Swing is a lively, non-progressive partner dance that can be danced to a wide variety of music, from blues to rock & roll. Non-progressive means it's mostly performed in one spot, so it's very convenient on a crowded dance floor.
Swing is one of the most versatile partner dances you can learn - very social and beginner friendly. Easily adaptable to a wide range of tempos, it involves movements with lots of swinging, spinning and rhythmic, creative footwork.
There are many different styles of swing, the term actually refers to a group of dances that developed from the swing style of jazz music in the first half of the last century. There's Lindy Hop, Boogie-Woogie, Jitterbug, Shag, Charleston, West Coast and East Coast Swing, just to name a few. Each of these dances has its own distinct flavor.
One of the most popular and very suitable for beginners is the East Coast Swing. It's a bit more social and relaxed than other versions. It's also a formal ballroom dance and the easiest to learn. Perfect for beginners, which is why we'll focus on this version here. It will create a good foundation and is the base for other more complex versions.
East Coast Swing can be danced to a variety of music styles. If it's written in 4/4 time and has a tempo between 135-170 beats per minute, you can swing it.
To dance swing you'll need a partner, a sense of humor, and a bit of endurance. It may seem a bit intimidating at first, especially if you're watching those who really mastered it. But as with all things, you have to start with the basics. And the basics are easy. Once you learn the fundamentals, you'll be swinging in no time. Always remember, wear comfortable shoes. Now let's go swinging.
Basic steps (East Coast Swing)
Beginners usually start with East Coast Swing, because it is the easiest of all swing styles. Here we will show you the basic 6 count step for East Coast Swing.
East Coast Swing has a basic count of 1&2, 3&4, 5,6. It's known as a triple step swing. The basic pattern is triple step, triple step, and a rock step.
When you're starting out you can replace the triple step with a single step. In that case the pattern would be step, step, rock step or rock step, step, step, depending on how you start counting. The overall progression is, of course, the same.
The triple step is really not that difficult to master, it is performed in a chasse-like manner - side step, together, side step.
The basic pattern is triple step, triple step, and a rock step. When you're starting out you can replace the triple step with a single step. In that case the pattern would be step, step, rock step or rock step, step, step, depending on how you start counting. The overall progression is, of course, the same.
Of the many different types of swing dancing, East Coast Swing is the most commonly danced and one of the easiest to learn. It is danced both socially and competitively in both ballroom dancing and in country dancing. Otherwise known as "Triple Swing", East Coast Swing is a happy, fun, upbeat dance.
Although swing dancing is typically performed and practiced between two partners, it can certainly be practiced with just one person. Learning how to swing dance by yourself is simply a way to practice and master the basic swing dance steps.
This uninhibited style of dance originated among African-Americans in the early 1940s and was brought by American servicemen to Europe where it became popular amongst the young as the 'boogie'. Yet it was never far from criticism as a foreign, vulgar dance and was banned from ballrooms for being too wild and exuberant.
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Do I have to be fit? It is definitely a plus to be in good physical condition. Though swing dancing at the beginners level doesn't require you be fit at all. But there is a good chance that you along the way will improve your physique in a fun way together with other people.
Hundreds of styles of swing dancing were developed; those that have survived beyond that era include Charleston, Balboa, Lindy Hop, and Collegiate Shag. Today, the best-known of these dances is the Lindy Hop, which originated in Harlem in the early 1930s.
As swing dancing evolved in the 1920s and onwards it expanded into various styles such as Lindy Hop, Charleston, and Balboa, giving an array of different flavours and speeds both within individual styles and across styles.
The different types of swing dance styles include Lindy Hop, Jitterbug, East Coast Swing, Collegiate Shag, Jive, Balboa, Bal-swing, Lindy Charleston, Carolina & St. Louis Shag, D.C. Hand Dancing, Rodeo Swing, Ceroc, Modern Jive, Boogie Woogie and West Coast Swing.
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