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West-Coast Swing
- Author:
- Dave Watson
- Date Published:
- May 2, 2005
West-Coast Swing is a “street” dance; basically, if it works, and your partner likes it, and it looks musical, it’s good to go. Although other dancers may treat these patterns slightly differently, the following is a basic understanding of some of the movements which are fundamental to this dance.
COUNT:
Four-Count Starter Step: (Begin in Closed Position)
As the name implies, this is the Basic pattern that most couples would use to start their dance. Because it does not begin with either a Rock Step or a ‘Walk – Walk’, the pattern only has four beats. Hence the name.
Beginning with his left foot, Man dances a small “triple-step” chasse’
(Side / together / side) to his left
Beginning with her right foot, Lady dances a small “triple-step” chasse’
(Side / together / side) to her right 1 & 2
Man now dances a small “triple-step” chasse’ to his right (rt. / lt. / rt.)
Lady now dances a small “triple-step” chasse’ to her left (lt. / rt. / lt.) 3 & 4
Couple is now ready to dance their normal Back Rock to continue with a Basic Turning, or a Throwout. Usually there is no turn danced over the course of these four counts.
Basic Turning: (Begin in Closed Position)
Both partners dance a Back Rock in CBMP 1, 2
Beginning with his left foot, Man dances a “triple-step” chasse’
(side / together / side) to his left curving slightly to his right
around the Lady
Beginning with her right foot, Lady dances a “triple-step” chasse’
(side / together / side) to her right 3 & 4
Continuing to turn to his right, Man now dances a “triple-step” chasse’
(right / left / right) to his right
Continuing to turn to her right and moving around Man into his arm,
Lady dances a “triple-step” chasse’ (left / right / left) to her left 5 & 6
Couple has turned approximately ½ turn to the right
Throwout: (Begin in Closed Position)
Both partners dance their normal Back Rocks in CBMP;
Man: left back / replace to right foot
Lady: right foot back / replace to left foot 1, 2
Leading the Lady to dance a running triple forward, Man dances a very
small “triple-step” chasse’ in place – release right hand from Lady’s
back
Beginning with her right foot, Lady dances a running triple:
3) right foot forward down the slot away from Man
&) left foot forward and across right foot as body begins to turn to left
4) right foot to side, then allow it to turn to face Man 3 & 4
Both partners now dance their normal Anchor steps as described below under:
Underarm Pass - 5 & 6
Couple is now in Open Facing Position, and can continue with any Open Position Slot pattern.
Although this is the Basic pattern for releasing from Closed Position back into the Open Position of the Slot, it lacks power and style. More experienced dancers will prefer to dance the ‘Slingshot’ version of this pattern. It’s basically the same with only one slight difference: the Man begin with a Side Rock instead of a Back Rock.
Slingshot: (Begin in Closed Position)
While leading Lady to dance her normal Back rock, man turns his body to
be parallel to the Slot, and perpendicular to the Lady, and he dances
away from Lady with a Side Rock down the Slot.
Lady dances her normal Back Rock in CBMP 1, 2
Continue with the last four beats of the Throwout as described above 3 & 4 – 5 & 6
Again, the Basic understanding of the Slingshot is as described above. However, more experienced Gentlemen may wish to dance a small ‘5th Position Break’ instead of their first chasse’ (3 & 4) as they “throw” the Lady out into the Slot.
Four-Count Spring-Away: (Begin in Closed Position)
This is just a slightly more advanced way to dance your Starter Step.
Man leads Lady to dance a very small chasse’ to her right by rotating his
body slightly to the left. Man dances a very tight 5th Position Break
instead of his first chasse’
Lady dances a very small chasse’ to her right, turning her body slightly to
the left 1 & 2
Man now dances a quick Back Rock (right back / replace to left) leading
Lady to dance her Back Rock straight away from him (Spring-Away)
Lady dances a quick Back Rock (left back / replace to right) – (Spring-Away) 3 &
Man now rotates his body slightly to the right which leads the Lady to step
To her left – Man dances right foot close to left foot
Lady dances left foot side (small step) 4
Follow with any of the patterns that would normally release the couple from Closed Position to Open Position (Slot). HOWEVER, Man will always dance a SIDE ROCK on the next movement instead of his normal Back Rock (as in SLINGSHOT described above).
