This entry is part 8 of 8 in the series Beginner TrackFor new dancers, one of the key moments in learning WCS is when they are able to relax during the anchor instead of racing through it. Relaxing seems odd during the anchor—after all, you are doing a triple step and you need to have… Continue Reading
Tag Archives: anchor
Connection is not a Lead
Many beginning WCS dancers make the mistake of confusing connection with a lead. At the end of every pattern, the partners should connect during the anchor by stretching away from each other. However, this connection is not yet a lead, even though the partners are pulling away from each other. For followers, confusing connection with… Continue Reading
Staying in the Anchor
This entry is part 6 of 8 in the series Beginner TrackNow that you know how to perform an anchor, the next skill to master is staying in the anchor position. For leaders, stopping the forward momentum into the anchor is a challenging skill. Because the leader is traveling towards the follower right before the… Continue Reading
The WCS Anchor and Body Weight
This entry is part 5 of 8 in the series Beginner TrackLast week, we practiced the foot position of the WCS anchor. This week, we’re going to focus on where your body weight is during the anchor. Remember that anchors stretch away from your partner. This drill will teach you how to do this throughout… Continue Reading
Learning the WCS Anchor
This entry is part 4 of 8 in the series Beginner TrackThe anchor is one of the most important parts of west coast swing. Not only does every pattern end in an anchor—so you dance anchors a lot—but the anchor is also responsible for much of the distinctive look to WCS. Elasticity, smoothness, the relaxed… Continue Reading
Standard Foot Positions
All forms of dance share several standard foot positions. This article will describe the standard foot positions and explain where they turn up in west coast swing. First Foot Position In first foot position, the two feet are next to each other. Like all foot positions, this position can have varying degrees of turnout. In… Continue Reading
The Challenge of West Coast Swing
West coast swing is generally regarded as one of the most challenging social dances to learn. The purpose of this post is to explore some of the reasons why WCS can be challenging in order to help dancers understand why learning WCS can be difficult. Obviously, I believe that west coast is well worth the… Continue Reading
Anchor Variations
There are really only three ways to get into an anchor in west coast swing: you can step down the slot (i.e., away from your partner), you can turn to your right, or you can turn to your left. Each of these directions sets up your momentum for different anchor variations. The purpose of this… Continue Reading
Pareto’s Principle: Making the Most of Your Practice
It’s easy to become overwhelmed by a dance like west coast swing. There are so many patterns, concepts, and skills to work on—how do you choose between cleaning up your basics, mastering pot stirs, learning musicality, picking up new footwork variations, and understanding how to play? Enter Pareto’s Principle. Also known as the 80-20 rule, Pareto’s… Continue Reading
Stretching: Learning the Arc of Momentum
From a physics perspective, what happens when someone goes bungee jumping is remarkably similar to the stretching that should happen on an anchor in WCS, according to Robert Royston. Let’s say that you have a bungee cord that is 20 feet long, and you jump off a bridge. For the first 20 feet down, you… Continue Reading