Push Break, In Lindy?

[Spitfire]

Isn't there a move in Lindy similar to the push break or sugar push in WCS. Seems to me I've seen Lindy dancers do something very similar, but at closer quarters.

[Ray Sison]

Isn't there a move in Lindy similar to the push break or sugar push in WCS. Seems to me I've seen Lindy dancers do something very similar, but at closer quarters.

Spitfire, yes, indeed: Lindy has a Sugar Push among its basic figures...

[RenOrsino]

On the extremely technical side, I've heard it said that push-break is the West Coast term and Sugar Push the Lindy term for the same move.

The two are essentially the same dance with technical and stylistic differences, anyway. When I learned both dances, I was told that West Coast originated when Lindy Hoppers went to concert halls lacking a dance floor and the slot was created by dancing in the aisles. And while Lindy is most frequently taught and danced in 8 counts (at least in the scenes I've encountered), most 8 count moves can be done in 6 and at higher bpms, usually are.

[Steve Pastor]

have taken workshops from people such as Peter Loggins (top swing dance historian), Mia Goldsmith, Mike Faltesek, Sugar Sullivan, Sylvia Sikes. My teachers studied with Peter, Frankie Manning and so on.

Wondering if it was any of those folks that told you this...
West Coast originated when Lindy Hoppers went to concert halls lacking a dance floor and the slot was created by dancing in the aisles.

[jennyisdancing]

On the extremely technical side, I've heard it said that push-break is the West Coast term and Sugar Push the Lindy term for the same move.

The two are essentially the same dance with technical and stylistic differences, anyway. When I learned both dances, I was told that West Coast originated when Lindy Hoppers went to concert halls lacking a dance floor and the slot was created by dancing in the aisles. And while Lindy is most frequently taught and danced in 8 counts (at least in the scenes I've encountered), most 8 count moves can be done in 6 and at higher bpms, usually are.

The move is called a sugar push in West Coast, in my neck of the woods...seems to depend more on regional terms. Some parts of the country say "push break" and some regions say "sugar push" to mean the same thing in WCS.

[Steve Pastor]

Just reviewed my notes and added some new stuff, and I see the Skippy's thinking/teaching on the Push Break / Sugar Push has evolved over the decades.
She has most recently written

"Push Break: (similar to, but advanced version of SUGARPUSH)

Under historical she writes "Unfortunately, this pattern has frequently been taught as Pattern #1, which is far too early for anyone to learn compression. Without compression, the pattern simply keeps time."
...
"Many teachers who teach compression on "3" use the name Push Break to separate the two different versions. They see a Sugar Push as being done with a Tap Step as counts "3-4" and no compression on "3"."

There's more, of course, but this addresses the oft discussed question of what happened to the Sugar Push?
If you and your partner dance Skippy's verison, there is compression.


Dean Collins and Jewel McGowan do a superb old style Sugar Push in the film "Playmates" from 1942. Jewel doesn't so much walk in, as "sugar" in.

[Spitfire]

The move is called a sugar push in West Coast, in my neck of the woods...seems to depend more on regional terms. Some parts of the country say "push break" and some regions say "sugar push" to mean the same thing in WCS.

It's called both here; seems to depend on the person teaching it. Some instructors call it sugar push, others call it a push break.

[Spitfire]

At the dance last night the whip was being taught in a closed position variation. Tried it out and found it to be to my liking.

[kayak]

"Many teachers who teach compression on "3" use the name Push Break to separate the two different versions. They see a Sugar Push as being done with a Tap Step as counts "3-4" and no compression on "3"."

There's more, of course, but this addresses the oft discussed question of what happened to the Sugar Push?
If you and your partner dance Skippy's verison, there is compression.


I think there should be the same amount of compression and leverage building in a Sugar Push regardless of tripling or tapping the middle two beats. There does seem to be some "modernizing" of the point of compression by moving the arm angles up and switching the pressure point to the lady's palm via pressure from the back part of the guys fingers vs the traditional downward angle with the lady's hand compressing into his palm. Personally, the difference seems pretty minor and I just switch back and forth as I feel.

[Ray Sison]

At the dance last night the whip was being taught in a closed position variation. Tried it out and found it to be to my liking.

Very cool, SF! :cheers: