JAN. 2008 Note:   In Alphabetical Order: Center Point of Balance (CPB)  -  Centering Knob  - 

Dance Rhythms  - Downbeats & Upbeats  -  Flashlight Technique  -  Point of Connection  - Power Point  -  

Universal Unit System(R)  -  Rhythm Units (2-Beat Rhythms)  - Rolling Count  - Three-Toe Base  - 

(As they are pointed out to us, we will add to the list).  These and other terms are explained in the

 "Dance Terminology Notebook" that is contained online, here at www.Swingworld.com   -

Go to the Index on the front page and click on Dance Terminology Notebook.

West Coast Swing:  Everything listed below is for historical purposes. It

is a combination of Information gathered from early definitions  (1965) - up

through the latest Dance Dynamics, GSDTA and WSDC  Educational releases

2006,  by Skippy Blair       © 2-24-06 - update:  8-12-06

West Coast SWING -  (1) West Coast Swing  is an all American Rhythm dance

consisting basically of  6 and 8-beat patterns, along with 4-Beat Rhythm Breaks

that are danced primarily in a slotted area on the dance floor.  West Coast Swing

 incorporates many variations of Underarm Turns, Side Passes, Pushes and Whips

plus Rhythm Breaks, Syncopations and Extensions of the same.           

Further Clarification of Identifiable Characteristics:
 

1.  At basic & intermediate levels, most dancers start the dance with a 4-Beat

     Starter Step, which falls into the category of  “Rhythm Breaks.” 

2.  MOST West Coast Swing teachers today (2008) teach the follower to walk
     forward out of a Starter Step, rather than to do a “Rock Step.”  (GSDTA
     started the dance, walking forward on "1-2" in 1958)

3.  Most notable, & one of the oldest evolvements: Anchors have replaced Coasters.

4.  Musical Interpretation: important ingredient, even at Novice level.

5.  Both partners have the freedom to “play” as long as they do not interfere
     with their partner’s dance. 

6.  Today’s definition includes:  WCS is considered a 50/50 partnership dance.

7.  Both partners travel frequently in the same direction, rather than rock away
     from each other  (as done in East Coast Swing and Lindy).

8.  West Coast Swing is basically a directionally slotted dance. (Not a "fixed" slot)

New moves are always emerging when top dancers interpret the music of the day. Swing Music of the 1940's gave birth to a wide variety of dances that we recognize today as various forms of  SWING. 

AUTHOR'S NOTE:  In 2006 there have been so many styles emerging and overlapping, that there are those who feel that WCS no longer exists - that all swing is some sort of simply generic “SWING.”   There is nothing further from the truth. One needs to study the intricacies of the development of something, in order to learn how  to recognize an evolvement to a higher state.  It is much easier to recognize similarities - than it is to focus on differences.  The latest developments in WCS are easily identified by examining the “root base” of the dance.  When all else fails, try to identify what you see as something OTHER than West Coast.  Does it look like East Coast - Lindy - Shag - Imperial Swing - Hand Dancing?  If it won’t fit any of those, and the dancers are primarily upper level West Coast Swing dancers, then it is probably a variety and/or an evolvement of West Coast Swing.

It is also true that WCS is currently (2006) developing in two different directions. There is a new breed of slow swing that borders on a Ballet style “Pax de deaux.”  It is slow, sensual  and uses pattern entrances that have West Coast as their root base.   This form has a grace and style similar to Rumba and Ballet. The effect is dramatic, but lacks any feeling of rhythmic “swing.”  Neither the music nor the dance actually “swings.”   WCS patterns can be danced to totally different music and the dance can lend itself to many different disciplines.  However, if the essence of the original dance changes enough to create it’s OWN identifiable “essence” a new dance style is being born.  That’s how many Swing styles came into being.

 2008 - and the "swing" is back toward SWING.  (See article on ANCHORS as they have evolved in the past 20 years.)

Let’s examine the “ESSENCE” of WEST COAST SWING: 

(1) Both partners travel, a great deal of the time, in the same direction.  Most other forms of swing use more opposition moves - (Rock steps).  (2)  The follower has more creative choices, as long as she does not interfere with the Leader.  (3)  Follower walks into new patterns, rather than rocking back.  (4) Individual musical  interpretation creates excitement and new material erupts on the dance floor in a seemingly endless barrage of possibilities.  (5) There is an undercurrent in good swing music that makes you want to snap your fingers or clap your hands on the Upbeat.  (6)  Currently, Followers create  “Kodak Moments” for a fraction of a second, as they hit a great pose, coupled with good lines and a sense of body discipline that is beyond the scope of most other forms of swing.

WEST COAST SWING  -   (1)  A highly stylized form of Swing that is identifiable by two main characteristics:  (a)  it is a slotted dance that is distinguished by it's love affair with syncopations and musical interpretation.   (b) The lady does a "Walk-Walk" traveling forward on counts "1" and "2" of each basic pattern.   (2)  In the 1950's, this dance was called "Western Swing" and "Sophisticated Swing" in the Chain Studios, and even in most Independent Studios.  Many Studios still use those names today.  
(3)  West Coast Swing was declared the official State Dance of California in 1988.

Teaching Note:  

West Coast Swing is a dance that stays consistently “up-to-date!   Today, (2008) this dance still requires a "50-50" partnership.  It is an "educated" dance where the "follower" needs to know much more about the dance than simply “How to follow.”   West

Coast Swing reflects the social attitudes of the day:  Although HE is the leader and sets the tone and direction of the dance, SHE has the freedom to interpret the

music and use syncopations in patterns that he might not even use (or care to use).  This "Partnership" might be compared to a group of Jazz musicians.  One person goes off on a tangent while the other players keep the basic beat.  West Coast Swing is literally a "High Tech" GAME played to music.  At an intermediate level, one partner can play while the other keeps the basic beat.  Only very advanced dancers should try to juggle both partners “playing” at the same time, without disrupting the other.   
        

Historical Note: 

The name “WEST COAST SWING", didn't surface into mainstream Swing Circles until the late 1960's and early 70s.  In 1958, with the opening of Skippy Blair Studios in Downey, California, "Western" Swing was not a salable item in the city of Downey.  (actually, nothing

Western was really welcome in the city of Downey in 1958). We tried to explain to people  that “Western" really meant "West Coast," but it didn’t register with the average person.  Jim Bannister, editor of the Herald American newspaper in Downey, remarked:  "then why don't you SAY “West Coast”?   The new ads advertised West Coast Swing (1962).  When the GOLDEN WEST BALLROOM, in Norwalk, California, changed from Country to Ballroom dancing, the dance most advertised on the Marquee was West Coast Swing.  Years later, we would find that Arthur Murray’s actually had a hand book that used the term West Coast Swing.   However, Murray’s obviously preferred “Western Swing” - because that was printed on their student's charts.  That was probably in an effort  to conform to matching the term “Eastern Swing” which was the most popular form of Swing at that time - and was the predecessor of “East Coast Swing.”   The name of Eastern Swing, naturally evolved into “East Coast Swing”  several  years after “West Coast Swing” became the accepted name for our dance.