West Coast Swing


Contemporary West Coast Swing

These are popular, contemporary West Coast Swing variations as they are danced around the world today.

Variations

Starter Steps
» The Sway (see sendouts below)
» Anything from Blues/Fusion

Sendouts (6 & 8 counts)
» Cross Body Inside Turn Sendout
» Tuck Spot Turn Sendout
» Tuck Turn Down the Tracks Sendout
» Tuck Double Underarm Turn Sendout

Six Count Figures (6 count)
» Sugar Push
» Goofy Hand Sugar Push
» Sunburst Sugar Push
» Sugar Tuck
» Inside Turn
» Goofy Hand Free Spin
» Goofy Hand Yo-Yo

Basic Whips (8 Count)
» Whip
» Whip, Outside Turn
» Whip, Free Spin
» Whip, Texas Tommy (Apache Whip)

Inside Turn Whips (8 count)
» Inside Turn Whip
» Inside Turn Whip, Outside Turn
» Inside Turn Whip, Free Spin

Free Spin Whips (Flip to Whip) (8 count)
» Free Spin Whip
» Free Spin Whip, Outside Turn
» Free Spin Whip, Free Spin

Crossed-Hand Whips (8 count)
» Texas Tommy Whip
» Windows Whip
» Hammerlock Whip, L-in-L Inside Turn
» Hand Change Hammerlock Whip, L-in-L Inside Turn

Cradle Whips (8 count)
» Cradle Whip

Walkback Whips (Various counts)
» Walkback Whip (Stop on 7)
» Walkback Whip (Stop on 9)
» Walkback Whip (Stop on 5)
» Inside Turn Walkback Whip
» Free Spin Walkback Whip
» Cradle Walkback Whip

Catch and Return (8 count)
» Catch and Return
» Catch and Return, Inside Turn

Half Whips (10 count)
» Half Whip, Cross-Body Inside Turn
» Half Whip, Cross-Body Lead

Pivots (10 count)
» Goofy Hand Free Spin, Reverse Pivot, Cross-Body Inside Turn

Dips (6 count)
» Goofy Hand Free Spin Dip

Elements of Musicality
» Grooving in Swingout Position
» Hammerlock Whip to Right Side Groove with Free Spin Exit
» Adding Extra Walks
» Follow's Foot Fudge ("And 1")

Follow's Initiatives
» Role-Reversed Sugar Push

Vintage West Coast Swing

These are slightly older West Coast Swing variations, from Richard Powers' "Living Traditions of Swing" class at Stanford, and older classes we have taught. Where the names of variations are the same as above, the style is sometimes slightly different.

Variations

Starter Steps (6 count)
» Starter Steps (see sendouts below)

Sendouts (6 & 8 count)
» Straight Sendout
» Cross-Body Inside Turn Sendout
» Tuck Turn Sendout
» Fallaway Inside Turn Release
» Tuck Double Turn Sendout

Sugar Push and Sugar Tuck (6 count)
» Sugar Push (Straight Triple Version)
» Sugar Push (Touch Step Version)
» Sugar Push (Hooked Triple Version)
» Sugar Push (Single Hand Version)
» Sugar Tuck
» Dishrag Sugar Tuck, Sunburst

Side Passes (6 count)
» Side Pass
» Loop Turn
» Arch Turn
» Tuck Turn
» Follow's Self-Directed Tuck Turn
» R-in-R Inside Turn
» R-in-R Free Spin
» Wrong Hand Free Spin

Matador (6 count)
» Matador Sugar Tuck, Inside Turn
» Matador Tuck Turn Down the Tracks
» Matador Sugar Tuck, Double Inside Turn
» Matador Sugar Tuck, She Goes He Goes

Braced R-in-R Turns (6 count)
» Braced Outside Turn
» Braced Outside Turn to Inside Turn from Behind the Back
» Braced Outside Turn to Free Spin from Behind the Back
» Braced Double Outside Turn to Double Inside Turn from Behind the Back

Basic Whips (8 count)
» Whip
» Whip, Inside Turn
» Whip, Outside Turn
» Whip, Free Spin
» Whip, Double Free Spin
» Whip, Texas Tommy (Apache Whip)

Catch and Return (8 count)
» Catch and Return
» Catch and Return, Inside Turn

Cradle Whips (8 count)
» Cradle Whip
» Dishrag Sugar Tuck, Cradle Whip
» Tunnel Whip

Lead's Cradle Whips (8 count)
» Lead's Cradle Whip
» Lead's Cradle Whip, Inside Turn

Walkback Whips (8 count)
» Walkback Whip

Half Whips (10 count)
» Half Whip, Cross-Body Lead

Behind the Back (14 count)
» Whip to Side Pass from Behind the Back
» Whip, Texas Tommy to Side Pass from Behind the Back

Crossed-Hand Whips (8 count)
» Texas Tommy Whip

Reverse Variations (8 count)
» Reverse Whip
» Reverse Catch and Return, Texas Tommy

Dips (8 count)
» Catch and Return, Dip (on 6)
Dips
» Catch and Return, Dip (on 5)
» Draped Toss Across Dip (on 5)

Elements of Musicality
» Freeze Break on 5
» Rhythm Break on 1
» Foot Substitution - Kick-Ball-Change
» Follow's Foot Fudge ("And-1")
» Follow's Foot Fudge ("1-and-2")

Fancy Footwork - Adorned Triples
» Triple in Place
» Coaster Step
» Hooked Triple
» Side-Replace-Cross

West Coast Swing Music

Here are a few of our favorite West Coast Swing tunes, arranged by tempo.


Related Dances

Blues/Fusion

All variations in Blues/Fusion can be adapted into West Coast Swing, and vice versa.


If you or your community is interested in learning West Coast Swing, .

For more dance descriptions, see our three books on dancing:
The Book of Mixers: 100 Easy-Teach Dances for Getting Acquainted (2022) by Richard Powers and Nick & Melissa Enge,
Cross-Step Waltz: A Dancer's Guide (2019) by Richard Powers and Nick & Melissa Enge, and
Waltzing: A Manual for Dancing and Living (2013) by Richard Powers and Nick Enge.

For full-length teaching videos, visit: University of Dance.

For help crafting a life you love, visit: Project Quartz.

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