What Is The Appeal Of West Coast Swing?

[Vince A]

I've heard that the appeal of West Coast Swing is that "it's safe sex on the dance floor."

What is it about the dance that appeals to you?

[d nice]

The smooth groove that West Coast creates is a great feeling. I enjoy the intricate footwork I can do in the dance while staying connected with my partner in open position as we both improvise to the music.

[msc]

WCS allows you to do some fairly sophisticated partner dancing to all sorts of American music. It's a great social dance.

[MissAlyssa]

I love the music and tempo to WCS, I love the arm styling and the moves and I love that it's fast and intricate. I just learned a bad @ss silver pattern/dancesport today that is AWESOME. fun fun fun! :D

[Vince A]

Have any of you heard that it's a "disease . . . an addiction, but a healthy one" . . . ???

I'm not as relaxed or sure of myself as much as I am in WCS . . . maybe with the exception of . . . I hate to admit it . . . the 2 Step.

[d nice]

You call WCS fast? I like it because its slow. 135 bpm is as fast as you'll usually get from most DJs (not me mind you, but most).

[Vince A]

I agree . . there are "some fast songs" that I like to WCS to, but for the most part 124 - 140 bpm is what I want . . . I like to get down, slinky, and sensual . . . on the dance floor too!

[SDsalsaguy]

slinky, and sensual Definitely! It came as quite a surprise to me when I realized that, overall, dancing WCS is probably more similar to dancing salsa then any other dance...

For me, at least, part of the appeal (although I am a real novice at WCS) is that it has that slow sensuality to it and doesn't seem to be about aerobics and acrobatics, etc., in the way that many other forms of swing are. Also why I definitely prefer the older, slinkier style vs. the newer “funk” style I’ve been seeing pushed a lot over the past couple of years…

[Vince A]

SDsalsaguy,

WCS incorporates many dances; therefore, since it is an expression of the music being played, you can WCS to many different types of music.

Salsa is coming very easy to me. I believe that this is due to extensive WCS training. My first Salsa lesson was this past July, and I feel I could hold my own in a Salsa Jack and Jill, if that dance has such a thing???

I encourage you to get into WCS more, and your dancing abilities will be even more rounded!

[SDsalsaguy]

I encourage you to get into WCS more, and your dancing abilities will be even more rounded! Only 2 "minor" roadblocks Vince...time and $ :cry:

Despite my sign in name, I'm not just a salsaholic...I've actually competed (albeit lower levels) in a whole slew of dances (International cha cha, rumba, samba, waltz, tango, & quickstep, and American cha cha, rumba, swing, bolero, and mambo, as well as basic hustle and WCS). At the moment I'm working on learning Paso Doble, and, in addition to wanting to proceed with WCS, also want to spend some time with NY on2 salsa and Argentine tango...

So, you take care of the time and $ issues for me and I promise I'll get more into WCS :wink:

[Vince A]

I encourage you to get into WCS more, and your dancing abilities will be even more rounded! Only 2 "minor" roadblocks Vince...time and $ :cry:

Despite my sign in name, I'm not just a salsaholic...I've actually competed (albeit lower levels) in a whole slew of dances (International cha cha, rumba, samba, waltz, tango, & quickstep, and American cha cha, rumba, swing, bolero, and mambo, as well as basic hustle and WCS). At the moment I'm working on learning Paso Doble, and, in addition to wanting to proceed with WCS, also want to spend some time with NY on2 salsa and Argentine tango...

So, you take care of the time and $ issues for me and I promise I'll get more into WCS :wink:
Whoa, you really are into the Latin dances . . . I see you also do a whole slew of dances. You are so right on the $$$ and time.

Next year, I'm going to go for the $$$ and stop competing. Just do Jack and Jills and try to get back some of the event "payout $$$." Most events can average $600 to $1000, and there is at least one a month. Good thing my wife makes those BIG $$$ - you know one of those big computer geeks in the Bay Area!

OK, I'll work on the time/$$ for ya' . . . I think the only dance that I'd add for you would be the NC2S, which I bet you forgot to mention you do???

[SDsalsaguy]

I think the only dance that I'd add for you would be the NC2S, which I bet you forgot to mention you do???
Ummm...I plead the 5th? For what it may be worth, not competitively, no :wink:

[Vince A]

I think the only dance that I'd add for you would be the NC2S, which I bet you forgot to mention you do???
Ummm...I plead the 5th? For what it may be worth, not competitively, no :wink:
Ah, I should have known that a "swave" and "de-boner" guy like you would DO the NC2S.

[msc]

SD-
Who's your Paso teacher?

[Vince A]

The smooth groove that West Coast creates is a great feeling. I enjoy the intricate footwork I can do in the dance while staying connected with my partner in open position as we both improvise to the music.
"Inticate footwork" - now you're talking . . . it's what I work on the most . . . synchopations, pulsing, tapping out the count, walk-arounds, boogie-walks, some slides, etc., and with me growing trying to imitate James Brown - footwork is "my thing."

Ya' gotta love WCS!

[SDsalsaguy]

SD-
Who's your Paso teacher?

Yolanda Vargas.

[MissAlyssa]

You call WCS fast? I like it because its slow. 135 bpm is as fast as you'll usually get from most DJs (not me mind you, but most).

I meant I like dancing to the faster songs because it is more of a challenge for me..

[d nice]

Oh, okay I get it. Yes faster music is more of a challenge. It is good to stretch yourself and find new challenges.

[Vince A]

Oh, okay I get it. Yes faster music is more of a challenge. It is good to stretch yourself and find new challenges.
Some fast songs are fun, especially if they are loaded with "breaks," and even better if those breaks are on ct 5, which gives us 6,7,8 to play around!

