Media Center
Media Center » Group Class Syllabi » East-Coast Swing
East-Coast Swing
- Author:
- Dave Watson
- Date Published:
- June 7, 2004
The East-Coast Swing, like all swings, is composed of “triple-steps”, and “straight-time” steps, and has a “six-count” basic, which can be extended to eight.
The term “triple-step” represents a syncopation – or “split” of a beat (creating two half-beats [1 &]), and a whole beat on the end (2). A triple-step, therefore is counted: 1 & 2 (frequently, we will take the easy way out and just accentuate the natural rhythm of the words themselves, and count: tri – ple – step).
“Straight-time” refers to one beat of music per change of weight. In other words, if you were marching to music, that would be “straight time”. We use this rhythm in many places, but in the BASIC, it is used to dance the “Rock Step”(after the two “triple-steps”).
Therefore, the BASIC rhythm of the dance can be counted: tri – ple – step, tri – ple – step, rock, step (1 & 2, 3 & 4, 5, 6). This would be the “six-count” Basic; we will extend it to eight counts with a “Lindy” Rhythm or “Simple Rhythm”.
East-Coast Swing differs from other swings in that it has a slight pulse (a vertical rhythm), but not as much as in Jive. The “pulse” is created by lifting the knee at the commencement of each new triple-step, and sending the foot straight down while directing the upper body to “fall” in the direction desired. The second step of the basic triple will simply close as a result of body movement (there is no need to actually pick the foot up and place it somewhere). The same is true of the last step of the triple – which usually opens slightly; it will be placed under the body, and the dancer will put full weight on that foot as a result of having moved his body.
The basic Closed Dance Position for this dance is actually Promenade.
PATTERN: COUNT:
CLOSED BASIC:
(The Closed Basic may be rotated to the right or to the left; we will do both)
Both partners dance a small chasse’ (side / together / side)
Man dances his chasse left / right / left – Lady is right / left / right 1 & 2
Couple now dances another small chasse’; Man to right – Lady to left 3 & 4
Both partners now dance a back rock in Promenade Position (PP);
Man left back / forward right –Lady back right / forward left 5, 6
NOTE: If couple is rotating to the right, then Man will dance his first chasse’ slightly around the Lady while she dances hers in place. Man will then dance his second chasse’ smaller so that Lady can dance around him into his arm. If the pattern is turned slightly to the left, the opposite will be true: Man will dance his first chasse’ in place, leading Lady to dance hers around him. He will then dance his second chasse’ a little larger. Also, whether turning to left or right, when dancing the Basic in Closed Position, the back rock will always “open out” to PP.
SPECIAL NOTE FOR THE MORE ADVANCED DANCERS:
When rotating around one another, one dancer will actually be dancing his or her chasse’ a little more forward or backward rather than sideways. In the case of the right-turning Closed Basic, it will be the Lady on the first Chasse’, and then Man on the second. With the left-turning Basic, it will be the Man first, and the Lady on the second. When this occurs, more advanced dancers will choose to dance their forward or backward chasse’ with their feet closing in 3rd Position.
Natural (Outside) Under-arm Turn:
Man dances chasse’ (left / right / left) leading Lady to pass under his raised left
Arm – he releases his right arm from Lady’s back
Lady dances chasse’ (Right / left / right) 1 & 2
Turning ¼ to left, Man now dances a second chasse’ (rightt / left / right) having
Passed the Lady under his raised left arm
Lady dances under Man’s raised left arm – turning ¾ turn to the right, she
Dances a chasse’ to face Man – end in Open Position 3 & 4
Couple is now in Open Facing Position with a one-hand hold
Both partners now dance a normal back rock facing one another 5, 6
Reverse (Inside) Under-arm Turn with ‘Simple Rhythm’ Natural Under-arm Ending: (Begin in Open Facing Position with normal one-hand hold)
Turning ¼ to right, Man dances chasse’ to his left leading Lady to pass under
His raised left arm
Turning ¼ to left, and passing in front of Man (Back to Front), Lady dances
chasse’ to her right and begins to pass under the Man’s raised left arm 1 & 2
Turning 1/8 more to the right, Man dances another chasse’ to his right
Lady continues to turn another 1/8 to left, and dances another chasse’
To her left to face Man 3 & 4
At this point, couple could dance a normal back rock facing one another to end this pattern. However, we are going to add in a Natural Underarm Turn in ‘Simple Rhythm’ to end.
