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What is it?
West Coast Swing is the most
evolved form of swing dancing that is modern, exciting and unique.
Unlike other forms of swing such as Lindy Hop or Jitterbug, which are
essentially "vintage" dances, and in which dancers often dress up in
period costume, West Coast Swing is done to most modern music (Hip Hop,
R'n'B, Funk, Pop, Disco, Blues, Jazz as well as Swing music). It can be
done to older music too.
In all other partner dances, the
man traditionally "leads" and the woman "follows". In West Coast, the
dancing is a co-operative partnership between the dancers. Leads are
mostly an "invitation", not an order, and at an advanced dancing level,
women can "steal" the lead, or the lead can pass back and forward
between the man and woman during the dance.
West Coast values personal
creativity, musical interpretation, equality and co-operation and
because of this, no two dances are ever the same.
Because West Coast Swing stresses
contemporary values and gender equality, it is the dance for the 21st
century. It is sophisticated and thrilling to dance, and it's very
helpful in developing creativity and quick reflexes as well as providing
valuable exercise.
Its history
Swing dancing started in the U.S.
with a dance called the Lindy Hop. This dance originated from the
Charleston and was perfected by the black dancers in Harlem, New York,
in the late 1920s. The dance grew as a response to the swing music of
jazz musicians like Louis Armstrong, Fletcher Henderson, Duke Ellington,
and later, Count Basie. Interestingly enough, there is one man alive
today - Frankie Manning - who was there during Lindy Hop's birth and who
still teaches it in the U.S. He was recently proclaimed "A Living
National Treasure" by the U.S. senate. During the 1930s and 1940s,
various versions of Lindy or "swing dance" came into existence: Shag,
Push, Steppin', Balboa, Hand Dancing, West Coast Swing and Jitterbug.
Jitterbugging was also termed "jiving", and jitterbug music, "jive".
This is where the dance known as the Jive comes from. Both Lindy and
Jitterbug are known for their aerials, swing-outs and lifts, while Jive
became the stricter, tamer and more standardized alternative for most
dancers.
The West Coast Swing Phenomenon
West Coast Swing was born in the
1940s as a regional swing variation. It was called Western Swing at the
time. There are various theories as to how it started and who was
responsible. Arthur Murray is certainly responsible for popularizing it
in his dance studios and over the decades the dance grew in various
regional forms - in Texas it's known as "Texas Push". From the
Australian perspective, there is evidence that it arrived in Victoria in
the late 1940s with the first Arthur Murray franchise in this country,
however it never caught on and this "migration" died out. In the 70s,
several key American dance teachers standardized the foundation steps of
the Sugar Push, the Side pass, the Underarm pass and the Whip, and
modern West Coast Swing was born. It has never looked back. West Coast
Swing is now one of the most popular partner dances done in North
America and increasingly elsewhere. It continues to evolve and become
ever more interesting and sophisticated. It is not a craze or "fad
dance". It is, in every sense, a. "living dance" done by thousands of
people who all love it.
Why learn West Coast Swing?
This dynamic, expressive and
playful dance is incredibly versatile. It can be done slow and sexy,
smooth and sophisticated, or fast and rhythmically to most types of
music, including Top 40, R'n'B, classic Swing, Jazz, Funk, Blues, Pop,
Country & Western and Hip Hop. People love West Coast because it's like
being on a smooth roller-coaster ride and once the basic patterns are
learned, many "surprises" can be added. You may find you sometimes even
surprise yourself when dancing by spontaneously inventing new steps and
patterns!
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