How to Swing Dance in a Double-Step Basic

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By RenaissanceLady
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Swing Dance in a Double-Step Basic

Swing dancing is a fun, energetic social partner dance that is an excellent form of aerobic exercise. The Double-Step is a variation of East Coast Swing, or Jitterbug. Once mastered, the Double-Step Swing Dance will be danced to a slower tempo of music, from approximately 128 beats per minute (bpm) to 144 bpm.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Two left feet, which you will soon turn into two dance happy feet.

Step 1

Weight Change

First, whether or not you have a partner to practice with, you can learn the basic footwork. When you walk, you utilize the concept of "weight change." When you are on one foot, you would be able to lift the other foot slightly off the ground, because all your weight is on one foot. Practice this concept standing in place, with your feet shoulder width apart. Transferring weight from one foot to the other. (not necessary to actually lift the other foot off the ground, that was just to demonstrate the idea).
Step 2

Step-Touch

Once you have mastered this (in about 1 minute), ladies: with a very subtle bend in your knees, take a side-step to the right, using your right foot. While keeping your weight on that right foot, bring your left next to it, and without putting weight on your left foot, touch it to your right foot. The heel of your left foot may be slightly off the ground. Men: you will do the same thing, but start with your left foot. Left foot takes a side-step, right foot touches it. This is called the "Step-touch." Remember, just like with walking, you have a subtle bend in your knees.
Step 3

Let's do the same thing with the opposite foot. Ladies, with that left foot that is touching the right, take a shoulder-width step out to the left. Your weight will be on your left foot. Take your right foot, bring it in to your left foot now, and just touch the left foot. Heel may be slightly raised. Men: You will take a side-step to the right with your right foot, transferring your weight to that right foot. Bring your left foot in to position next to your right foot, weight still on right foot.
Step 4

Rock Step

The Rock Step is the same concept of the weight transfer, except that it is taking a little step back, instead of to the side. This step will be smaller, and the weight change will be more brief. Ladies, from that second Step-touch, take the right foot and take a little step behind your left foot. No need to line your feet up, they can still have several inches gap between them. Put the weight on the right foot briefly (remember, a slight bend in your knees) and return it to your left foot, and you can keep your right foot in back position. Men: With your left foot, take a small step back, shifting your weight briefly to that leg, but then put the weight back on your right leg. You can keep the left foot in back position as you do this.
Step 5

That is the basic footwork for the double step. Done properly, it will be 6 counts: Step-touch, Step-touch, Rock-Step, or One-Two, Three-Four, Five-Six. Each Step-touch is 2 counts, and the Rock Step is two counts. You can say "Rock-Step" as you practice the move. Repeat this step without a partner for a while.
Step 6

Partner Up!

We will partner up in Open Position. Hold hands at a 90 degree angle (elbows bent) facing each other, Ladies hands on top. Now, your basic footwork, which you just learned, will have you mirroring your partner's footwork. 5, 6, Here we go! Step-touch, Step-touch, Rock-Step; Step-touch, Step-touch, Rock-Step... and you are Swing dancing!!