The Versatility of West Coast Swing
03.13.11

I had an interesting conversation with another pro level dancer just recently. In this discussion, a ballroom pro (Latin style to be specific, but well versed in all ballroom) had experienced a recent weekend West Coast Swing event.
 
The thing that stuck out most to him was the ability to change partners and maintain a high level of dance in our genre. The level of lead and follow capability was just astounding!
 
It has been his experience that ballroom couples struggle with this dance aspect. In many cases, they start and stop after a few moments to rest and start again. Style struggle to mesh and difference in pattern learning create gaps that cause these misfires.
 
In West Coast Swing, our dance is built around an essential series of basics. They may be taught in different ways, so it is possible that there will be communications issues in dancers with different backgrounds.
 
However, WCS dancers do not have reflective patterns for the most part. This requires the leader and the follower to deal with their own set of responsibilities and interpret the lead on the fly. Our ladies tend to have the independence worked into their dance to follow and keep moving when things get confusing.
 
This flexibility creates a more open approach to the dance. The difficulty for some in learning the dance may come from this very attribute. Many people come into dance looking for a recipe and in ballroom studio settings, that is their specialty.
 
When studios take on WCS for their students, the approach seems to break down. The fluidity and spontaneity of the dance is compromised.
 
The advent of West Coast Swing around the world is also highlighting the difference in approach. From the basics, all kinds of ideas spring from so many different corners of the world and WCS seems destined to contantly evolution and adaptation.
 
With these changes, comes resistance and South Florida has been an area where the resistance is finally falling away. New, young dancers and many established performers are building ideas from their travels and other resources now available. The emergence of YouTube and other communication systems has allowed the new ideas to become more universally known. The speed of this communication allows the whole idea nursery to accelerate.
 
When all is said and done, your basics are the key to bringing those new ideas out in your dance. WIthout the fundamental techniques that go with your basic WCS patterns, your ability to accomplish as much as your talent can allow is compromised.
 
It is said that novice dancers look for intermediate ideas, intermediate dancers seek advanced patterns and advanced dancers go back to the basics. Take the shortcut and work your basics as hard as you can. Be everything in dance that you can be and do it sooner...