Reverse Underarm Turn From Closed Position To Open Position: (begin in Closed Position)
Both partners dance the first two steps of the SLINGSHOT as described above:
Man dances a Side Rock (left / right) – Lady dances normal Back Rock (right / left) 1, 2
Leading Lady to move down the Slot by rotating his body slightly to the left,
and “leaning” his body weight to the left,, Man dances a tight 5th
Position Break (as in the Four-Count Spring-Away described above)
Man lifts his left arm up and back leading Lady to turn to her left under
his raised left arm
Lady will immediately begin turning to her left under the Man’s raised left
arm as she dances a chaine’ (quick tight pivot) turn for approximately
one and ½ turns to the left. She will end up facing the Man at the end
of the Slot 3 & 4
Both partners now dance their normal Anchor steps as described below under
Underarm Pass 5 & 6
Back Throwout: (begin in Closed Position)
This is really nothing more than a Basic Push starting in Closed Dance Position. However, it should be styled such that it looks like a “surprise” to the Lady and to anyone who might be watching.
Both partners dance the first two steps of the Slingshot as described above 1, 2
Initially leading the Lady as if he wanted her to continue into a Throwout,
Man quickly switches his rotation and dances a “Point” forward (left foot)
Outside Partner on the Lady’s left side, and ‘checks’ the Lady’s forward
progress as in a Basic Push (Man will not syncopate – he will tap on ‘1’,
but will lead Lady to dance ‘1 &’)
Lady begins to dance forward as if she were heading out in a Throwout, but the
Man blocks her and causes her to dance a very quick forward rock
(ball of right foot forward / left foot back) 3 &
Man takes a small step forward left as he continues to lead the Lady to back
away from him – release right hand from Lady’s back
Lady dances back strongly on her right foot 4
Both partners now dance their normal Anchor Steps as described below under
Underarm Pass 5 & 6
As Man begins this pattern, he might look down the Slot which will indicate to the Lady (and any possible audience) that he is about to send the Lady out into a normal Throwout. He then quickly shifts his look as he ‘blocks’ the Lady from continuing – thereby leading her to go backward.
‘Tuck’ Natural Underarm from Closed Position To Open Position: (Begin in Closed Position)
Both partners dance the first two steps of the Slingshot as described above 1, 2
Man now dances a “triple-step” in place (he may elect to dance a very tight
5th Position Break), while leading Lady to close her Body to him ('Tuck-In')
by lifting his arm up and toward himself
lady dances a very small chasse’ to her right (right / left / right) as she
turns her body leftward to the Man ('Tuck-In') 3 & 4
Leading Lady to turn to the right under his raised left arm, Man releases
his right hand from Lady’s back, and dances a small chasse’ to the
right turning ¼ turn to the left to face Lady at end of Slot
Lady dances a chasse’ to her left turning ¼ to her right to face Man at end
of Slot 5 & 6
Additional turn may be made by the Lady so that she turns one and ¼ to her right.
NOTE: There is no normal Anchor Step at the completion of this pattern. After finishing the Lady’s turn (and the Man’s chasse’), partners should be ready to dance into their next movement which comes from Open Position (Slot).
UNDER-ARM PASS: Begin in OPEN FACING position – Lady’s right hand
connected to Man’s left hand.
LADY: Begin with right foot.
Step forward with the right foot. (A lot of dancers prefer a heel lead here –
some do not. The important thing is to make sure that your weight is over
your foot well and that you are committing your weight to the next forward
movement [no “water skiing”].)
MAN: Begin with left foot.
Step back with the left foot leading Lady to come forward towards you.
