swingout - just gotta love it

[luh]

hi guys
last lesson, we had some more technique stuff in our lindy class. I've had some days since than, and i've figured that only with that new technique we learned, you can have 10 different swingouts, and in combination, you can have - i haven't calculated it - but amazingly lot. Just gotta love the swingout - it's one of the most changeable move I've ever seen.

another fun thing i discovered is that you can check really easily the abilities of your partner with doing different swingouts. If she knows the technique and is a good follower, she'll be able to follow all different swingouts.
luh

 

[idance123]

Yeah, the swingout has to be the best thing about Lindy Hop, in my opinion. It's really a misnomer, it's called the 'basic' but it's far from basic. There are so many different ways and so much subtle technique that go into a really good swingout.

Also, I've noticed that the more experienced I get as a dancer, the more swingouts I tend to do. I mean if I'm dancing with a really talented follow, then what more do we need then a really good swingout and a few other basic steps. I mean a good swingout feels great!

 

[luh]

definetly. I forgot to post, that besides all the varations you have on an 8 count swingout, you can have plenty of varations as well in the 6 and 7 count swingout. I don't know if there are any other x-count swingout - i'd guess so - just don't know them
luh

 

[huey]

Yeah, the swingout has to be the best thing about Lindy Hop, in my opinion. It's really a misnomer, it's called the 'basic' but it's far from basic. There are so many different ways and so much subtle technique that go into a really good swingout.

Agreed. 8)

I think teachers should encourage beginners by explaining this. If they throw swingouts at beginners (as they often do, in their very first lesson), they can easily get discouraged when they see how hard it is to get the necessary subleties of movement and connection. I think it takes many years to be really comfortable with the swingout.

 

[huey]

definetly. I forgot to post, that besides all the varations you have on an 8 count swingout, you can have plenty of varations as well in the 6 and 7 count swingout.

What's a 7 count swingout? :shock:

 

[luh]

tough to explain. I once learned it at a nathalie and yuval workshop. i can't think of the swingout steps anymore, (never got the chance to dance it since than) - maybe someone else can help me out? ( afair it started out with the usual rockstep, and there was something with a crossleg step, but not sure where it was) sorry
luh

 

[huey]

tough to explain. I once learned it at a nathalie and yuval workshop. i can't think of the swingout steps anymore, (never got the chance to dance it since than) - maybe someone else can help me out? ( afair it started out with the usual rockstep, and there was something with a crossleg step, but not sure where it was) sorry
luh

Sounds as though it might be a swingout variation with a stop on 7

 

[luh]

tough to explain. I once learned it at a nathalie and yuval workshop. i can't think of the swingout steps anymore, (never got the chance to dance it since than) - maybe someone else can help me out? ( afair it started out with the usual rockstep, and there was something with a crossleg step, but not sure where it was) sorry
luh

Sounds as though it might be a swingout variation with a stop on 7

it was meant to speed up. so that you can dance to faster music
luh

 

[derbyhat]

"Fast" lindy variations.

Basically, you drop the triple steps in favor of a single step that employs leverage to get you back to where you started.

 

[luh]

just learned some new swingout varations. that rocks!
luh

 

[d nice]

The swing out is the basic and should be taught from day one...

Now what does basic mean? I don't mean it is the easiest move to learn, I mean it is the foundational move, that which all other moves in this dance are based on...

An example, East Coast Swing and West Coast Swing each have a number of the same moves as lindy hop... but they are danced differently. Those dances each have a different basic step that defines how you interact with your partner, the floor and the music, as does Lindy Hop's swing out. If I teach you other moves first... ones which don't require the Lindy Hop body movement, partnering or musicality to exe***e you may end up dancing in a way that is much closer to East Coast, West Coast, or some other swing dance. If I teach you the swing out first all the other moves will carry that flavor, making you a lindy hopper.

The key in instruction is to make sure that you emphasize the fundamental aspects of the swing out, posture; frame; bounce/footwork; momentum. If you teach it as a move and expect new dancers to get it right, you (and they) will fail. If you teach it as a set of principles and guidelines they will learn faster and dance better from day one.

 

[huey]

The swing out is the basic and should be taught from day one...

Now what does basic mean? I don't mean it is the easiest move to learn, I mean it is the foundational move, that which all other moves in this dance are based on... If I teach you the swing out first all the other moves will carry that flavor, making you a lindy hopper.

The key in instruction is to make sure that you emphasize the fundamental aspects of the swing out, posture; frame; bounce/footwork; momentum. If you teach it as a move and expect new dancers to get it right, you (and they) will fail. If you teach it as a set of principles and guidelines they will learn faster and dance better from day one.

After over 2 years, I am starting to feel comfortable with the 'swing out' (or 'lindy turn', as we call it in London). I think when teachers start teaching the swing out to beginners, they should make it clear that it takes time and patience to master. This would stop beginners getting frustrated that they can't do it.

 

[d nice]

I've had plenty of beginners who can do it from day one... part of it is how one is taught the other is what we mean when we say "get it". I mean able to do a move that more or less hits all of the important points without stopping. It does not look great and does not feel great but it is a reasonable approximation there of...

and yes I always tell my students that this is the easiest and hardest move in this dance. They'll practice this move for 80 years and still have space to improve it.

 

[Spitfire]

This is among my favorite moves of any dance though I'm into WCS where it is known as the Whip. There are times where I could swear that I use more of these then any of the other leads. This is not saying that I do, but I just love the variations I can use; either what I learn or can come up with myself.

Though I'm into WCS rather then Lindy, I learned to do the throwout/whip initially in some Lindy classes I've attended and thus had that part down when I started learning WCS.

 

[huey]

I always tell my students that this is the easiest and hardest move in this dance.

I don't see how it's the easiest.