WALK WALK TOUCH STEP (PUSH) TRIPLE STEP, TRIPLE STEP. (WOMANS STEPS). SOMEONE PLEASE HELP. I CANT DETERMINE HOW TO LEAN IN THIS DANCE. SHOULD I START THE LEAN FORWARD ON THE 1ST WALK STEP OR WAIT UNTIL THE PUSH. I NOTICE SOME GOOD WC SWINGERS GET A REALLY GOOD UPPER BODY LEAN IN AND OUT. IF ANYBODY HAS A TIPS PLEASE SEND THEM. I LOVE THIS DANCE!

Ok, I have a TON of things to say.
First, the definitions that are common in my area:
Savoy Style Lindy Hop: Dance using both 6 and 8 count patterns, done to Swing music usually between about 120 and 180 BPM. There is no slot but the girl does travel in a line in the (8-count) basic. She does NOT move forwaed on the 1-2, and the guy releases her on the 5, so she walks facing away from him on 5-6.

Hollywood Style Lindy Hop: Dance using both 6 and 8 count patterns, done to Swing music. Most moves seem at least sort of slotted. She does move forward on the 1-2 and walks backwards facing him on the 5-6. I may be wrong sice I don't really know much Hollywood Style.

East Coast Swing: Dance using mostly 6 count moves with a 6 count basic. The basic is a mirrored step, with compression right before the rock step. Can be done with tripe steps, step-touch (double time) or single steps.

West Coast Swing: I am pretty darned sure about this, as conventions with 100s of dancers can't really be wrong. WCS uses 6 and 8 count basics, with a few 4-count and lots of more advanced 10, 12 and 14 count patterns. The woman never rock steps on 1-2, and usually walks forward. Lead and follow is a "slingshot" or "rubber band" effect, with the woman moving back and forth in the slot. Music is about 90-140 BPM, not necessarily swing music. The WCS "whip" is similar to, and evolved from, hollywood style. WCS has influences of jazz, latin, hustle, and carolina shag (not collegiate or vintage shag) in its evolution.

If you can get the videos of these dances @ ballroomdancers.com, then that could help in our search for some way to describe dances to each other. I'd consider their lindy clips to be hollywood style.

Just my 2 cents,
Tegan

Belle

I need a good sexy body roll. I'm dancing WCS in a competition and it will be to bluesy type music. Can you describe a good one?

*sigh* no. You would think that I would, but I sort of lack money and transportation. It was really annoying because pretty much everyone from this omaha forum went but I who was pretty much next door wasn't able to go. grrrr... Did you go?

Hi Katherina!

Maybe you should start up a new topic, since the webmaster of this site doesn't have time to move posts between threads, discussions etc., so that each post is where it fits best. I'm sorry I can't help you with your question.

Up here we like west coast so much we do it at speeds all the way up past the slower east coast songs. You can manage it in some hustle songs (they are very different dances) and also in some cha-chas. One of the instructors here has a video showing some ballroom folks (can't recall who exactly, sorry!) doing WCS to a disco/hustle style song.

Slow and bluesy is good too. More opportunity to make up creative syncopations and throw in some sexy body rolls .

A couple of things I'd like to clarify here:

When a couple is uncontested, it is possible that they receive a second place, but that's not based solely on timing. Most judges who are familiar with the couple (or student, in the case of pro-am) will usually make their decision based on whether or not they feel that the couple is dancing to the best of their ability, compared to what they've seen in the past. Without familiarity, judges will tend to give out a "courtesy" first unless they see some aspect of the dancing which in dire need of improvement. Poor timing, posture, footwork, or even floorcraft are all possibilities of things that might incline a judge to give an uncontested second.

One thing that a judge is actually *not* supposed to mark the couple on is syllabus. It is not the judge's job to decide whether or not a couple is dancing out of category. For this, they have someone known as an invigilator. An invigilator is someone who has very specific knowledge of step patterns and which level each one belongs in. He/she is the one who will penalize a couple for dancing out of category, either by dropping their overall result by one place or by disqualifying them (although usually the couple is given a courtesy warning in the preliminary round).

Regards,
Jonathan Atkinson

Hi Gracie!
I'm a new member and I have to admit that I don't know a lot about WC Swing or Swing in general. I was graduated in Round Dance two weeks ago and I did an extra workshop on West Coast Swing. The song was called something with "5 o'clock" - yeah I know I'm a complete beginner but I'd be really happy if someone could mail me the steps to this dance, I loved it! Does anybody know it? Or are there good WC Swing pages on the net in general?
Where is the difference between East and West Coast Swing? I know that's kind of embarrassing but I'm only 18 y.o. so I can't be an expert.
And I want to learn! Please help me if you can, thank you lots!!
Katherina

Yes, I've been to yeehodi.com. Great site! I try to visit lots of different boards because it's a good way to learn about swing on a national level. You're from California? Did you go to Catalina this year?
-Jess

In Ballroom competition, a couple usually receives a first place, when uncontested, unless they are off time or dancing out of category. In this case, they will receive a second place. This is quite common, especially when dancing the mambo. They are usually scored on the syllabus for age and category danced. If dancing on time and having fun, a couple deserves a first place for an uncontested event. Unfortunately, there tends to be many uncontested events. I'm guessing that the same applies to CW competitions.