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Posted on Saturday, April 16, 2016 12:47 PM
10 THINGS GOOD WEST COAST SWING
DANCERS DO DIFFERENTLY Thank you Brian B. from West Coast Swing Online for writing this. Good Stuff !
There are a lot of things that
separate good dancers from poor dancers and great dancers from good dancers.
Background, physical talents and years in the game are all factors that come
into play. As a teacher I live in a world where I’m consumed by getting
the most out of what I have without making excuses. That being said here are 10
things that you can and should be doing if you want to take your West Coast
Swing dancing to the next level. |
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Colin: Posted on Sunday, January 20, 2013 9:13 PM
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 challenge, but it’s also worth acknowledging that this is a demanding dance, and that it’s natural to have moments of frustration. - Triple steps are hard.Very few social dances use triple steps because they require a strong sense of rhythm to place the & and they demand a high level of control over the body center during the triple.
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Colin: Posted on Sunday, January 20, 2013 9:08 PM
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 contemporary/top 40, hiphop, and of course the blues. In addition, the dance itself creates room for improvisation and interaction between the partners. Combine these elements with theethos |
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NASDE: Posted on Thursday, May 31, 2012 2:43 PM
As defined by the NASDE (National Association of Swing Dance Events) NASDE Statement of Swing to be used to identify the presence of swing in the NASDE competition divisions. Swing is an American Rhythm Dancebased on a foundation of 6-beat and 8-beat patterns that incorporate a wide variety of rhythms built on 2-beat single, delayed, double, triple, and blank rhythm units. The 6-beat patterns include,but are not limited to, passes, underarm turns, push-breaks, open-to-closed, and closed-to-open position patterns. |
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Posted on Monday, April 02, 2012 12:10 PM
I am often asked what do I need to do or know to do well in a Jack and Jill or Strictly Swing ? Another loaded question ! First it depends on the level in which you are trying to compete. Second is what part of the country or world or where are you going to be dancing or competing. Requirements to do well for each level can change with every different panel of judges and sometimes even with the same panel of judges it can be different from one day to the next. Each event judge has their own perception and expectation of what makes good west coast swing or dancing in general. |
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Posted on Wednesday, March 21, 2012 12:51 PM
I am often asked which is the most important for west coast swing or dancing in general.. is it technique, musicality, showmanship, timing or many other related possibilities ? my reply is wow !! that's a loaded question ! Mainly because all the other elements I was asked to compare technique to which are musicality, showmanship and timing..are all comprised of specific techniques of their own which make them useful.. So for me I strongly believe that technique has to be the obvious answer to the question ! |
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Michael Kiehm : Posted on Monday, January 16, 2012 2:21 PM
I speak of these things often in private lessons as well as group classes and workshops. But here it is again summed up clearly in an article by a friend and colleague Mr. Micheal Kiehm. Enjoy and learn ! I am always available for private lessons to help you with this. .
This weeks topic is "conversing thru connection"
You need the following traits to be considered an advanced dancer in any style of dance.
Excellent technique (footwork, lead/follow) |
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Robin Smith: Posted on Sunday, December 11, 2011 9:53 PM
TIMING - TEAMWORK and TECHNIQUEAll the recent bantering back and forth on the internet about what is swing, swing content and the lack of or presence of it has given me reason to think about just how misunderstood what we do or are trying to do when we dance west coast swing.I am thinking about the first of the 3 T's (Timing, Teamwork and Technique)which most judges base their decisions on regarding who wins, who places and even those that make semi-finals and finals in Jack and Jills and Strictly swing. |
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Posted on Saturday, July 02, 2011 9:55 PM
I have had similar conversations in private lessons I was teaching with different students thru the years....Thank you Michael Kiehm for summerizing it so nicely. "Musicality" by Michael Kiehm (Starlight Dance-San Diego, California) Everyone wants to considered "musically gifted", but very few can claim ownership of this title. It's as though every move they make seems choreographed to the song, even if they've never heard the song before! Well, for those gifted in this concept, you may want to read this as "light reading" and please, please, just appreciate your skill. |
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Posted on Friday, June 24, 2011 10:17 AM
Posture, Posture, Posture Having a little time today to think about technique and how each thing.. sometimes even the smallest thing when done consistently can improve your dance tremendously. When judging I often see the new dancers strugggling with the same issues I struggled with.. one of the biggest issues is Posture... Stand up people !! Whether dancing, running, walking or sitting good posture offers enormous benefits... not just for your dancing but for your health too ! |
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