Brian B's WCS Rant 😳

[@WestCoastSwingOnline]

Everything you need to Master WCS Take a peek ➡ westcoastswingonline.uscreen.io/catalog/search?category_id=33814 See you there, Brian

[@maxpower8052]

I think connection should be emphasized over footwork since that cues the footwork. Otherwise, I think that's why you get dance partners in group class that give you no connection and it feels like your dancing with a pool noodle unless you adjust your contribution to the connection somehow. They're more worried about their feet or where their fingers are pointing than the intention behind the patterns; they're literally more focused on their extremities than the rest of their bodies and what that's all doing.. Well I'm done with my rant LOL

[@WestCoastSwingOnline]

Well in beginner class you have to focus on 1 thing at a time. New dancers will get information overload very fast. Without footwork no one knows where to go. That’s why connection is focus number 2. Trust me I am all about connection, especially for followers. Once you know the basic patterns, if you are connected then you can tell where your partner wants you to go. - Megan

[@maxpower8052]

@@WestCoastSwingOnline I don't disagree. A comparison was made to line dancing in the video and in the scenario described, line dancers are credited for footwork competency in their line dances. Why would the same line dancer struggle because of solo leader or solo follower footwork to the push, pass or whip? It seems likely to me those dancers would be the types to use their brain cells as ranted about in the video to commit footwork to muscle memory. So we know in the case of the line dancers that they have the ability to attain footwork competency. The question becomes what's changed, and the obvious variable is connection with a dance partner. I think even someone that hasn't been exposed to any dance will focus heavily on footwork, especially between lessons. I know my friends and I did at the beginning. In my case, I wanted to avoid embarrassment and I would bet the same was true of my friends. Regardless, it was when you added the dance partner in class that the biggest struggle began because we all move differently and even when you know the footwork, the move still feels wrong as a beginner because at least in my experience when I began, it felt like we were visually leading and following (or walking through called out moves from the instructors) without actually feeling the patterns. That's why I stand by my comment that connection (or lack thereof) is the real reason people struggle with west coast swing. In my opinion, eventually beginners get enough experience points to anticipate the handful of moves available to them so it's not inconceivable that they can graduate to the next class without learning how to adequately connect during their dances. Not saying everyone does, but they can learn the footwork and anticipate to the point that they can fake connection to their dance partners. It's not like observers can always visually gauge connection between two people unless someone is being yanked or jolted on the dance floor.

[@richardgaynor6113]

I couldn't retain a lot of what I'd learned before the covid shutdown and I am still trying to recover. It's been slow and frustrating but I'm not giving up. Thanks for your insights.

[@WestCoastSwingOnline]

I am so glad you are still trying! Retaining steps can be super hard for sure. I hope it gets better!

[@DingDimlewitz]

If you don't know your own footwoork in the basics, you're a true beginner and shouldn't be in the intermediate class in the first place. And no, it wasn't that simple to just add an outside turn first time you did it. Both Brian and Megan forgot how hard it was. And that's what classes are for. To learn new things and make mistakes. If I would go to a class and it would be that easy for me to add the outside turn and adding the outside turn was the goal of the class, why would I be in the class in the first place?

[@WestCoastSwingOnline]

Agreed. That is what we were saying. If you don’t know your basics you should be in beginner class. However people think they can skip to intermediate class without knowing their basics especially if they know other dances. We never said it was easy to add an outside turn anywhere in this video. What we were pointing out was if the follower knows their footwork for a pattern then the leader can focus on leading and not managing where the follower needs to go. I think you may have missed the point of the video. We were not saying learning the basics were easy. We were saying don’t skip the basics. It’s the foundation for everything you need later.

[@WestCoastSwingOnline]

Hey it's Brian B here - We have NOT forgot how difficult dancing is. Not even a little bit. It's not easy to learn a new move (or skill) but is is simple if you know what you need to focus on next. But if you've actually taken the time to learn the move or skill before moving on... it will be a 'less frustrating' process - But always remember... the juice is worth the squeeze! 🙂