NOTE: Although you are connected through the arms, avoid tugging on
the arms. It is the man’s body weight that should lead the Lady down the
slot. Many Gentlemen dancers will take a side step on their first step; this is
perfectly acceptable if (and only if) the Man is able to still lead the Lady by
taking his body weight back. 1
LADY: Step forward with the left foot on your second step. (Always remember
that you “own” the slot; never wander off your line or go around the Man
without a definite lead.)
MAN: Step forward with your right foot -- raise your left hand across your face,
And turn your body slightly towards the Lady as you lead the Lady to pass
by you on your right side. (Remember to drift slightly to your left to give
the lady room to pass by you as she moves down the slot.) 2
LADY: Beginning with the right foot, execute a “running” triple turning slightly
to your left and passing under your own arm.
A) right foot forward
B) left foot forward and across (turning slightly to your left)
C) right foot side – face the Man (step is taken sideways down the
slot, it will become a back step as you face the Man and allow
your body to complete it’s turn)
MAN: Beginning with the left foot, execute a triple step in place, turning ½ turn
To your right to face the Lady. 3 & 4
At this point, the Lady has passed by the Man and passed under her own arm. Lady
is now at the opposite end of the slot from where she started. Both partners have
turned ½ turn to face one another. You are now ready to dance your “anchor”.
LADY: Left foot anchor step. -- MAN: Right foot anchor step.
(An “ANCHOR” step is nothing more than a triple step in place allowing the
body weight to “anchor” back against the connected arms.)
FOR LADY:
A) Left foot close to right foot slightly behind the right foot -- apply
Pressure to the ball of the left foot, but not full weight.
B) Very quickly, replace weight to the right foot without allowing
either foot to move.
C) Shift your full body weight to the left foot and settle the left hip
as you complete the transfer of weight and begin your next forward
step into your next pattern.
FOR GENTLEMEN: Do the exact same thing on the opposite feet. 5&6
Basic Push (Sugar Push) (Begin in Open Facing Posititon)
Man steps back left leading Lady to come forward towards him
Lady steps forward right 1
Man now closes right to left – Lady steps forward left 2
At this point, Lady has closed the gap between partners. They are now very close, and the arms are ‘compressed’ like springs, ready for both partners to “PUSH” away.
Man dances a triple step in place (left foot slightly behind right)
Lady dances a ‘French Cross’ (Lady will cross her right foot behind her left tightly as she begins to push herself back away from the Man. She then turns her body slightly to the right and crosses her left foot across her right while traveling back away from Man. She now steps side right and turns to face Man) 3 & 4
Both partners now dance their Anchor Steps 5 & 6
Since the “Push” is a basic step, it is more frequently taught with both partners dancing a “Tap – Step” for counts 3 – 4, instead of the triple step count (and French Cross) that we have used. The ‘Tap-Step method is fine, but the French Cross is more rhythmical, and a little more advanced. We will use the ‘Tap – Step’ rhythm on this next pattern:
Push with Tuck Underarm: (Begin in Open Facing Position)
Dance the first two steps of the Basic Push as described above EXCEPT Man will raise his left hand (and Lady’s right hand) up and back to his left shoulder 1,2
Both partners now Tap their free foot back and slightly to the side (Man’s left foot – Lady’s right foot) and press their weights into the connected raised hand 3
Man now steps slightly forward with his left foot while leading Lady to turn to her right under his raised left arm and move away from Man
Lady turns to her right under Man’s raised left hand, and steps forward right away from Man 4
Both partners now dance their Anchor Steps (Lady will continue to turn ½ turn to her right on her Anchor Step to finish facing Man) 5 & 6
Basic Whip and Power Whip (begin in Open Facing Pos.)
Man rocks back, for. (lt., rt.) leading Lady to begin turning to her
Lt. at the end of 1 -- Lady walks for. rt., then steps sd. lt. 1, 2
As Man changes from back to forward at the end of 1, the
resistance between the connected arms will tell the
Lady to turn to her lt. as she takes her 2nd step.
(This is sometimes called a “piston” lead.)