Slow ones, with a good number of breaks, lets us play, but now it can be sensual, flirty, and have great connections. Just think of the body language that can be portrayed in a slow WCS???

[d nice]

Some fast songs are fun, especially if they are loaded with "breaks," and even better if those breaks are on ct 5, which gives us 6,7,8 to play around!

Actually since the music is 4/4 time and WCS is predominately six count moves with 2 count improvisations and a sprinkling of eights (compared to lindy hop which is almost opposite), it doesn't matter which count the break is on in a two bar phrase. You'll be dancing in and out of it regardless, a break on three gives you five counts to play with before the next phrase picks up.

[Vince A]

Some fast songs are fun, especially if they are loaded with "breaks," and even better if those breaks are on ct 5, which gives us 6,7,8 to play around!

Actually since the music is 4/4 time and WCS is predominately six count moves with 2 count improvisations and a sprinkling of eights (compared to lindy hop which is almost opposite), it doesn't matter which count the break is on in a two bar phrase. You'll be dancing in and out of it regardless, a break on three gives you five counts to play with before the next phrase picks up.
I hear you on the 4/4 time, you are the one who studies this stuff, so I yield to ya'

But it's very rare that I stick to six-count moves . . . most are 8 - though the basics are in 6!

I literally have thousands of CDs- mostly WCS stuff, and could count on one hand how many of them did not have a break on 1 or 5. So, if I break on 1, does that give me 2,3,4,5,6,7,8 to play with? One could, if you 'break' on 1, 'play' 2,3,4 and start the next move at 5,6,7,8 or, as you suggested 'play' 2,3,4,5,6,7,8 . . . it's what we feel, right? The combinations are what we make of them. What the music dictates, and play we shall do.

[d nice]

Depends on what kind of music you have. Lots of Blues songs will break in various places some one and five, some three and seven... depends on the style of blues music. Funk, Pop, and hip hop tend to break more on the three and seven.

Pick your poison. :twisted:

[Vince A]

Depends on what kind of music you have. Lots of Blues songs will break in various places some one and five, some three and seven... depends on the style of blues music. Funk, Pop, and hip hop tend to break more on the three and seven.

Pick your poison. :twisted:
"Thanks," for those tips. Remembering that will help me in future Jack and Jills . . . I always like to respond to a break, not necessarily 'force" it. However, knowing what type of music it is, blues vs funk vs pop vs hip . . . will help to get set up.

Quick question . . . does a break usually repeat on the same count throughout an entire song? I know there will be exceptions, but generally speaking???

[Vince A]

The smooth groove that West Coast creates is a great feeling. I enjoy the intricate footwork I can do in the dance while staying connected with my partner in open position as we both improvise to the music.
I 'see' your on . . . tell me about your intricate footwork when you get the time???

[d nice]

Quick question . . . does a break usually repeat on the same count throughout an entire song? I know there will be exceptions, but generally speaking???

Yes. If you are listening to a song and the fourth or sixth two bar phrase has a break it will generally repeat everytime that phrase comes back in. Music that has a jazz base (blues, jazz, most hip hop, R&B) will break this rule during the the "break" or bridge section. This is the solo section in blues and jazz music. They will establish and follow a new pattern until it switches back to the main body of the song.

[Vince A]

d nice,
WOW. Thanks again. Great info!

I'm turning some of my dance time into music theory time, so that I can "dance to the music," i.e., interpret the music just like jazz dancers do. I plan on doing more Jack and Jills in the future, and by listening and knowing the music . . . hm m m m m m. I've done this all along, butnot by really knowing the music. If this makes sense to you???

Very interesting . . .

Vince

[MissAlyssa]

Oh, okay I get it. Yes faster music is more of a challenge. It is good to stretch yourself and find new challenges.
Some fast songs are fun, especially if they are loaded with "breaks," and even better if those breaks are on ct 5, which gives us 6,7,8 to play around!

Slow ones, with a good number of breaks, lets us play, but now it can be sensual, flirty, and have great connections. Just think of the body language that can be portrayed in a slow WCS???


True, slower WCS songs let you 'saunter' around :twisted:

[Vince A]

I used to really like faster WCS songs, but over the past year . . . dancing, playing, flirting, etc., has really put a "new light" on WCS dancing!

Dancing to the slower music lets you interpret, and who says you have to be in a certain spot or on a certain count or foot to do the dance correctly?

Correctly? In what person's eyes? Certainly, the only time you should do it as precribed is if you are competing. I remember once, I got so into the song, in the middle of a Pro-Am competition, I executed a slide, anchored 9 & 10 after the slide, and "got the follower off" on 1. Two judges told me afterwards, that it was a "no, no," but they "gave" me points for it!

[MissAlyssa]

I used to really like faster WCS songs, but over the past year . . . dancing, playing, flirting, etc., has really put a "new light" on WCS dancing!

Dancing to the slower music lets you interpret, and who says you have to be in a certain spot or on a certain count or foot to do the dance correctly?

Correctly? In what person's eyes? Certainly, the only time you should do it as precribed is if you are competing. I remember once, I got so into the song, in the middle of a Pro-Am competition, I executed a slide, anchored 9 & 10 after the slide, and "got the follower off" on 1. Two judges told me afterwards, that it was a "no, no," but they "gave" me points for it!

lol @ "gave"...how charitable!! :lol:

[pygmalion]

I've heard that the appeal of West Coast Swing is that "it's safe sex on the dance floor."

What is it about the dance that appeals to you?

I'm with Vince in his original assessment. WCS is one sexy dance. You can let your inner diva loose, flirt all you want, and it's just considered good styling. :D :lol: