West Coast Swing
Learn fundamental patterns in both 6 and 8 counts and then explore the wide world of variations through turns, footworks, and creative expression.
West Coast Swing is one of the hottest dances right now, exploding in popularity around the world. Whether you want to social dance, compete, or just vibe to Top 40 hits, this dance has something for everyone!
While its roots lie with Swing and Lindy Hop, it has undergone a style evolution all its own and is now characterized by smooth partnering, complex lines, creativity, and momentum.
In this comprehensive online course, you'll learn fundamental patterns in both 6 and 8 count timing as well as many fun variations. There's also a bonus unit on incorporating Fusion into your West Coast Swing dancing to allow you to explore and express your creativity in even more ways. After completing this course, you'll be ready to dance West Coast Swing anywhere in the world!
Welcome to West Coast Swing!
How We Teach
Lead and Follow
Dance Positions
Six Count Timing
The Slot
Right Side Pass (Underarm Turn)
Left Side Pass
The Anchor
The Get Down (Anchoring Exercise)
Sugar Push (Push Break)
Sugar Push to Change Hands
Spinning Left Side Pass
Spinning Left Side Pass with Hand Catch
Starter Steps and Inside Turn Sendout
Sugar Tuck
Eight Count Timing
Whip
West Coast Swing - Practice
Roll In Roll Out
Sweetheart Fold
Crossed-Hand Face Loop Sugar Push
Goofy Hand Sugar Push with Hooked Triple
Roll In Duck
Roll In Roll Out, Rock and Go
Basket Whip
Double Outside Turn
Wrist Clips
Sugar Tuck with Follow's Twist
Cutoff Whip
Cutoff Whip, Outside Turn
Free Spin Whip
Pivoting Whip
Tuck Turn Sendout
Tuck Free Spin Sendout
Passing Tuck
Passing Tuck with Follow's Slide
Short Slingshot
Slingshot
Sugar Slingshot
Slow Barrel Roll
Intro to Fusion in West Coast Swing
Fusion Basics
Opposition Sways
Ochos Sendout
Playing with the Footwork
Here's a preview of some of the music this course will teach you to dance to:
In this course, you'll learn the basics and many popular variations of West Coast Swing. Whether you choose to learn to lead or follow, after taking this course, you'll have a good understanding of how to dance West Coast Swing.
In our online classes, everyone gets the best view, instead of having to crane their neck to see what the teacher is doing. In addition, when learning online, you can watch the lessons over and over again (now, and any time in the future), as well as rewinding or slowing down the video if you need more help with a particular step.
Unlike many other sites that offer online classes, where you might only get a quick demonstration of the steps, in the hours of detailed instruction you will receive in this course, you'll actually get a step-by-step breakdown of each variation as well as many specific tips about the finer points of leading and following them. In addition, in developing this course, we thought carefully about how to arrange the variations so that each lesson builds on what you've learned in the previous lessons, so you'll always know exactly what's going on.
No! In addition to teaching the variations in a partnered context for students who are learning with a partner, in each lesson, we virtually dance the steps with you so that even if you're learning solo, you'll have us to dance with.