West Coast Swing is a contemporary partner dance that evolved from the Lindy Hop and is characterized by its elastic, smooth style. It typically features a mix of blues, jazz, and contemporary music. Key characteristics include: 1. Dance Style: It is a slot dance, which means that the partners generally stay in a designated area on the dance floor, moving back and forth along a central line, rather than rotating around. 2. Connection: The dance emphasizes a strong connection between partners, allowing for improvisation and creative movement. 3. Lead and Follow: The dance is typically structured with a lead (usually the male partner) guiding the follow (usually the female partner) through a series of patterns and improvisational movements. 4. Varied Music: West Coast Swing can be danced to a wide range of musical genres, from traditional blues to pop and even country. 5. Community: It is known for its friendly dance community and social dance events, often featuring workshops, competitions, and social dances. West Coast Swing is enjoyed both socially and competitively, with dancers showcasing their skills in various styles and interpretations.

In any partner dance—much like in life—there are roles of leading and following. Traditionally, these roles have been divided along gender lines, with men leading and women following. Today, however, we embrace a more open-minded approach in which dancers of any gender may take on either role.

No, just show up. New dancers are warmly welcomed by the dance community. There are always plenty of friendly, helpful people who are happy to dance with newcomers. Most dances also start with a lesson, which is a great way to learn the basics and meet other new dancers.

West Coast Swing—or basic 6-count swing—can be picked up in just a couple of hours. But like learning an instrument such as the piano, there’s no limit to how far you can go. Very few people sit down at a piano for the first time and start playing Mozart, and swing dancing is no different. Mastering West Coast Swing takes time, patience, and practice. Don’t get discouraged—take lessons from a variety of teachers, be kind to yourself, and enjoy the journey. Most of all, dance socially as much as you can.

Since 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.

It’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.