How to Do the Balboa Swing

Balboa is a vintage swing dance in closed position that evolved in California during the early part of the twentieth century. Bal-swing is a variation on that dance that involves more improvisation and open movements, but it didn't come about until the 1980s. There are purists who see them separately, but most swing enthusiasts affectionately group both as well as "Slow Bal" and "Fast Bal" under the term "balboa."

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Prepare for Balboa

1. Stand up straight with your shoulders back, like your mother always said.

2. Take your follow's right hand in your left and bring her into closed position. You can raise this hand, like in Disney's Goofy videos, you can have it against your chest or you can lower it to your waist.

3. Press the right side of your ribcage firmly against the left side of hers. Your right arm will hold her in against the middle to of her back.

4. Alternate your feet so that your follow's left foot is on the outside of your right foot, and her right foot is between your feet so you don't step on each other.

Lead Single Time Balboa

5. Step forward with your left foot on count 1, forward with your right foot on count 2 and then back with your left foot on count 3. Hold count 4.

6. Push back with your right foot on count 5, back with your left foot on count 6, then forward with your right foot on count 7. Hold count 8. Repeat Steps 1 and 2.

7. Take your follow as described in Section 1. Her steps are the same as yours, but she starts with Step 2, and then repeat Steps 1 and 2.

Lead Double Time Balboa

8. Watch the basic balboa lesson video on How2Dance for a visual overview of the dance.

9. Take a step back with your left foot on count 1. Bring your right foot back on count 2. Do tiny kick with left foot on count 3. Step left on count 4.

10. Walk forward with your right foot on count 5. Step forward with your left foot on count 6. Do a tiny kick with your right foot on count 7. Step right on count 8. Repeat Steps 1 and 2.

11. Bring your follow in to closed position like in Section 1. Her steps are the same as yours, but start with Step 2, and then repeat Steps 1 and 2.

Tips & Warnings

• The kicks in double time balboa are really more like holds in the air.
• There are tons of moves that go along with these basic steps, and the best way to really learn more about the dance is to find a teacher. Ask on the forum boards at Yehoodi or Balboanation for recommendations and to find local swing dancers and swing dance venues.

Resources

• How2Dance
• Yehoodi
• Balboanation