West-coast swing is composed of 6-Count patterns and 8-Count patterns.
6-Count Patterns: 1, 2, 3&4, 5&6
- 6-Count Patterns either turn a half turn or no turn as in the sugar push.
- In 6-count patterns, the man steps forward on count 4.
- In 6-count patterns, the lady steps back on count 4.
8-Count Patterns: 1, 2, 3&4, 5, 6, 7&8
- 8-Count Patterns turn a full turn.
- In 8-count patterns, the man steps forward on count 6.
- In 8-count patterns, the lady steps back on count 6.
Playing or Syncopations
Extra steps (that often turn a 6 or 8 count pattern into a 10 or 12 count pattern) that the lady uses to "dress up" a pattern.
Man always steps forward on count 4
Anchor Step
At the end of each pattern is a triple-step called the "anchor step":
- Step ball-ball-flat
- Lady has right foot forward on anchor step.
- Man has left foot forward on anchor step.
- In 6-count patterns, the anchor step occurs on counts 5&6.
- In 8-count patterns, the anchor step occurs on counts 7&8.
Transitioning from East Coast to West Coast Swing (Preparatory Basic w/Throw-Out Release):
- (Start the west-coast swing from a preparatory closed triple-step basic. Guy doesn't travel during this step):
push the lady back for her rock step on 1, 2, then:
→ throw the lady out along her slot on 3-and pivot 4, anchor step 5&6.
Or → lead lady out on a underarm turn 3-and-4, anchor step 5&6.
Sugar push (basic step)
- The Basic for west coast swing is the "Sugar push".
- The Sugarpush is a 6-count pattern in open position.
- 1,2,triple-travel (3&4), anchor step (triple step 5&6 ball-ball-flat) (or 1, 2, tap 3, step 4, tri-ple-step 5&6)
- For practice have one person tap and one person triple
- Guy starts back, lady starts forward
- You should have tension (lean away) on count 1 and compression (lean toward) on count 3.
- Guy steps forward on count 4 and lady steps back on count 4.
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Sugar push - variations
- Sugar push with sideways tap step
- on sugar push, lady can do a kick slightly to the left rather than the tap step. If desired, the man can kick back when the lady kicks forward.
- Sugarpush to closed promenade (on count 3) and back out to open position for the anchor step.
- Two-hand push basic with a hitch: 1, 2, tap, step, 5 tension, 6 compression
- Hip bump: 1, 2 (towards), bump hips count 3, step back 4, anchor-step 5&6. On count 3, put your free hands over your joined hands and either snap your fingers or point downward.
- Hip bump with no hands.
- Hip bump opposite hips no hands.
- Crossover pattern.
Transitioning from West Coast to East Coast Swing (Transitioning to back to closed position Triple Lindy):
- Whip catch method:
bring her in like a whip 1, 2, just don't turn the corner, triple-step to the left, triple-step to the right.
- Left Side Pass catch Method:
lead her in a left side pass 1, 2, then triple-step with her and catch her 3&4, then triple-step the other way.
- Sugar tuck basic: Pull her toward you using a two-hand lead 1, 2, guys push her right hand back and pull her left hand toward your shoulder and stop on 3, with your left hand raise her right hand over her head, she turns both feet ½ turn and steps forward down the slot, she finishes the turn and anchor steps on 5-and-6.
Underarm turn (6-count pattern)
- The lady stays in the slot and the guy moves out of the way.
- Guys, move your body in the direction you want her to go, then move out of the way.
- Guy does 1 back, 2 cross, 3&4 triple-travel (turning), 5&6 anchor step.
- Curved run: Lady does 1, 2, 3-(cross in front)-4, anchor step 5-and-6.
- Straight run: Lady travels straight 1, 2, 3-, and- , half turn on 4, anchor step 5-and-6. Before the lady turns, the joined hands will go over her head and rest on her shoulder. Ladies, don't turn your shoulders until your pivot step.
- The Lady goes past the guy before she turns.
- Double underarm turn
Left side pass
- Lady should put her left arm through and forward
- Guys, move your body in the direction you want her to go, then move out of the way.
Additional patterns
- Left-side pass no hands
- Underarm turn → switch hands → lunge forward into right hand pass →
- Sugar tuck (2-hand right tuck turn): sugar push and catch two hands → 2-hand right tuck turn.
- Two hand underarm turn: two hand lead into underarm turn, then let go of one hand to finish the turn.
- Hammerlock: left-side pass with both hands → hammerlock → unwrap.
- Shake-hands position → right-side pass with a tuck turn.
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Right side pass
- Underarm turn → switch hands to shake hands position → man turns away from the lady → man lunges (act like she's heavy) forward 1, replace 2, triple forward 3&4, anchor step 5&6 → either switch hands now or use a sugar push with head loop (also called an "arm slide") to switch the hands.
Right-hand pass with tuck turn:
Underarm turn → switch hands to shake hands position → man turn side 1, replace 2, turn her in, step, step (3&4), and spin, step step (5&6)
Right-hand pass with two-hand tuck turn:
sugar push and catch two hands: Lady does forward 1, forward 2, turn her in 2, 3 and spin, 2, 3.
Whip turns (8-Count Patterns)
- Ladies step: 1, 2-pivot, 3&4 back-together-forward (between the man's feet), 5-pivot, 6, 7-and-8 anchor step
- The compression between partners on count 2 causes the lady to pivot:
→ count 1 tension
→ count 2 compression.
- man's step: back left 1, cross forward right 2, in place 3-and-, step across the slot on 4, step back across the slot 5, forward 6, anchor step 7-and-8.
- Lead: Bring the lady in, catch her on her shoulder blade, let her go by and widen the space between you without letting go, then pull her back on 5 and let her go 6, 7&8.
- Ladies keep your shoulders facing the man's as you go around him.
- Ladies, when the man catches you on the whip, put your left hand on the edge of the man's right shoulder.
- Remember that whip turns are 360°. When you are finished with the whip turn, you will be facing the same direction as when you started.
Whip turns
Reverse Whip turns
- Reverse Sweetheart Whip
- Reverse Skater Whip. The lady can make this attractive by putting her free hand through to the guy's opposite shoulder.
- Reverse Whip with outside turn
Basket whip
- Basket (or "man around the woman"): Lady goes forward 1, forward 2, forward together back 3&4, back 5, back 6, anchor step 7&8. Guys, do a sugar push and catch 2 hands, then lift one hand and leave the other hand down by her stomach.
- Waist catch (footwork same as Basket): One hand lead → catch lady in the tummy with the right hand.
- Woman around the Man: Guy take your left hand over your head, leave your right hand at waist level.
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