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Other Basic WCS Information:
In one of Arthur
Murray's dance books in the mid 1940's, Murray
describes a dance called "Rock and
Roll dancing." It names the "Under Arm Pass, the Whip and the
Sugar-Push." The ladies are told to take " Two
Walk Steps forward " on counts 1-2 towards the man (and not away)
and describes the "Coaster Step" and "Anchor step" very
clearly. Later he would call this style of "Western Swing" "Sophisticated
Swing." Today there are eight basic steps that the whole dance
revolves upon. They Are:
1) Closed Starter Basic and Preparatory Basic, 2) Throw-Out, 3) Under-Arm
Pass, 4) Under Arm Pass with a Hand Change, 5) Side Pass, 6) Sugar Push (es),
7) Open Two Hand Tuck Turn, 8) The Basic Whip (the Whip is also the very
first pattern into intermediate as well).
In the 1940's Ms.
Laurie' Haile (d.) was hired by Mr. Murray to document the dances
set in Murray's curriculum and the
current dances being done around town. This was no easy task, but she did it
beautifully. She knew Dean Collins and some of the other dancers and
documented what they along with the Sailors in San Diego
and Long Beach were doing at the
time. She called it "Western Swing" which is were we get the name
"West Coast Swing." However, the term Western Swing as opposed to
Eastern Swing would later be confused as Country Western Swing or Western
Swing Music (think Bob Wills) because of the western part in the name and
Country-Western Swing was not West Coast Swing by any means. This was right
about the time of Murray's book (above.)
Myrna Myron of Myron's Ballroom
in Los Angeles, California
coined the term "Sophisticated Swing" in a conversation to Arthur
Murray describing what she saw being done around Los
Angeles in the early 1950's. Although a song title
with that name did exist earlier, it was not associated with swing as a dance
but rather a musical style. West Coast did not look like the reckless abandon
of the previous swingers and looked much more smooth, polished and stylish. Murray
used this term quite frequently to describe West Coast Swing.
American Bandstand introduced a dance called the
"Slop" which was just another term for West Coast Swing when done as
a couples dance. Historically, the Dance Master's of America were trying to
control what people danced and tried every year to create, develop and
introduce new dances to the money spending public. When the music would change
they would just change the name of some of the dances and re-introduce them to
the public. Swing as a dance was the main dance that would be changed or another
variation of the same dance was introduced such as "single rhythm"
instead Of the "triple rhythm" as well as many performers trying to
take credit for a new style by giving it a new name.
The Ballroom community, looking for a much more simple and
mild form of swing, invented a much simpler and milder form called
"Eastern Swing" (East
Coast Swing) in the forties. In Los Angeles
in the 1940's and 50's many teachers would dance West Coast Swing as sort of
an enticement. But when the potential student would ask what it was and where
they could learn it, they would be told it was (East Coast) Jitterbug
(as you were only allowed to teach the studio's syllabus governed by the
Dance Masters Org.) and signed them up. Plus add the fact that America was
racist about teaching their adorable young school children this vulgar
African-American vernacular based dance of any form and could get you shot (well
fired maybe) by doing so. East Coast was much easier to teach, learn and
sell to parents. However, the student would think they were getting one style,
but unfortunately was taught THE OTHER (See East
Coast) and if they could advance they were finally taught WCS
privately. Many dancer's of the 1950's grew up on East Coast Swing as that was
the only style of swing that was allowed to be taught in the dance studio's
due to racial factors (like above) at the time as well as it being much easier
to do.
During the 1960's, Television put
dancing on the back burner. Most people did not have to leave their homes for
an evenings entertainment as in the past. Televisions
were now affordable and almost in everyone's home. Since these couples dancers
were not going out and dancing and leading the way, newer dancers generally
did not know what or how to do the dances of the past. In walks a dance called
the "Twist, Frug, Hully Gully etcetera" plus "dancing
in the sand" at the beach would be the death blow to most structured
partner dances (thanks gidget) and no one had to learn anything, just
flap your arms, shake your hips or twist and shake the night away". Other
freeform style dances would follow and a whole generation grew up without
partner dancing. However, there were still a small group
that did dance and kept it alive, these dancers formed Swing dance clubs and
would continue to pass it on when they could.
