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Who's Leading?
If you've ever taken dance lessons or practiced with a partner, you've probably thought about this question in a variety of ways.
The concept seems simple enough - we always hear that the man "leads" when dancing.
Advanced dancers understand that the man gives direction (lightly and easily) while the lady takes the lead and, "with enthusiasm" and "under her own steam," follows through with the indicated movement or step.
Naturally, she can only "follow through" as far as her partner's body or arms allow. If she goes "too far," she runs the risk of knocking the pair off balance.
However, even this simple concept can give you trouble. Consider this: The person in the partnership with their back to the line of dance is actually "leading" the way down the floor. The couple can only go "forward" as far as this person allows.
So, if this is you (ladies!), it is a good idea to move fully through your backward steps. Once your partner gives you a direction and indicates your timing, go for it and extend your backward-reaching leg as far as possible. (Don't lean forward or thrust your hips out from underneath you, but bend those knees to reach further.)
Remember - the two of you can only smoothly move "forward" as far as you allow.
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• What is a leader/follower?
In social couples dancing – that is, couples dancing that is not choreographed – one partner must lead the dance and the other partner follows the lead. Leaders give followers direction, using physical cues, as to what move will be done next. Followers should not initiate moves; however, they are free to execute the move using whatever styling they like.
• What is East Coast Swing?
Also known as Jitterbug, Triple Swing or Triple-Step Swing, East Coast Swing is a fun and energetic dance characterized by a “lilting” motion, triple steps and rock steps. It was developed by American ballroom dancers can be danced to a variety of music, but primarily blues, swing, and big-band music. It is a spot dance, meaning that it is danced in one small area but there is no line, or "slot" for the follower to stay within. The basic step consists of two triple steps (sometimes these are hops) and a rock step. ECS is danced with bent legs and waist, and the dance involves a lot of turning. It is a fast dance, typically danced at 32-40 measures per minute. East Coast Swing is a good dance to learn as a foundation for other styles of swing dancing.
• What is West Coast Swing?
West Coast Swing is a smooth, cool, sexy style of swing dancing that allows for an exceptional amount of improvisation and “play” by both partners. It developed as a “street” dance American blues clubs in the 1940s and 1950s. Its basic patterns consist of steps and triple steps.
One of its defining characteristics is the wide variety of music that West Coast Swing can be danced to – including classic rock, blues, pop, hip-hop, Motown, disco, funk, and swing. It is also defined by a “slot”; that is, it is danced within a long rectangular area of the floor (rather than in a circle or around the perimeter of a dance floor).
• Which type of Swing should I learn?
The answer to this question is a matter of personal preference as well as where you plan on dancing. Both dances are quite versatile. West coast swing can be very impressive when the music is also a little slower. There is a myriad of moves and patterns to learn in this wonderful dance that continues to evolve. The two forms also have both have similarities in rhythm and differences in styling. West coast swing is danced to greater variety of popular music as well as blues and country music. East Coast Swing is often more closely associated with Big Band Music, popular upbeat music and motown. You may want to find out which swing dance is danced more where you plan on dancing.
• What is Swing dancing?
Swing dancing is a style of couples dancing that became popular in the United States in the 1930s as swing-jazz, or "big-band" music evolved. It originated in large dance halls with very energetic – even acrobatic – dancing. Numerous styles of Swing dance evolved, including Jitterbug, Lindy Hop, West Coast Swing and East Coast Swing and Jive.
In 1985, the following definition of Swing dancing was accepted and adopted by the original U.S. Swing Dance Council:
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" ‘SWING' is an all American ‘Rhythm Dance', consisting primarily of ‘6 beat' and ‘8 beat' patterns. The dance is confined to either a circular or slotted area on the dance floor. Swing incorporates underarm turns, side passes, pushes, whips, rhythm & style variations, ‘4-beat' rhythm breaks, syncopations and extensions. Although STYLES may change from area to area (and even local club to club) – ALL styles incorporate the same basic, identifiable, ‘rhythm combinations' and compatible, fundamental moves."
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In 1986, because of the heavy influence of Hustle, Cha-Cha and Modern Jazz variations, additional meetings and discussions within the U.S. Swing Dance Council produced the following clarification:
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"If you can identify the dance as something ELSE, (Jazz, Hustle, Ch-Cha, Balboa, Charleston, etc. – then it is NOT Swing. These Companion Dances are acceptable with, but not instead of, Swing).
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So … which "Swing" Styles qualify as Swing? Here is the official list: Lindy Hop, New Yorker, Dallas Push, Houston Whip, Imperial Swing, Carolina Shag, East Coast Swing and West Coast Swing. The following dances do NOT qualify as Swing: ‘4 count' swing, Pony, Cowboy or Rodeo Swing, Mélange (4-Count Hustle) and Hustle.
The Syracuse Swing Dance Society has informative and more detailed definitions of Swing dances here: www.syrswingdance.org/swing.html
 • What is Hustle?
The Hustle is a smooth, fast-moving dance that became popular in disco clubs in the 1970s, and was immortalized in the John Travolta movie, Saturday Night Fever. Hustle is composed of 6-beat basic patterns, with two abrupt changes of direction within one 6-beat pattern. One change of direction is just prior to a downbeat and the other is just prior to an upbeat. This phenomenon occurs in no other dance form in the history of social dance. A modified type of swing dance, Hustle is still popular today in part because it is easily adapted to any dance floor, including in crowded clubs.
• Is Hustle a Swing Dance?
By 1998, the current World Swing Dance Council was being swamped with requests to clarify the role of Hustle being danced in Swing contests. It became important to explain that in a contest that requires 80% Swing, then "Companion" Dances can only be used as PART of the OTHER 20%.
Under the direction of the World Swing Dance Council, the final qualifying determination was this: Can the leader of one form of Swing dance socially with a follower of another form of swing with a minimum of adjustment? The answer is YES to all the forms that qualify. And that test eliminates Hustle as a form of Swing. Hustle is a unique, fascinating and fun dance that is worthy of a category all it's own.
• What is Two-Step?
The most recognizable of all country and western dances, the two-step is characterized by its “quick-quick, slow, slow” rhythm. It is a smooth dance that progresses in a “promenade” around the perimeter of the dance floor, and is danced in an upright position. A complete definition and history of Two-Step can be found here: www.eijkhout.net/rad/dance_specific/twostep.html
• What is Latin dancing?
Latin dancing includes a number of couples dances that originated in Latin America. In the world of ballroom dance, only international ballroom dances are categorized as Latin. These dances are International Rumba, Samba, Cha Cha Cha, Paso Doble and Jive. In social dancing many other dances are considered Latin based on the type of Latin music danced to. Some of the most popular today are the Salsa, Merengue, Bachata, Bolero, Mambo, and Rueda.
Latin moves are standardized and categorized into various levels for teaching, with internationally agreed vocabularies, techniques, rhythms and tempos.
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