Written by Don Deyne
INTRODUCTION: The reader should be aware that this page is definitely not intended to be authoritative. I myself haven't been doing West Coast long enough to be an authority. But this has worked for me and the majority of what follows is actually the handout I give my class when I teach West Coast Swing.
West Coast Swing (WCS) is differentiated by the lady remaining within a narrow slot that will not normally rotate . She will move back and forth along a given plane as the man moves out of her way for each movement. Lady's first steps are forward", default", man's are backward. There are several corollaries to describe this. One is to imagine we're dancing on a set of rail road tracks. The lady will stay on the bed of the track while the man steps to the rails on each move, allowing her to pass by. Another example: If we were to take a door and lay it on the floor the lady would move back and forth never leaving the surface of the door. While the man would step off and on. When I teach WCS I tell the men they have 2 jobs. First they gottta make the ladies look good. Second they gotta get out of the way.
Music for WCS has a lower tempo than East Coast and a smoother rhythm. The best WCS songs have a slinky feel to them and illicit some very interesting moves from some of the better WCS dancers.
WCS uses 6 and 8-count rhythm patterns. The basic 6-count pattern is counted as 1-2-3&4-5&6 or step, step, triple step, triple step. 8-count patterns are counted 1-2-3&4-5-6-7&8 or step, step, triple step, step, step, triple step.
LADIES LEFT UNDER-ARM TURN (or PASS)
1-2 MEN Step back left, step right across (or behind) left
LADIES Step forward right, step forward left
Release right hand/ lady passes under mans left hand. Left hand to lady's shoulder and LEAD her to turn between shuffles.
3&4 MEN Face 1/4 turn right and shuffle in place left
LADIES Shuffle in-place right
5&6 MEN Move back into the slot face 1/4 turn right and shuffle right
LADIES Pivot 1/2 turn left shuffle left
Recover lady's left hand in your right.
SIDE PASS
1-2 MEN Step back left, side step right
LADIES Step forward right, step forward left
Release right hand, left hand goes to lady's waist. LEAD lady to turn between shuffles.
3&4 MEN Face 1/4 turn left and shuffle in place left
LADIES Shuffle in-place right
5&6 MEN Move back into the slot face 1/4 turn left and shuffle right
LADIES Face 1/2 turn left shuffle left
Recover lady's left hand in your right.
SUGAR PUSH
1-2 MEN Step back left, step back right
LADIES Step forward right, step forward left
3-4 MEN Step back left, touch right toe together
LADIES Step forward right, touch left toe together
5&6 MEN Coaster step forward right
LADIES Back coaster step left
Definition: COASTER STEP: Shuffle step used to change momentum
BACK=Step back on lead foot, together with following foot, forward with lead foot
FORWARD= Step forward on lead foot, together with following foot, back with lead foot
TUCK TURN 1-2 MEN Step back left, side step right LADIES Step forward right, step forward left 3 MEN Touch left toe together and PREP LADIES Touch right toe together PREP: Turn lady slightly to her left, raising your left hand 4 MEN Step together left and LEAD lady in to a right turn LADIES Face right based on lead and step right pointing toe as far right as comfortable LEAD: Release your right hand and begin turning lady to her right 5&6 MEN Move back into the slot face 1/4 turn left and shuffle right LADIES Face 1/2 turn right and shuffle left Where moves call for touch-steps, the new WCS dancer may want to just do shuffles until they become comfortable with the basic move. Many students (myself included) find the change in the step pattern disorienting at first. My recommendation is to get the feel for the dance itself by practicing all the 6 count moves as step-step-shuffle-shuffle. Then get the 8-count whip pattern down. Then start inserting the step-step-touch-step-shuffle pattern into the Sugar Push and Tuck Turn
WHIP
1-2 MEN Step back left, step right across (or behind) left
LADIES Step forward right, step forward left
DO NOT release hands.
Man lowers his right/her left hands and the lady moves forward into a wrap position.
3&4 MEN Shuffle left while moving around lady's back
LADIES Right forward coaster step
Man's left/lady's right hands go over her head to complete the wrap. Release right hand at count 5
5-6 MEN Move back into the slot stepping right, left facing 1/2 turn right
LADIES Step back left, step back right
7&8 MEN Shuffle right
LADIES Left back coaster step
Variations:
On count 5-6 release LEFT hand and lead lady to a FULL turn right
On count 5-6 GENTLY press down with your thumbs leading the lady into a duck out, release right hand and pivot face lady