How to Perform West Coast Swing

The West Coast Swing is considered by many swing dancers to be the cooler and more sophisticated kind of swing dance. As opposed to its geographical counterpart, where dancers move around with no regard for their placement on the dance floor, West Coast Swing dancers perform their moves in a narrow, linear pattern called a slot. The West Coast Swing also uses slower music ranging from 110 to 130 beats per minute. Though considered slightly more difficult than the East Coast version, the West Coast Swing is also a little sexier, which makes well worth the effort.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Lead in a West Coast Swing Dance

1. Face your partner throughout the basic beginning steps.

2. Begin with a starter step consisting of 4 beats. This is simply a movement that allows you to remain in place while still anticipating the upcoming motions. It is designed to allow your body and your partner a "build-up" period to catch the rhythm in order to perform the dance in proper time.

3. Take 1 step back with the left foot on the first beat after the 4-beat starter step.

4. Step back with your right foot on the second beat.

5. Perform a triple-step move, beginning with your left foot, on the third and fourth beat. This is a relatively quick left-right-left sequence.

6. Switch feet for another triple step, this time right-left-right, on the fifth and sixth beats.

Follow in a West Coast Swing Dance

7. Perform a 4-beat starting step in time with the music and in syncopation with your partner.

8. Step forward with 2 steps on the first and second beats. Begin this forward stepping with your right foot to mirror your partner's step back with his left foot.

9. Perform a triple-step move, beginning with the right foot, on the third and fourth beats. This is a quick right-left-right sequence that will actually move you past your partner.

10. Take another triple step, this time left-right-left, on the fifth and sixth beats. During this move, you will turn your body to once again bring yourself face to face with your partner.

Tips & Warnings

• The key to performing a solid West Coast Swing is good body communication between partners, as well as a confident sense of timing. If the timing is off, you may wind up bumping into each other frequently because of the rather limited area of the dance floor. If your communication is off, then you may end up with a sloppy-looking dance that seems out of control, which is precisely the opposite of the West Coast Swing.