Then in the 1970's, Disco
became the rage and these Swing Dancers were now dancing to new Disco
music trying to entice younger members. These new dancers of the 1970s did not
know of the earlier dances and copied some of the Swing and Salsa dancers that
they saw or remembered. (The Hustle
is a mix of Latin and EC Swing.) Then a few years later,
Country Western music and dancing gained popularity and people were now
confusing "Western Swing (WCS)" with Country Western dancing or
Country Western Swing. It took many dance teachers to call it "West Coast
Swing" to veer away from any Country Western association, however, rare,
the term West Coast Swing in print was used as far back as the mid 1940s to
late 1950's. There are some who claim to have named the dance over the years,
but there is some printed and dated documentation that exists prior to their
claims to discredit them. For a time many Country Western
establishments outlawed West Coast Swing being done in the clubs (only a
few dancers were doing it at the time) ... as being to Sexy and to much
Attitude along with stating it NOT being Country. However after awhile everyone
wanted to do it except for the die hard C/w dancers.
When the music (Big Band) died in the 1950's and Rock
and Roll music became popular, swing dancers had to adapt and swing to
Rock and Roll music. Then the 1960's came along and the Twist
... again they adapted to the music. Then the Disco beats of the 1970's and
they adapted again ... where as today we no longer adapt ... we embrace the
new danceable music. "We loved Swing dancing and would do it no matter
what music was played." We we're not leaving the dance just because the
music changed. Today, these things make it one of the most versatile dances
you can learn. Today's dancers tend to like the different rhythms and
syncopations of the different music styles to dance too and play with which
helps keep them dancing all night long. West Coaster's generally do not like
dancing to live music, (Blues being the exception) as the
musicians/singers are usually not versatile enough or do not want to play all
the different styles of music (Latin, Funk, Pop, Motown, Soul, Disco, R&B,
Blues.) Understandably, they tend to play only a specific style and tend to
not play other musician's songs or styles we tend to love, but these dancers
do respect all musicians, and we show our appreciation by purchasing CD's and
raving about their songs.
West Coast Swing is still evolving. Today, it is not
similar to its ancestor - Savoy Style Lindy at all. It
does not have a certain dress style, usually just casual dress of the day.
However, it does tend to be more modern in clothes. It is not music dependent,
(meaning that) IT CAN BE DANCED TO ANY 4/4 time music available. The
basic music for West Coast Swing is generally the Blues which, is generally
made up of swung eighth's (a type of shuffle
rhythm.) However many dancers also like dancing to the more up-tempo
rhythms of Funk,
Disco, Jazz, Soul, Motown, Beach, Techno, Rap, Pop, as well as Country, Big
Band Swing, Retro, and even some Latin. As long as they can count it and feel
the "swing" or pulse of the Down and Upbeats and is basically of
good rhythmic sound it becomes a song you can dance West Coast Swing to (however,
it is not swing music). Lessor trained dancers usually can only hear one
type of rhythm which is usually based on the dance they are best at. There is
no rule written that a particular song has to have a particular dance and vice-a-versa
but there are always some who UNSUCCESSFULLY try to convince us of this.
Although many songs definitely have a style of dance in mind when they were
written and are not crossovers, meaning that, the particular dance style
should be done to that particular song (example: Hernando's
Hideaway=Tango, not another dance.)
You can basically dance West Coast almost anywhere, almost
any place and at any time with almost anyone, any way you want to do it (classic,
contemporary, old skool etc). Once you learn the basics, you are never
told, that isn't original style-Don't do it!. West
Coast Swing is a dancers dance, it's a living dance,
meaning, that this dance will always change to challenge you, with many dance
styles / movements inbred into the dance. There are over 5000 documented
patterns and more are added every year. West Coast Swing has added alot of the
old hustle patterns (Sw-ustle ) as well. Carolina
Shag footwork is being added to its already extensive list of WCS footwork
patterns (Sw-ag. )
The Lindy dancers did do this as well in their day by adding the dances of the
Charleston,
Shimmy,
Black
Bottom, Baltimore Buzz, Grind, Mule, Apache,
Texas
Tommy, Mooch and Sugar to the Breakaway
etc. of DAYS GONE BY (To bad they did not have Hustle,
Disco, Lambada, Dirty Dancing, Mambo, Latin,
Cha-Cha, Hip-Hop
dances etc. to add to the Lindy back in 1927 .... Oops, that would make it WCS
:). Best of all, because of the tempo, you can dance West Coast Swing all
night long with young and old alike and not have a heart attack. All forms of
swing can be done fast, INCLUDING WCS, but only one can be done real slow and
still look and feel great ... WCS!.
