WEST COAST SWING

West Coast Swing is a dance that has evolved over time and has been influenced by other dances and musical genres. It can be traced back to the late 1930?s to clubs in the New York, Harlem area. Its roots are Lindy Hop and Jitterbug. By the 1940?s, most dance halls and clubs banned these dances, because too many people would hurt themselves and others with the wild throws, tosses, and kicks. As a result, a smoother dance began to take shape.

The West Coast Swing differs from other swing dances because of it's distinctive "dancing in a slot" approach, where the lady's movement takes her towards the man, not away, such as in a rock step. Today there are over 5,000 documented West Coast Swing step patterns and more are added every year.

SWING PROGRAM OVERVIEW