to RF
4
LF back
RF fwd
5
RF side
LF side
6
LF closes to RF RF closes to LF
LF Closed Change:
Music
Man
Lady
1
LF fwd
RF back
2
RF side
LF side
3
LF closes to LF RF closes to RF
4
RF back
LF fwd
5
LF side
RF side
6
RF closes to RF LF closes to LF