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West Coast Swing Dance Lessons
Here are Dr Matt's lessons for learning West Coast Swing:
Archive 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 pics
Best Music Tempo for Learning West Coast Swing
by Dr Matt
Hi West Coast Swingers:
When learning the West Coast Swing, it's good to practice to slower music; this way, you force yourself to articulate the rhythm of the footwork more accurately.
Buddy Guy: Mustang Sally = 108 bpm - beats per minute
Spice Girls: Say You'll Be There = 110 bpm
B-Witched: C'est La Vie = 112 bpm
Fantasia: Chain Of Fools = 115 bpm
* Live American Idol performance — music starts at 0:15
Anastacia: I'm Outta Love = 118 bpm
* Watch the U.S. West Coast Swing Champions dance to this music
Anastacia: Made For Lovin' You = 120 bpm
Practice your BASICS to the beat of the Music:
Sugar Push
Underarm Pass
Left Side Pass
The Whip
For excellent explanations of how each of the previous basic steps are danced, visit BallroomDancer.com — their detailed descriptions are excellent! In the mean time, here's my description of the Whip Footwork:
After TWO Slow walking steps that turn right 180 degrees, you do a Coaster Step:
BACK TOGETHER FORWARD = description of your foot placement
Right Left Right = which foot does what?
quick quick Slow = footwork rhythm
3 & 4 = musical counts as you do this step
The Coaster Step is a kind of "Triple Step" . . . this means you will step 3 times during 2 musical counts of the music. To Repeat: that's 3 foot movements in 2 musical counts!
Again, try to imitate the way Donna Roselle does the basics. You can absolutely SEE THE RHYTHM IN HER BODY
Note that Donna does a Lock Whip (she calls it a Basket Whip); and the rhythm of this step is exactly the SAME as all other Whips. The rhythm for the Whip can be described three ways:
Double Triple Double Triple OR
1 2, 3 & 4 5 6 7 & 8 OR
S S qqS S S qqS OR
Slow Slow, quick quick Slow, Slow Slow, quick quick Slow
As opposed to the footwork rhythm of the Sugar Push, Sugar Tuck, Underarm Pass, or Left Side Pass:
Double Triple Triple OR
1 2, 3 & 4 7 & 8 OR
S S qqS qqS OR
Slow Slow, quick quick Slow, quick quick Slow
As you can SEE, the Whip adds Two Extra Counts to the basic rhythm
Happy Practicing,
Matt
Dr Matt will always connect you to the coolest steps!
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