Because of the music style variation the West Coast
Swingers dance to, this dance is always under attack from the
"Purists." However, West Coast Swing is a "Living Dance",
meaning it is an old dance form constantly evolving, growing and changing to
the music style of the ever changing times, (but we will never leave the
Blues) with the 'old skool classic style' being highly sought after so as
the dancer possesses great roots (fundamentals/basics) in the dance,
rather than just having a 'temporary-contemporary' style that may change or be
dead and gone next year. The two main styles of West Coast are "Classic
W.C. Swing (pulsing down) and "Funky or Contemporary W.C.
Swing" (pulsing up) with the basic steps being exactly the same,
just done to different types of music which gives a different feel and look.
Without a good understanding of the 'Classic Style', you can not master the
other. Although teenagers are encouraged to try, and some have become fantastic
paid performers, movie, TV dancers and dance contestants, this dance
unfortunately is mainly for adults.
A couple of years ago (around 1997), the
Retro-Swingers started to use an the old term called
"Hollywood Style Lindy" before they realized it was basically
Classic West Coast Swing. They now just call it Hollywood Style Swing with the
term being coined by Erik and Sylvia Robeson. This Hollywood Style Swing was
actually the original form of West Coast Swing, as done by Dean
Collins and Jewel McGowen and others of days gone by. Many of the old
time West Coast Swingers who are still around today have helped them with this
"authentic style" which is really very kewl. However, when they try
to turn Hollywood into today's
West Coast they come up a little short (however it is very workable.)
The Westie has to dance very basic to low intermediate style/steps with the
Hollywood Style dancer until they get the idea, then they rock!.
In competition, West Coast Swing has become a highly
technical dance, that is not very friendly to the average competition dancer,
in other words, they devour their young!. The
competitor needs to put many long hours and finances into the competition
arena and the rewards are few, (except for the reward of looking so damn
good!). On the social side however, it's not near as serious except for
being taught like you are a future champion dancer (you could be the next
champ-right!) during the dance lessons. When learning this dance, the
dancer needs to keep a very open mind to succeed or they will fail as the
dance uses many different and varied techniques. There is
many levels of progression when learning. Plus, there's not a better group of
people YOUNG or OLD to be found. Once you learn, you will have many friends
for life as well as being able to dance to all kinds of music, anywhere,
anytime with anyone.
Many folks ask what style of swing (Jitterbug) is best,
West Coast, East Coast, Whip, Push, Lindy, Shag etc. However, there is no best
style. The best style would depend on what type of music you are dancing to at
the time, geographic's, the theme of the dance being held, the speed in which
the music is played and the dance knowledge of you and or your partner. If
you're partner only knows one style of swing, then their style would be the
best style to dance with them at that time. If they only know one style they
usually will declare that the style they know is the best style above all
others and usually will make derogatory statements about other styles for many
varied reasons.
Swing (aka: Jitterbug) is a wonderful dance form in all it's
versions that fits all types of music, Personalities, Finances etc. Calling
yourself a swing dancer means you can at least do the basics in many forms of
swing and a few well. So learn to swing dance
whatever style, you're unique and your dances should be varied and your style
should represent your knowledge of dance that other, newer dancers (and
they are the majority) don't posses and not limiting yourself to only
one. However you will eventually find you like them all and soon you will
understand the importance of them all, as well as understand why there are
different styles to begin with. So enjoy them and mainly smile, laugh and have
fun. ... ... Copyright: Sonny Watson!
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