Man rocks in place (lt., rt.) while leading Lady to do a “coaster
Step", then steps sd. w/ his lt. ft. across the slot as Lady finishes her
Coaster for. towards Man. -- Lady; back, tog., for. (rt., lt., rt.) [coaster] 3 & 4
The counts of 3 & are where the classic problems with this
part of the whip are found; Man has to “catch”, or anchor,
the Lady’s weight on the counts of 3 & while the Lady must
commit her weight backwards to the end of the slot. Only
after getting that “weighted” feel from the Lady can the
Man then step across the slot for the count of 4.
Man takes a very small step down the slot (rt.) then another step
towards* the Lady, but leading her away from him at the same time.
Lady steps sd. lt. moving down the slot then back rt. 5, 6
* (Man’s step [lt.] on 6 will adjust to the Lady’s movement;
it may be in place or even slightly back, depending on her movement.)
By the completion of count 6, couple must be re-connected
with weight through a “catch” kind of connection. (Preparing
for what some Swing dancers refer to as “Leverage”.)
Both dancers do an Anchor step 7 & 8
In order to make a regular basic whip into a “Power Whip”, Man will go a little further around the Lady on count 4, turning his body more to the rt. to face down the slot. He now slightly increases the pressure in his lt. arm to give the Lady a very solid lead down the slot. Lady, of course, must have a comparable connection.
OTHER PATTERNS THAT WILL UTILIZE THIS TECHNIQUE (to some degree) INCLUDE:
Surprise Whip
Freeze Whips
Advanced Basket -- or Lock – Whip
Back Throw-out
Syncopated Point Break (Begin in Open Facing Posititon):
Both partners dance first two steps of Basic Push as described above EXCEPT Man will take Lady’s left hand (in his right hand) down and turn it in slightly. This will cause both partners to turn slightly to Man’s left (Lady’s right) 1, 2
Both partners now point their free foot (Man’s left foot – Lady’s right) diagonally forward (to Man’s left – Lady’s right) 3
With their body weights “falling” toward their pointed foot, both partner now switch feet very rapidy & 4
When danced together, these last three actions are called a ‘Hitch Kick’ (with the ‘Kick’ being just a point in this instance). Partners are now side by side (Man’s right shoulder to Lady’s left shoulder) – Man is standing on his right foot – Lady on her left – two hand hold.
Both partners ‘RONDE’’ their free foot (Man’s left – Lady’s right) around from back to front to finish with it crossed tightly in front of the standing foot 5, 6
Both partners dance a very Quick TINY step back to complete the pattern &
A good finish to this pattern is to dance immediately into a Lock Whip (Basket Whip).
Left Sd. Pass to Lunge (begin in Open Facing Pos. w/ 2-hand hold)
Man steps either sd. or back left down the Slot leading Lady to start for. on her rt.
Man holds a beat (2) [he may tap his rt. ft. to lt.] – Lady continues
past Man on her lt. ft. 1, 2
Man accelerates (“throws”) Lady into sd. lunge on rt. ft. while
lunging himself to his rt. ft. &3
At this point both partners are sideways to the slot, both
Are lunging away from each other on their rt. ft.
Both dancers slowly pull up to face each other (still sideways to slot) 4 – 8
Both do small sd. rock (rt., lt.) – Lady begins to face slot on 2 - 1, 2
Up to here you’ve maintained a 2-hand hold. As you come
out of the sd. rock, Man will lift his lt. hand (Lady’s rt.) and
begin to guide the Lady to turn to her lt. Lady should now
recognize the rest of the pattern as 3 – 6 of a normal U’arm Pass.
Man takes 2 small steps back* curving to his rt. to face Lady (rt., lt.)
Lady does normal running triple to gradually turn to her lt. to face Man
(rt., lt., rt.) Man’s count; 3, 4
Lady’s count; 3 & 4
* See: * in notes above [first page; after counts 5, 6].
Note: Man is doing a “Fake-step” (straight timing – not syncopated).
Both finish with normal Anchor step 5 & 6
