West Coast Swing
West Coast Swing · Level 3
- 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
Add Steps
- 2
Remove Steps
- 3
Rock n Go
- 4
Continuous Movement
- 5
Traveling Anchors
Advanced Content
- Complex variations of basic patterns (Rolling Count, Double Spin variations)
- Advanced Whips and pattern variations
- Incorporating dips and tricks safely
Styling
- Anchor Wheel
- Change of Height
- Extra Turn variations
- Body-part isolation
Skills
- Advanced phrasing
- Improvisation
- Dynamic musicality
- Seamless transitions
- Genre adaptation
- Nonverbal communication
- Showmanship
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.