Country and Western Dancing

Step Sheet

Vince,
I have never seen the step sheet, just know that it has been referred too in the rules, especially concerning Newcomer and Novice Pro/Am. Unfortunately that section of the 2004 rules has not been posted yet. You might be able to find reference under 2003.

I am not sure how you get the step sheet either...just know that it has been referred to, and my Pro has said "That's not on the step sheet, so you can't do that..." I'm assuming he knows something as he is a certified judge as well.
 
Our dance journey has been long but very rewarding. We first leaned Foxtrot to do at formal balls. But later it was CW because the venues were available. As a result we met a lot of dance friends. Then we began going to Phoenix and became involved in its CW & WCS community . As a result we developed preferences for different dances. She likes WCS because of its freedom to improve. or dance to the music. I like P2S because of its energy.
But most importantly we met a lot of friends.
 
Can we please talk about the new waive of Country Swing Dancing going on in US. It seems that its popping up everywhere. From what I understand there is no timing or specific technique either..
 
russianwithin said:
Can we please talk about the new waive of Country Swing Dancing going on in US. It seems that its popping up everywhere. From what I understand there is no timing or specific technique either..
Click to expand...
Can you give more details, maybe even examples? And maybe a new thread so people can find it easier?
 
russianwithin said:
Can we please talk about the new waive of Country Swing Dancing going on in US. It seems that its popping up everywhere. From what I understand there is no timing or specific technique either..
Click to expand...
Yes, we can! either here or in a new thread.
Where I did most of my dancing, that was the only "swing" they taught for a while after covid. I may come back with a bunch of observations, some from decades ago and I could spent a fair amount of time researching the subject. Encouragement helps!
 
Had a really busy dance weekend...
First let's flash back to December 2000. I was doing my dancing at the Drum on Division Street in Portland, OR. Back then there were printed schedules evert month. I think I threw most of them away, but saved that December 2000 one. The Drum is no longer, and the other long standing CW place in the Portland area is Bushwhackers. They are down to lessons on Thursday, Friday, Saturday. In 2000 the Drum had lessons 7 days a week: 4 days with line dancing and 3 partner dances. The partner dances were: Two-Step, West Coast Swing, and East Coast Swing.
Next time I'll pass along what Skippy Blair had to say about swing dance at country western places when she wrote one of her books in 1994.
 
Greybeard said:
Can you give more details, maybe even examples? And maybe a new thread so people can find it easier?
Click to expand...
I think new thread is a good idea. Will do. It is sort of a "pre-west coast swing" type of dance where lots of moves are borrowed from WCS. It is danced to country swing music without any timing or specific footwork. It is exploding around US right now.
 
Meanwhile, here's some Skippy Blair text from 1994.

COUNTRY SWING (1) The term "Country Swing" can be interpreted many different ways, according to where you live and who you ask. (2) The standard recognized Swing forms: any style of East Coast or West Coast Swing is accepted in Country Swing Competition. (3) There is also a"4 Count" Swing and a Rodeo Swing that are sometimes referred to as "Country Swing".

RODEO SWING (1) A style of Swing that sprang up in the Country Nite Clubs
in the middle 1990·s. Characterized by fast moves, rope-like turns and a
passion for lifts and drops, this style of dance is becoming more popular in the
younger age brackets. (2) Rodeo Swing is Primarily 114 Beat" Patterns
where resistance is created on Count "1" of each Pattern. (3) Dancing next
to other-style Swing Dancers, Rodeo Swing by comparison gives the illusion that
the dance is being danced faster than the music.
The growth of this style of Swing attests to the
fact that it is not just a flash in the pan. The younger generation locks in to the
speed of the moves and the dance provides instant excitement. (B) The
current problems that exist are ones that can be modified with training. Not
keeping in time with the music can be fixed with training. "Arm" leads can
become "body leads" with training. The acrobatics can be curbed by educating
the new dancers on what is acceptable and not acceptable to the owner of the
establishment. (C) With or without training, dancers will create on
their own. For those teachers who plan ahead, think of the possibilities of Rodeo
Swing.
 
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All I know about Pony is what Skippy Blair has shared with us in 94/95 when country was big.

PONY (1) A Country Dance, used in Competition in various parts of the
Country. (2) The MOVEMENT UNIT is "Down-Down" and the upper part
of the body resembles SWING moves. However, the RHYTHM PATTERN does
not qualify for Swing. (3) It is a RHYTHM DANCE and the Basic Pattern is
an "8 beat" count that can be extended to "16"• The easiest form is to start with
one TRIPLE, followed by 3 sets of EXTENDED DOUBLES.
COUNT: "1&2 - &3&4 - &5&6 - &7&8." It can alternate every 8
beats or stay over one foot for as long as 16 beats of music.

Notes: Although many dancers start dancing on the "&"
count, it makes a much more polished performance if each new shift of foot,
starts on a Downbeat with a flat foot. Example: "Left Right Left, & Left & Left & Left
& Left & Left & Left. (Count as stated above.)

I'm not seeing that in the video, but... whatever.
 
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I grabbed this from UCWDC 2019 Rules.

c. Non-Worlds Swing Dance:
1) Pony Swing For all 102-116, 106 preferred. Basic Pony Swing timing is &1 &2 &3 &4 &5 &6 &7 &8. Pony Swing is
generally stationary with revolving patterns performed with Lilt, emphasizing downward action on the numbered counts.

Looks like it agrees with what Skippy wrote.
 
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