Why Do You Like To West Coast Swing???

[Vince A]

I just did a quickie search and saw that we've touched all around WCS - arms, music, connection, 10 steps to better WCS, but we've never said why we like to WCS.

For me . . . it's all about expression. Expression of dance through the music being played that can be done with a partner OR by myself!

Why do you WCS?

[jon]

In the past I would have said, because I like the music :-(. These days it's because I still want to swing dance, and in the increasingly vain hope of stumbling into an event without so much pop music.

The Lindy dance community is too young for someone my age to really fit into, although I very much like much of their music and some of the directions Lindy has been evolving, and most of their events are too far away (San Francisco).

[dmacbean]

:D
Of all the dances I've learned over many years, west coast is the most expressive I've encountered, with a partner. It goes with the top 40 tunes of the day, past groovy, mellow sounds etc. So much to choose from.
It has many interpretations and expressions, one can never stop expanding the limits.
This is another way that a skill can be heightened to an art.

doug

[pygmalion]

Hi dmacbean! Welcome. :D

[Spitfire]

Ok, as I said I would in an earlier thread I'm giving WCS that "2nd effort".

Now, I've only been to two classes - there's a newer instructor now; I didn't like the previous one and I will attend as regularly as I can. Wednesday is WCS night at the studio.

I must say that I really enjoyed this class; the instructor made things easy and for once I was in a class that was not being taught by someone who demanded absolute perfection down to the smallest detail-something d nice commented on earlier.

Let er' swing baby! 8) :mrgreen:

Oh, and welcome aboard dmacbean. :D

[Vince A]

Just remember that "perfection" shouldn't exist in dancing . . . as we "are humans," and as such, we do make mistakes.

Forget about being perfect and your WCS dancing will skyrocket . . . however, give it time to develop . . . it is a strict dance!

[DancingMommy]

I love WCS because I love R&B and the two just go well together. :)

[d nice]

I like it because of the freedom allowed in it.

I was explaining to Vince that Lindy Hop is like a Haiku, has some very specific elements that must be present in the artistic expression, but West Coast is more like free-verse, far fewer restrictions in its street form.

[Spitfire]

Just remember that "perfection" shouldn't exist in dancing . . . as we "are humans," and as such, we do make mistakes.

Forget about being perfect and your WCS dancing will skyroocket . . . however, give it time to develop . . . it is a strict dance!

Couldn't agree more Vince; no perfection just excellence which for me means enjoyment. :wink:

[dancin/dj]

i luv the music variety-u can dance too the blues-funk-hip hop-some forms off jazz-and some disco, each of these brings a different expression and when you feel good in the basic timing you can play with this dance sooooooooooooooooooooo much, i luv too see the ladies get sassy-sexy- playful-funky etc.

[dragon3085]

Its a fun slinky little dance that. Plus with it and hustle you can dance to a lot of the pop music played at most clubs. (at least here)

[dancin/dj]

Its a fun slinky little dance that. Plus with it and hustle you can dance to a lot of the pop music played at most clubs. (at least here) same in phila and new jersey-dragon 8)

[TemptressToo]

No I don't like the West Coast Swing. I've had lessons and I simply don't like it. Perhaps it is because I really don't like the music. ;) I prefer East Coast.

[Hank]

WCS has a flirtatious and playful feel that comes from the elastic nature of leverage and compression (Yes, I want you -- No, I don't). I enjoy wcs much more when the music is slow and bluesy than fast and funky because it fits the undulating, slinky, in-and-out characteristic of the dance.

[SDsalsaguy]

I'm more in line with Hank's view... I really like slower, sultry, slinky WCS. "New" funky style just doesn't do anything for me.

For me the slinkiness/sultriness of WCS apeals to the same sensuality I love in salsa (where I also prefer slow-medium vs. fast tempi).

[virginiadancegirl]

this may sound redundant, but I love dancing for the attention I get (I'm really kinda reserved when not on the dance floor)...amd in WCS, I just get sexy, and feisty, and fun!! It really gives me a chance to do some stuff I'd never do any other way...(like flirting, without my husband getting mad!!lol)

[Spitfire]

WCS has a flirtatious and playful feel that comes from the elastic nature of leverage and compression (Yes, I want you -- No, I don't). I enjoy wcs much more when the music is slow and bluesy than fast and funky because it fits the undulating, slinky, in-and-out characteristic of the dance.

Just what I'm noticing from learning. 8)

[alfborge]

This thread made me want to learn WCS. Too bad they don't teach it here in Norway. I did take a course with Mr. Buddy Schwimmer about 2 years ago, but I've mostly forgot what he was teaching there. (Or rather I've translated it to Lindy and use it there instead :)

[DWise1]

No I don't like the West Coast Swing. I've had lessons and I simply don't like it. Perhaps it is because I really don't like the music. ;) I prefer East Coast.
I agree regarding the music. I did about a half-year of WCS lessons, during which time I finally started to hear the beat and get the rhythm from the music (a very major break-through for me). But it's the ECS/Lindy music that makes it impossible for me to sit still.

However, it's almost impossible to find swing music on the radio and in venues here (in Orange County, CA -- though the venues are starting to grow again), whereas WCS-friendly music is more abundant. I have started back with WCS and even started learning Hustle and Nightclub Two-Step (even though I feel fortunate to have missed Disco the first time around), just so I can get more dancing in. There's just a wider range of music that you can dance WCS to than Lindy -- the other night we did WCS to Queen's "Another One Bites The Dust" [guessing the title] and it worked out very well; I cannot even begin to figure out how to do Lindy to the same song.

Besides, I have this foolish notion of learning WCS moves and adapting them to Lindy. Because my dancing passion is still for Lindy.

[Spitfire]

The thing that I initially did not like about WCS is now what I do appreciate about it and that is the emphasis on the slot and keeping the arms and elbows in - at least as much as is possible. What I appreciate about it is that it makes for minimum use of space and this makes a lot of sense on a crowded dance floor.

[Genesius Redux]

...Because it's just too cool for words.

It's a literally laid-back dance. Love that sense of power, like a gigantic Lincoln Continental just purring in place or moving slow, because it doesn't really have to move at all. Like a heavyweight boxer strolling casually through the park. Like the old Basie orchestra playing slow and right on the beat--because it's actually cooler to do that than syncopate. Like a great cigar on a fine summer night. Like making love, leisurely, with the windows open, on a warm, lazy afternoon.

And any dance you can do with a drink in your hand is a great dance to me! :wink:

[etchuck]

Besides, I have this foolish notion of learning WCS moves and adapting them to Lindy. Because my dancing passion is still for Lindy.

I certainly agree that musically, lindy is very retro while WCS tends to be as close to contemporary as you can get. Certainly there's a wide range of music that opens up once you learn WCS, and you can even attract college age kids to dancing it if you pick the right music and have them notice you're partner dancing while doing hip grinding.

When you find out how to do hip grinds in Lindy, please send me a note. :)

[swinginstyle]

I enjoy West Coast because it fits contemporary music, it's elegant, men are men, and women are women. To me, lindy seems to be like we're kids again. West Coast seems to be "we're adults". I don't know how else to explain it. This was the first dance where I learned how to truly express myself on the dance floor. It's awesome.

[DWise1]

Besides, I have this foolish notion of learning WCS moves and adapting them to Lindy. Because my dancing passion is still for Lindy.

I certainly agree that musically, lindy is very retro while WCS tends to be as close to contemporary as you can get. Certainly there's a wide range of music that opens up once you learn WCS, and you can even attract college age kids to dancing it if you pick the right music and have them notice you're partner dancing while doing hip grinding.

When you find out how to do hip grinds in Lindy, please send me a note. :)
Actually, my 52-year-old hip grinds quite well on its own even just when I walk; I'm not sure where the shavings are going, though.

Though in re: turning a non-partner dance into a partner dance, as soon as my wife taught me the basic side-touch-side-touch rock dance step (kind of a narrower-stance Tacky Annie without the & before the 8), I started throwing in some ECS-style moves. Very early on in our various beginner classes I noticed that different dances tended to have very similar moves, so I've naturally kept my eye open for how a new move could be made to work in other dances as well.

I have also found that it's a narrower selection of music and of tempos that you can Lindy to, which is one reason why I'm returning to WCS plus a few others (long involved story that I won't bore you with unless you're interested; http://members.aol.com/dwise1/dance/history.html ). I have also found that WCS is applicable to a very wide selection of music; as I already noted elsewhere, we danced it to Queen's "Another one Bites the Dust" and it work great! Plus, when my hip has ground down far enough I'll need to start taking it easier.

[Bob]

Actually, my 52-year-old hip grinds quite well on its own even just when I walk;

heh!

When your hip grinds far enough, maybe you will have an organ grinder (eek!).

[etchuck]

I have also found that it's a narrower selection of music and of tempos that you can Lindy to, which is one reason why I'm returning to WCS plus a few others (long involved story that I won't bore you with unless you're interested; http://members.aol.com/dwise1/dance/history.html ). I have also found that WCS is applicable to a very wide selection of music; as I already noted elsewhere, we danced it to Queen's "Another one Bites the Dust" and it work great! Plus, when my hip has ground down far enough I'll need to start taking it easier.

Yes, I tend to agree with that. If enough teenagers decide that WCS is as cool as lindy/ECS (cf my response for "learning to dance for Prom"), then maybe...

Heck, I challenged the kids in my group to dance WCS to "In Da Club" by 50 Cent. Instrumental version. My dance colleague likes WCS to "Sexy M.F." by Prince. Bet you won't hear those at a social ballroom dance.

[d nice]

I have also found that it's a narrower selection of music and of tempos that you can Lindy to...

Narrow tempo range? Hmmm... I'm not sure I'd call a range of 200 bpm narrow. I can't think of any other dance that has as wide a range, as matter of fact.

Now the narrow genre I'd agree with, the music must actually swing and be rhythmically driven for it to work for Lindy Hop, but since all Swing, a significant amount of Jazz and Blues, a good section of early Rhythm and Blues, and narrow swatches of RnR, Soul, and Hip Hop fit, I think it is wide enough to enjoy just about anywhere.

[dancin/dj]

i love w/c sooooooooooooooooooo much ,you can play with this dance more than any other (in my opinion) the ladies can be sexy-fun-in your face- etc,and the music is so versatile- hip hop- blues-disco(some forms) jazz-some forms) you can bring your own flavor to it , and it does not have all the drama and contraversy as other dances like- on 1 or 2 in salsa(i love salsa) its not as strict as ny style hustle -which i do (you can break into freedom in hustle too if the person is not into the strict and 1 thing.anyway its really a great dance and i think its a ladys choice dance overall once they really feel it and can play :)

[DWise1]

I have also found that it's a narrower selection of music and of tempos that you can Lindy to...

Narrow tempo range? Hmmm... I'm not sure I'd call a range of 200 bpm narrow. I can't think of any other dance that has as wide a range, as matter of fact.

Now the narrow genre I'd agree with, the music must actually swing and be rhythmically driven for it to work for Lindy Hop, but since all Swing, a significant amount of Jazz and Blues, a good section of early Rhythm and Blues, and narrow swatches of RnR, Soul, and Hip Hop fit, I think it is wide enough to enjoy just about anywhere.
I threw that reference to tempo in at the last moment, thinking more of the lower end, in that I've found WCS to still work well in slower songs, whereas in Lindy/ECS it felt like we were having to push it -- but then after I've gain more experience I might not think so.

[DWise1]

i love w/c sooooooooooooooooooo much ,you can play with this dance more than any other (in my opinion) the ladies can be sexy-fun-in your face- etc,and the music is so versatile- hip hop- blues-disco(some forms) jazz-some forms) you can bring your own flavor to it , and it does not have all the drama and contraversy as other dances like- on 1 or 2 in salsa(i love salsa) its not as strict as ny style hustle -which i do (you can break into freedom in hustle too if the person is not into the strict and 1 thing.anyway its really a great dance and i think its a ladys choice dance overall once they really feel it and can play :)
In WCS, we guys were taught that our job is to provide our partner with opportunity to play and to do her syncopations. And that when she looks good, we get half the credit (basically for just standing there).

[jon]

...and it does not have all the drama and contraversy as other dances like- on 1 or 2 in salsa

WCS has plenty of issues pursued with as much religious fervor as on1 vs. on2. "Funky" vs. traditional music; age limits in competitions; coaster steps vs. anchors (OK, the coaster-step supporters have been pretty well exterminated by now). And the ever-popular dance club politics.

Look into the Usenet rec.arts.dance newsgroup sometime, it's pretty much down to nothing but complaints about how competitions are run and judged mixed with internecine dance club warfare between various LA area dancers.

[dancin/dj]

i love w/c sooooooooooooooooooo much ,you can play with this dance more than any other (in my opinion) the ladies can be sexy-fun-in your face- etc,and the music is so versatile- hip hop- blues-disco(some forms) jazz-some forms) you can bring your own flavor to it , and it does not have all the drama and contraversy as other dances like- on 1 or 2 in salsa(i love salsa) its not as strict as ny style hustle -which i do (you can break into freedom in hustle too if the person is not into the strict and 1 thing.anyway its really a great dance and i think its a ladys choice dance overall once they really feel it and can play :)
In WCS, we guys were taught that our job is to provide our partner with opportunity to play and to do her syncopations. And that when she looks good, we get half the credit (basically for just standing there). thats true dwise1 with the guy thing but we can play also/ i like the 50/50 thing sometimes- i play you play 8)

[dancin/dj]

...and it does not have all the drama and contraversy as other dances like- on 1 or 2 in salsa

WCS has plenty of issues pursued with as much religious fervor as on1 vs. on2. "Funky" vs. traditional music; age limits in competitions; coaster steps vs. anchors (OK, the coaster-step supporters have been pretty well exterminated by now). And the ever-popular dance club politics.

Look into the Usenet rec.arts.dance newsgroup sometime, it's pretty much down to nothing but complaints about how competitions are run and judged mixed with internecine dance club warfare between various LA area dancers. hello jon, i dont dance out your way-but you taught me something i was not aware of-but out here-phila-new jersey-baltimore/dc and ny-this is (not going on at all) so im coming from that place,but thanks for the down low-tsk- tsk to those folks out there in the drama.ps im not saying there are no snobs in w/c out here,there are some.

[jon]

thats true dwise1 with the guy thing but we can play also/ i like the 50/50 thing sometimes- i play you play 8)

I play you play they play = Fourplay?

[Vince A]

I have also found that it's a narrower selection of music and of tempos that you can Lindy to...

Narrow tempo range? Hmmm... I'm not sure I'd call a range of 200 bpm narrow. I can't think of any other dance that has as wide a range, as matter of fact.

Now the narrow genre I'd agree with, the music must actually swing and be rhythmically driven for it to work for Lindy Hop, but since all Swing, a significant amount of Jazz and Blues, a good section of early Rhythm and Blues, and narrow swatches of RnR, Soul, and Hip Hop fit, I think it is wide enough to enjoy just about anywhere.
Not to mention Country & Western and many Reggae songs . . .

[DWise1]

thats true dwise1 with the guy thing but we can play also/ i like the 50/50 thing sometimes- i play you play 8)

I play you play they play = Fourplay?
Actually, I've seen a couple examples of three-play recently (ie, one lead and two follows), but that was Lindy. And in open position.

[Vince A]

In WCS, we guys were taught that our job is to provide our partner with opportunity to play and to do her syncopations. And that when she looks good, we get half the credit (basically for just standing there).
Although I understand what you are saying here, I tend to disagree. What if she doesn't play? Or syncopate? What if she doesn't look good? Do you still want half the credit?

I'm not trying to blow you off here. You are correct, but I wanted to say it somewhat differently!

My job is get her to move in the direction I want her to go in, on or off the slot, and the rest is up to her . . . she can do anything she wants to do in between - play, syncopate, scratch her hairy chest, or even just stand there - as long as somewhere, when she is done, she gives me an anchor so we can do it again.

For instance, if I start back on ct1 and she follows, and on ct2, I step off the slot to my left and bring her towards my right side and lift my left arm up and her right arm comes up . . . she should immediately know this is a right-side-pass . . . and she should know what to do with the rest of the move. If she plays, or syncopates, or hi-jacks me, that is fine . . as long as she eventually gets back to an anchor whether it is ct6 or ct36.

And half the credit??? Nah, I play too - ALL THE TIME - that is what makes WCS! We make each other look good. We compliment each other. She works at playing with me, and I work at playing with her. The can be full of mistakes . . . who cares? That's the fun of it . . . it is just a dance. Make it fun, and it will be a memorable dance for her. And as long as you get the credit . . . from her . . . then you HAVE "done your job."

[etchuck]

thats true dwise1 with the guy thing but we can play also/ i like the 50/50 thing sometimes- i play you play 8)

I play you play they play = Fourplay?
Actually, I've seen a couple examples of three-play recently (ie, one lead and two follows), but that was Lindy. And in open position.

Eh... go to my photogallery website. The most popular picture is Peter leading Jam and Laura in 3-way WCS. I have video, but you'll just have to wait until I get my own server. :)

[Vince A]

Eh... go to my photogallery website. The most popular picture is Peter leading Jam and Laura in 3-way WCS. I have video, but you'll just have to wait until I get my own server. :)
Yep . . . three-ways are fun . . . two girls, one guy - leading them both is challenging - or two guys and one girl -with the two guys passing the girl back and forth and catching her w/o losing a step or beat!!! Great in Hustle too!

[DWise1]

In WCS, we guys were taught that our job is to provide our partner with opportunity to play and to do her syncopations. And that when she looks good, we get half the credit (basically for just standing there).
Although I understand what you are saying here, I tend to disagree. What if she doesn't play? Or syncopate? What if she doesn't look good? Do you still want half the credit?

I'm not trying to blow you off here. You are correct, but I wanted to say it somewhat differently!

My job is get her to move in the direction I want her to go in, on or off the slot, and the rest is up to her . . . she can do anything she wants to do in between - play, syncopate, scratch her hairy chest, or even just stand there - as long as somewhere, when she is done, she gives me an anchor so we can do it again.

