Swing Dance Steps

The Fun of Swing

In recent decades, swing dance has enjoyed a revival as one of the most popular forms of social dance around. With its peppy beat and easy learning, couples of all ages are jumping on the bandwagon of this war era dancing craze.

Many night clubs have started to devote particular evenings to swing, oftentimes providing free lessons and time to practice before really getting going on the dance floor. Swing dance competitions are also popular within many communities, and those who become especially proficient at the style can oftentimes compete nationally with a lot of practice and perseverance.

If it is your first time going swing dancing, you may be nervous, especially if you haven’t ever seen or heard of a single step. Fortunately, there are a few moves you can easily master in time to impress your date!

Lindy Hop Swing Dance Steps

When you watch a couple dance the Lindy Hop, the first swing dance steps you will notice is called a swingout. It can also be called a Lindy turn or Lindy whip. The swingout is one of the most popular Lindy Hop steps, and it is a pattern of swinging the female partner inward and outward. The swingout is a basic building block for other dance steps, and can also be used on its own quite often.

The swingout first was developed in the year 1911, and can also be used in West Coast and East Coast Swing, as well as the Modern Jive.

Texas Tommy

Also known as an Apache, this is another Lindy Hop dance move where the leader starts a swingout, but on the four counts where the follower is to swing back in for the return, the follower’s right hand goes behind her back and grasps the leader’s right hand. This looks like “shaking hands” behind the back, and the follower is then able to turn in the opposite direction.

You will often see a Texas Tommy in not only swing dance steps, but as part of Salsa dance as well. The step is named after a well-known swing dance that was popular during the early days of swing.

Lollies

A Lolly is a simple traveling kick, which is a derivative of the Charleston. You can add many variations to this classic kick, as both partners can remain in the same spot, travel in the same direction, or take opposing angles. You can also add a kick tap or a follow spin to a Lolly, as well as varying arm movements. Lollies are the groundwork of all kicks found in the Lindy Hop as well as other popular swing dances.

Jumpin’ Joe

Having just come about in 2007, the Junpin’ Joe is a fun adaptation for leads who find themselves shorter than their partner, making arm Passovers difficult. When the lead’s arm goes over the head of the follower, the lead simply jumps up into the air, adding height (and not to mention impressive technique) to an otherwise simple swing move.

West Coast Swing Steps

West Coast Swing is perhaps the most popular variation of swing dance available to those who love the night life. Easy to learn and enjoying quite a trend among today’s young people, West Coast Swing is also featured quite often in popular dance movies.

Anchor Step

The Anchor Step is the most basic of step patterns done in West Coast Swing. It is composed of three beats, danced front, back, and side – however the traveling is very minimal, causing the illusion that the swing dancer is executing fancy footwork while remaining in the same place.

Coaster Step

The coaster step is a triple step done in a pattern. This can be back-together-forward, or forward-together-back, and is often used as the combination for the follower. As a couple becomes more proficient in their swing dance steps, they can add more advanced patterns to the coaster step, even incorporating turns and jumps.

Mastering Swing

If you are interested in learning these steps, as well as others that are much more challenging, check out your local swing dance studio or visit a night club hosting a free night of West Coast Swing. Dancing is a great way to socialize while getting exercise and upping your mood at the same time.