Leading and following become easier, more comfortable, and more responsive once you learn to lead or follow from your body’s movement, rather than your arm. This drill is designed to help you learn how to move your body in order to generate or feel a lead. The Drill: For this drill, you will need both… Continue Reading
Tag Archives: lead-follow
Doubles and Triples as Lead-Follow Concepts
Although we learn the west coast rhythm of double triple triple by rote, higher-level dancers actually lead (and follow) doubles and triples differently. By learning how to lead or follow a specific rhythm pattern, it becomes possible to dance variations such as triple double triple or double double double. In lead-follow terms, triple steps occur… 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
Partnering Skills: Mirroring
Watching pro WCS dancers play is amazing in part because they are so good at mirroring each other and building on their partner’s ideas. This drill is designed to build your own mirroring skills in two respects. First, it will help you build the habit of observing your partner and matching what they are doing.… Continue Reading
Staying into Compression
This entry is part 4 of 4 in the series Connection TheoryThe previous post in this series described the away, or leverage, connection. This post will describe the towards connection, which is also known as compression. A compression connection is used whenever the follower’s center is supposed to move away from the leader’s center. Mario… Continue Reading
Staying Back in Leverage
This entry is part 3 of 4 in the series Connection TheoryIn west coast swing, movement by the follower towards the leader results from an away, or leverage, connection. This partner exercise is designed to help both partners maintain that connection. Mario Robau describes the away connection in terms of waterskiing. The leader is the… Continue Reading
Smooth Connection: Playing with Quarters
The goal of this drill is to help dancers become aware of when they break connection with their partner. The Drill: Connect with your partner in open position as normal, and feel the away connection where the fingers pull against each other. Put a quarter in between this connection point; the quarter should be held up… Continue Reading
What is West Coast Swing?
West coast swing, or WCS, is a popular form of swing dancing that has spread from the US across the world. Part of the appeal of WCS is that it is an adaptable dance; it can be danced to a variety of musical styles and tempos, from 1940s big band swing and 60s soul to… Continue Reading