West Coast Swing
West Coast Swing · Level 1
- Time signature
- 4/4
Social tempos vary widely; part of the skill is matching the size and style of movement to the music.
Origin
A child of the Lindy Hop that grew up in California — smoothed out in the dance halls and studios of the 1940s and ’50s, and now the official state dance of California. Where East Coast Swing circles, West Coast dances in a slot.
Music
4/4 time — everything from traditional swing and blues to pop, funk, jazz, reggaeton, and hip-hop. The songs run a wide gamut, and the dance stretches to fit them.
Character
Elastic and smooth — a slotted dance of stretch and compression, with room to play with the music.
Figures
- 1
Right Side Pass
- 2
Left Side Pass
- 3
Sugar Push
- 4
Sugar Tuck
- 5
Fake Whip
Core Concepts
- Stretch & Compression
- Post and Anchors
- Pass / Push / Whip categories
- Walks and Triples
- Slot Dance
- Music interpretation across multiple genres
- Open / Closed Position transitions
- Hand Holds
- Floorcraft
- Partner awareness
- Basic etiquette
Elsewhere in West Coast Swing
Want to learn the West Coast Swing?
Every figure on this page is taught in the studio, one lesson at a time.