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East Coast Swing

Note! These are notes from dance classes prior to 2004. They are archived here for occasional reference.

Contents

  1. 1 Single Step Basic
  2. 2 Double Step Basic
  3. 3 Triple-Step Basic
  4. 4 Forward Walk or Mark Time Ending
  5. 5 4 Backward Walks
  6. 6 Kicks and Points
  7. 7 Swing Release
  8. 8 Link to Close
  9. 9 Under Arm Release
  10. 10 Throwout
  11. 11 Under Arm Turn Left
  12. 12 Hand Slide
  13. 13 Back Pass
  14. 14 Alternate Under Arm Turns
  15. 15 Sugar Push
  16. 16 Reverse Sugar Push
  17. 17 Tuck to Under Arm Turn/Tuck to Free Spin
  18. 18 American Spin/Both Spin
  19. 19 Circling Tuck In
  20. 20 Continuous Tuck In
  21. 21 Double Overhead/Hand Slide
  22. 22 Cuddle to Backward Walk

Notes and Tips:
  • 4/4 time. Swing can be danced to Foxtrot music. Count goes SSQQ, so it takes three measures, two basics, to match up with the music. In both 2-hand hold and closed hold, her RH is at waist level, palm down, my LH is palm up. When pressure is applied, my knuckles press against her palm.
  • On triple steps, feet point in direction I'm going, but body still faces partner. Basic turns to right on first triple step, meaning I am going around my partner on the first triple step.

  1. Single Step Basic

    Variation of: Swing Basic: Bronze 1
    Timing Foot Hand Level Body Notes
    12. LF left. . . .
    34. CW RF. . . .
    5. Rock step back on LF. . . .
    6. CW RF. . . .

  2. Double Step Basic

    Variation of: Swing Basic: Bronze 1
    Timing Foot Hand Level Body Notes
    1. tap LF next to RF. . . .
    2. LF left. . . .
    3. tap RF next to LF. . . .
    4. RF right. . . .
    5. LF rock step back. . . .
    6. CW RF. . . .

  3. Triple-Step Basic

    Variation of: Swing Basic: Bronze 1
    Starting with feet together, weight on right foot. Small steps, no more than shoulder width. Keep in mind the notion of being able to dance in a doorway
    Timing Foot Hand Level Body Notes
    1. Stab left foot down on ball of foot, right next to right foot. . . .
    &.. Shift weight to right foot. . . .
    2.. Step side with left. . . .
    3.. Stab right foot, next to left foot. . . .
    &.. shift weight to left foot. . . .
    4.. Step side with right. . . .
    5.. Rock step back on left. . . .
    6.. rock forward in place on right. . . .

  4. Forward Walk or Mark Time Ending

    Variation of: Swing Basic: Bronze 1
    For Mark Time Ending, just do the whole thing in place, instead of rock step just tap LF next to RF. For Forward Walk, do normal basic, and instead of rock step, LF forward, RF forward (like promenade), and then back to triple step. Can go in straight line or around partner.

  5. 4 Backward Walks

    Variation of: Swing Basic: Bronze 1
    Timing Foot Hand Level Body Notes
    1234. First two thirds of basic. . . .
    5678. 4 walking steps back. . . .
    . Rock step and back into basic. . . .

  6. Kicks and Points

    Variation of: Swing Basic: Bronze 1
    Timing Foot Hand Level Body Notes
    12345678. 4 Backward Walks, up to last step on RF. . . .
    1. Point LF forward and out. . . Lean forward.
    2. LF next to RF. . . Straighten up.
    3. Point RF forward and out. . . Lean forward.
    4. RF next to LF. . . Straighten up.
    5. Point LF out left of partner's right leg. . . .
    6. LF next to RF. . . .
    7. Point RF out between partner's legs. . . .
    8. RF next to left. . . .
    . rock step and back to basic. . . .

  7. Swing Release

    Variation of: Swing Release: Bronze 1
    On rock step, let go of closed hold and go into two-hand hold.

  8. Link to Close

    In two hand hold, from basic, immediately after rock step, bring LH straight down to my side. Also get out of her way as she comes in, and resume closed hold.

  9. Under Arm Release

    Variation of: Swing Release: Bronze 1
    Under arm turn, her turning clockwise, go into two-hand hold.

  10. Throwout

    Variation of: Swing Release: Bronze 1
    On first triple step, step to left instead of right, and as she goes by, release my RH.

  11. Under Arm Turn Left

    Variation of: Under Arm Turn Left: Bronze 1
    From open position, on first triple step lead her into inside turn (counter clockwise)

  12. Hand Slide

    Variation of: Under Arm Turn Left: Bronze 1
    From right hand to right hand hold, lead her into inside turn on first triple step, hair comb to place her hand on my left shoulder, and let and slide down. Can get into RH2RH using Back Pass

  13. Back Pass

    Variation of: Under Arm Turn Left: Bronze 1
    After rock step, turn body left, triple-step forward, placing her right hand on my midriff, so I can keep contact with it. Keep turning left doing triple step. By rock step I should have her hand again, and can lead her into an inside turn. Which hand I take her right hand with depends on what I want to do next.

  14. Alternate Under Arm Turns

    Variation of: Under Arm Turn Left: Bronze 1
    Lead her into UAT Left, with a transient cuddle. Next basic, I do an under arm turn to my left, under my right arm, leading her to transiently cuddle me, then lead her into another inside turn.

  15. Sugar Push

    Open hold. On left triple, put hands down and out to put her on my right. On right triple, hands down and out to put her on my left.

  16. Reverse Sugar Push


  17. Tuck to Under Arm Turn/Tuck to Free Spin

    Variation of: Tuck Turn: Bronze 2
    Start from rock step. Tap step in place while drawing her in, and raising left hand to eye level for her to press against, giving her clue that I'm going to do something. Then triple step in place while I lead her in an outside turn. The way Liz teaches it, I have my left hand at waist level, with some pressure to lean against. For the Free Spin, like Liz says, left hand at waist to stop her, then let go on second triple so she can spin right.

  18. American Spin/Both Spin

    Variation of: Tuck Turn: Bronze 2
    Get into RH to RH hold (back pass or double overhead). On first triple step, in place, RH at waist level, keep connected to body, at end of triple, push to lead her into clockwise turn, triple in place, catch her hand with either hand. Can replace first triple with tap-step. When she turns, I can also turn. Tap-step. On step, spin on left foot, then do triple step.

  19. Circling Tuck In

    Variation of: Tuck Turn: Bronze 2
    Kind of like Swing Molinetes. Bring her in for a tuck, like in the tuck turn. Then, on alternate triple steps, turn her in and out, as I have her circle around me. End with an outside turn.

  20. Continuous Tuck In

    Variation of: Tuck Turn: Bronze 2
    In RH to RH hold. Several consecutive triple steps. We angle in and out from each other, with RH held low. Triple step starting on left foot, I angle to my right, and this turns her to her right. Opposite on triple step starting on RF. To end, bring hand up, and then as I do triple step starting with right foot, lead her into free spin to right, as I do a free spin to the left. End with rock step.

  21. Double Overhead/Hand Slide

    Get into 2-hand hold. On first triple step, get her on my right, RH goes over her head to place my arm on her shoulder, and my LH combs, leaving her hand on my shoulder. Second triple step turn to face her, let hands slide down til they meet. Get out of this using hand slide.

  22. Cuddle to Backward Walk

    Lead into cuddle from two hand hold by doing inside turn without letting go of right hand, then backwards walks.

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