West Coast Swing is a modern evolution of East Coast Swing, danced to Blues, R&B, Soul, and contemporary music. Its footwork is rooted in a 6-count basic, but the style has adapted over time to fit more modern rhythms and aesthetics, eventually becoming its own distinct dance. Still, it remains a distant cousin—more like a different dialect of the same language—so while dancers from each style can “understand” one another, they may feel the other group simply “talks funny.”

Nope, just show up. New dancers get a warm welcome by the dance community! There will be plenty of helpful folks who are ready and willing to dance with new people. And most dances have a lesson at the beginning too- a great way to meet newer dancers.

A: You can learn the basics in just a few hours, but mastering West Coast Swing—like learning an instrument—takes time and practice. Don’t get discouraged! Take classes from a variety of teachers, be patient with yourself, and social dance often to build confidence and skill.

West Coast Swing—as in any partner dance—there are leaders and followers. Traditionally, these roles were assigned along gender lines, with men leading and women following. Today, however, we fully embrace anyone taking on either role, regardless of gender.

ItemIt’s an awareness of others on the dance floor. It’s dance floor courtesy. Floor craft is an art that should be practiced while on the dance floor. Knowing how the dance works and how the other couples on the floor will move is important. This is especially important for leaders. Leaders need to avoid sending their followers crashing into others on the dance floor. If you happen to kick somebody accidentally, stop and see if they’re okay and tell them you’re sorry. And try to be mindful of your steps if you are dancing backwards. If you do happen to kick somebody really badly, check on them after the song is over just as an extra courtesy. description

ItemSince you’ll be in close proximity to another person when you’re dancing, it is very important to have fresh breath and deodorant. We would also recommend avoiding dishes with lots of garlic before a dance…sadly, many of us avoid Italian food before a dance, but that has the added benefit of not weighing us down while we dance with a belly full of heavy pasta. Let’s face it, we all sweat, but packing a small towel or an extra shirt goes a really long way to make those who dance with you happy. description