This Common Feedback Might HURT Your Dancing | West Coast Swing

[@NerdyWCS]

What are some other pieces of feedback you've received that you'd like us to break down like this?

[@orpheos9]

I do really like your point about wanting my teachers to give more specificity around if something is permanent vs a "training wheel".

[@FilipedeBarrosDance]

Thank you so much! I’ve learnt so much from you both from this wonderful channel 😊

[@goodrichsantafe]

At 24:22, you mentioned that the follower’s acceleration happens during her first triple, not on the 1. Isn’t it the leader’s responsibility to initiate momentum for the follower on counts 1 and 2? Then, during the first triple, isn’t the follower supposed to wait for the leader to suggest the next action-whether to continue down the track, redirect, or something else? What am I misunderstanding?

[@NerdyWCS]

Great question! The acceleration does happen after the 1, even though we are being lead forward on the 1. More specifically it starts as you move through the 2 into the 3 when you are changing your weight from over your heel to mid-foot. As a follower, on count 1 you are basically resisting the lead by hanging back until the leader brings you forward enough that you no longer have your weight over your heel. This creates a rubber band effect where if you stretch it out and then release, it will go from moving slowly backwards to moving quickly forwards. A similar thing happens when we are lead from stretch connection to compression. During the first triple of a sugar push on the 3&4 we are continuing forward in the direction we were lead and gain speed. This is because we are not only traveling forward from our lead moving us forward, but also shifting our weight forward to the ball of the foot. However, our lead should be gradually resisting that forward movement and as they get more of our weight forward they will then have control over what to do next.

[@goodrichsantafe]

@@NerdyWCS here is my take Leader's Steps 4: POSTING: The leader starts on count 4 with their post (weight transfer) beginning on the leader's left foot, which remains firmly connected to the dance floor. 5&6: Hip Anchor: Initiate the hip anchor at 5&6 with a clear stretch away from the follower. AND DA: Maximum Stretch - rubber band: The maximum hip anchor stretch occurs at "and da". 1: Big ONE: The leader takes a significant step (approximately 24 inches long) as instructed from the beginning of their dance training. This step should not be lazy or short. Follower's Steps Timing: The follower should always be "late to the party," meaning their foot hits the floor slightly after the leader's cue. Acceleration: The follower's acceleration begins the moment their foot leaves the floor at count 1.

[@orpheos9]

For the "its just walking", I think I would revise it to "Its closer to walking than marching." I see a lot of newer dancers fall into a trap where when they are told to step somewhere specific, they tend to "pick up their foot and place it there" like they are marching. Which ends up making it look super awkward, as opposed to a more natural step they would take in normal life like walking. I do think if you pretend to walk really slowly(like 1 step over 8 counts), you get much closer to a delayed weight transfer than a controlled fall. So I agree, without context it might be misleading. But out of all of the "misconceptions" from the video, it is the closest to being very useful.