West Coast Swing

Patterns

    1. Starter Step

    2. Throwout

    3. Sugar Push

    4. Underarm Turn

    5. Left Side Pass

    6. Right Side Pass

    7. Turning Basic

    8. Basic Tuck Turn

    9. Sweetheart Whip

    10. Basic Whip

    11. Inside Whip

    12. 2-hand Tuck Turn

    13. Sugar Tuck

    14. Twin Cities

General Notes

  • Footwork for WC Swing is generally Ball Flat. Forward steps could be danced with heel leads or ball leads. In a West Coast Swing workshop, Benji Schwimmer says it's more natural to dance heel leads for forward steps for lady as lady should be "leaning back" to create the tension on those steps. When the weight is slightly back, it's more natural to do heel leads. Benji Swimmer says he would do lead "outside edge"

  • Swing Shift: (the "elasticity" look) - from Benji Schwimmer workshop

    • In West Coast Swing, you would want to minimize "neutral", you are either in "tension" where the weight is on back of your heel, or "compression" where your nose (or other "front part" of your body - depending on your position) is in front of your ball of foot.

    • "Swing Shift" is an important concept. See Sugar Push notes on "compression" and "tension".

    • "Rolling foot": not stepping flat, always roll the foot.

  • Swing frame:

    • Activate lats and fingers, no rigid frame. Do not use arm to lead, use body and frame.

    • No "contra" like cuban motions within one's body, but you are doing "contra" with your partner. The body (shoulder, body, hip) moves together in one direction.

  • Anchor step: (either Man or Lady) this refers to the chassé in place step (RLR for Man, LRL for Lady) which are often the finishing steps for a figure. Foot position is normally in 3rd position.

  • French Cross: Lady uses French Cross steps to complete a half turn to L in gradual 3 steps, e.g in Throwout.

  • Michelle Kincaid suggests that when movement is lead, the lady will take walking steps. When movement is not being lead, then the lady takes triple-steps.