For instance, if I start back on ct1 and she follows, and on ct2, I step off the slot to my left and bring her towards my right side and lift my left arm up and her right arm comes up . . . she should immediately know this is a right-side-pass . . . and she should know what to do with the rest of the move. If she plays, or syncopates, or hi-jacks me, that is fine . . as long as she eventually gets back to an anchor whether it is ct6 or ct36.

And half the credit??? Nah, I play too - ALL THE TIME - that is what makes WCS! We make each other look good. We compliment each other. She works at playing with me, and I work at playing with her. The can be full of mistakes . . . who cares? That's the fun of it . . . it is just a dance. Make it fun, and it will be a memorable dance for her. And as long as you get the credit . . . from her . . . then you HAVE "done your job."
You're right. Guess I'm just too whipped (WCS pun being the intent here).

Actually, I'm just not up to that level yet in WCS. I had done several intermediate classes about 2 years ago, but that was while (and where) I was learning rhythm and how to hear and follow the music. Then I've spent most of the past 1.25 years concentrating on Lindy and have started returning to WCS part-time in the past couple months. I only remember the basics and a few intermediate moves (though I do them fairly well -- I'm still having difficulties leading the Lindy swingouts, but I still have the WCS whips nailed even after a 1.25 year absense). So I just don't know enough yet to know how to play and I cannot schedule any intermediate WCS classes until mid-May when my college night class ends.

Besides, I'm still enough of a beginner that one of my main concerns is to not screw her up with my mistakes. OK, so I guess that does mean that I am too whipped.

[Vince A]

Besides, I'm still enough of a beginner that one of my main concerns is to not screw her up with my mistakes. OK, so I guess that does mean that I am too whipped.
Mistakes will always happen . . . remember, if you are not making mistakes, you are not doing anything! Yo are where you should be . . . and you're probably much further along in Lindy than me.

And "too whipped?" Absolutely . . . and if you continue whipping, just like cream . . . you too will rise to the top!

[dancin/dj]

thats true dwise1 with the guy thing but we can play also/ i like the 50/50 thing sometimes- i play you play 8)

I play you play they play = Fourplay? lol :lol:

[jon]

lol :lol:

BTW, that was sort of an in-joke - "Fourplay" is the name of a choreographed WCS sequence for two couples involving frequent partner swaps. Well known ~7 years ago.

[Vince A]

BTW, that was sort of an in-joke - "Fourplay" is the name of a choreographed WCS sequence for two couples involving frequent partner swaps. Well known ~7 years ago.
Was it that long ago??? I remember it well, but maybe not well enough to actually do it!

[swinginstyle]

who currently teaches it?

[jon]

who currently teaches it?

Haven't heard of anyone teaching it in a while, or seen anyone doing it. It was a novelty. But I think it can be found on one of Carrie Lucas' videos.

[Johnny Shoe Shine]

mmm...Carla...(drool) Gotta love westie with Carla! (Chicago)

[pygmalion]

Welcome, Johnny Shoe Shine. :D

[Sagitta]

Welcome to df Johnny Shoe Shine!! Glad to have you with us. :D

[fashionlady]

I really like WCS because it allows me to be flirty....something I don't think is as possible with ECS or other ballroom dances. Plus the music that goes with it is a lot more cool than ECS. Not to mentioned the footwork is more fun!
Someone may have already said this in the thread but I don't have time to read every single page, since I just joined and this thread has been going for a while. Hopefully, I'm the first! :D

[Spitfire]

I'm certainly getting more of an education with body leads by learning WCS; it is this dance where I see it emphasized the most. :wink:

[Sagitta]

Well..WCS is not really my thing, but perhaps it will grow onto me, like so many others have done? :)

[Spitfire]

Well..WCS is not really my thing, but perhaps it will grow onto me, like so many others have done? :)

That's what I thought as well Sagitta; I originally wrote it off as not being my kind of dance. Give it a shot and see. :)

[Genesius Redux]

"Welcome, Shoeshine Boy. You're humble and loveable."

"Bless you, sir!" (Chomp!)

(How many people are going to get that reference? :wink:

[Swing Kitten]

you're an Underdog fan?

[Genesius Redux]

you're an Underdog fan?

8)

"The secret compartment of my ring I fill
With an underdog super energy pill!"

"When Polly's in trouble I am not slow,
It's hip, hip, hip, and away I go!"

[Spitfire]

Someone earlier made a post relating that after learning lindy it made ECS seem like "plain vanilla dancing". I will now freely admit that WCS has made me feel the same way, but I'll still enjoy doing ECS.

I may prefer chocolate, but also love vanilla. :mrgreen: