West Coast Swing is a grandchild of the popular "Jitter-bug", also known as the "East Coast Swing" and "Lindy", of the 1930's and 1940's.
In the 1950's, when dancing was very popular and dance floor space was at a premium, Southern California dancers refined their dancing to dance in what is called a "dance slot", as opposed to dancing in a small circle.
The "slot" method allows more dance partners on a dance floor than that of the East Coast, Lindy, and Jitterbug swing varieties.
Since it was invented on the West Coast, it became known as "West Coast Swing" or WCS for short. In the 1990's West Coast Swing was adopted by California as the "State Dance".
West Coast Swing is danced to blues, funk and R&B music, which is a slower beat than that danced by the other swing dances.
There are basic patterns with quick turns and spins, but as the dancers improve, they are able to improvise and syncopate to the music so that what you see is a sexy, smooth dance, that is timed to the beat, lyrics, or various instruments of the music being played. Once you see West Coast Swing, you've got to learn it.
Come out and dance !!
Click here to see a demo video of Carrie Lucas and her partner Michael Davis, both from Southern California, demonstrate West Coast Swing. Carrie's website: http://www.carrielucas.com
Carrie Lucas & Michael Davis WCS Dance Video