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West Coast Swing
by Wayne
& Barbara Blackford
West
Coast Swing or Slot Dancing has the form of the woman moving forward
and backward in a “slot” with the man moving momentarily out of and
back into the slot. West Coast Swing is a mixture of Single, Double and
Triple Swing as elements of all of these can be found in the dance. It
is considered to be less jumpy and much smoother than Jive. Jive is
usually dance at 40 – 45 mpm and West Coast Swing is danced at 32
measures per minute, which may be more comfortable. Jive has a strong
bounce while West Coast Swing has soft movements and turns with less
bounce. It is very soft, sultry, smooth and down & dirty. Recently
there has been a lot of new theory to dancing WCS. We will address the
"traditional" style (which is what RAL has defined) of WCS.
There are two basic timing groups in West Coast Swing; 6 count and 8
count timing. The 6 count standard timing is 1,2,3&,4; 5&6
which requires 1 1⁄2 measures of music. The 8 count standard timing is
1,2,3&4; 5,6,7&,8; which requires 2 measures of music. There
are generally NO rock recover steps in basic West Coast Swing. The man
moves away from the woman on step one (moving from his center point of
gravity) and the woman moves forward toward the man on step one.
There are four “families” of figures in West Coast Swing. They are:
- Basic Action
- Sugar Push Family (6 count figures)
- Passing Family (6 count figures)
- Whip Family (8 count figures)
Many people do not consider the Basic Action as a family, but we like
to include it because it does have several different basics. Most all
of the West Coast Swing figures will fit into these families.
Each “family” has it’s own rule.
- Sugar Push Family - does not change direction & there is no passing
- Passing Family – the woman will pass the man on either his right or left side.
- Whip Family – involve the man rotating around the woman as she moves forward and back or turns on the slot.
- Basic Action – these figures are usually the ending actions.
In standard 6 count figures (no variations) the following applies:
MAN:
WOMAN:
Step AWAY from partner on count 1 Step TOWARD partner on count 1
Step TOWARD partner on count 4
Step AWAY from partner on count
4
Step IN PLACE on count 6
Step IN PLACE on count 6
In standard 8 count figures (no variations) the following applies:
MAN:
WOMAN:
Step AWAY from partner on count 1 Step TOWARD partner on count 1
Step TOWARD partner on count 4 Step AWAY from partner on count 4
Step TOWARD partner on count 6
Step AWAY from partner on count 6
Step IN PLACE on count 8
Step IN PLACE on count 8
FIGURES GROUPED BY FAMILY
“Sugar Push” Family – 6 count figures (timing 1234; 5&6)
Sugar Push
Face Loop Sugar
Push
(Sugar) Tuck & Spin Cheek to Cheek
Sugar Bump Sugar Push Hook Turn
Sugar Wrap
“Passing Family” – 6 count figures (timing 123&4; 5&6)
Underarm Turn
Left Side Pass
Right Side Pass
Man’s Underarm Turn
Alternating Underarm Turn Traveling Side Pas
Passing Tuck & Spin
"Whip Family” – 8 count figures (timing 123&4; 567&8)
Wrapped Whip Tummy Whip
Whip Turn
Whip Inside Turn
Whip Outside Turn Whip w/hand change behind back
Surprise Whip Side Whip
“Basic Action” – (timing 1&2)
Coaster
Step
Anchor Step
French Cross (used by the woman) Hook Turn
When dancing West Coast Swing, you can think of dancing along the
outline of a cross. The “slot” is the longer arm of the cross and this
part belongs to the woman. She moves forward & back while remaining
in the elongated axis of the cross (the slot). The man must position
himself to direct the woman’s movements & turns while she stays in
her slot. The man dances/steps to one side or the other on the “short
arms/axis” of the cross – across the slot.
From
clinic notes prepared for the RAL Convention, 2015,
and
reprinted
in the Dixie Round Dance Council (DRDC)
Newsletter, December 2019.
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