Man now dances two steps forward (left / right) along the Lady’s left side, while
Leading the Lady to turn to her right under his raised left arm
Turning to the right, and passing under the Man’s raised left arm, Lady dances
a pivot turn back right / forward left for one full turn to face Man 5, 6
Couple now dances their normal back rock in Open Facing Position 7, 8
Closed Lindy Turn:
Both partners dance the first Chasse’ of a Closed Basic turning to the right.
However, Man will come around the Lady a little more, and will ‘close’
To her
Lady dances her normal chasse’ to the right 1 & 2
Continuing to rotate strongly to the right, Man now crosses his right foot
Behind his left and then steps side left
Curving strongly to the right, Lady dances forward – between the Man’s feet
(In Line) – for two steps – left / right 3, 4
Both partners now dance their normal second chasse’ (as in the Closed Basic
Described above), and their normal back rock in PP 5 & 6, 7, 8
NOTE: Partners may choose to separate while dancing the second chasse to end in Open Facing Position.
Lindy Turn with Hand Change Spin:
Man’s foot movements will be exactly the same as described in the Closed
Basic Lindy Turn above. At the end of the first chasse’, however,
he will place the Lady’s right arm behind her back and grasp it with his
right hand. On the ‘Walk – Walk’ of the Lindy turn, he will lead the Lady
to turn to her right to end in open facing position. He will then change
hand-hold back to his normal left hand on the second chasse’
Lady will dance the first chasse’ as described in the Closed Basic Lindy Turn above.
She will begin to pivot to her right as Man leads her with her right hand
behind her back. Continuing to pivot to the right, she will face the Man
and dance her second normal chasse’ to her left 1 & 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6, 7, 8
NOTE: This pattern can also be danced with a ‘Freeze’ at the end. We will examine this in class, but not here.
Boogie-Woogie Swivels from Hand Change Spin:
Man dances the Lindy Turn with Hand Change Spin as described above EXCEPT
He will NOT dance a normal chasse’ facing the Lady at the end – NOR will
He regain normal hand hold at the end. Instead, he will keep the Lady’s
Right hand in his right hand, he will lead the Lady to dance an extra turn on
Counts 5 & 6, and he will walk along her left side for two steps (Forward
right / back left) – turning ½ turn to his left – to end side by side
Lady dances the first part of the Lindy Turn with Hand Change Spin as described
Above for counts 1 & 2, 3, 4. When she reaches the counts of 5 & 6,
Whereat she normally danced a chasse’ to her left, Man will lead her to
dance an extra “triple-step” turn to her right. 1 & 2, 3, 4 5 & 6
Both partners now dance a normal back rock with their right foot(s). However, they are
Positioned side by side – Lady on Man’s right side – right hand in
Right hand hold – both on same foot 7, 8
The above seems like a real mouthful, and it is. However, taken one bite at a time, it’s not really as hard as it sounds.
Turning 1/8 to the right, both dancers dance a forward lock step (rt / lt / rt) 1 & 2
Turning ¼ to the left, both dancers dance a forward lock step (lt / rt / lt) 3 & 4
Both partners now dance three Boogie-Woogie Swivels (rt / lt / rt) 5, 6, 7
Man dances his left foot in place as he leads Lady to turn under his raised right
Arm. He then dances a back rock for 1, 2 as he leads the Lady to dance
A “Triple-step” turn for 1 & 2 (This is where the Man “fakes” back to
His normal foot)
Lady dances another swivel to her left and begins to dance a “triple-step” turn
to her left under the Man’s raised right arm. End in Open Facing
Position 8, 1 & 2
Both partners now dance their normal chasse’ to end facing – Man regains
Normal hand hold 3 & 4
Both partners now dance their normal facing back rocks 5, 6
