West Coast Swing Basic Steps

Video recap for Fundamentals class at 2155 Ballroom and Events on April 17, 2024. Instructors are Keerigan Rudd and Judy Megaffin.
We talked about some basic principles of technique in our basic patterns and introduced the basic whip as a new patter with 8-counts.
In retrospect, the recap was very lead-focused, so I apologize for that. Actual online instructional videos (not just class recaps) will be coming soon.
#improv #dancing #basics #westcoastswing

[@Yellow_Confetti]

Thank u so much for this video!! Just started dancing wcs because of your videos, and have a lot to learn!!!!

[@Loulou-nj7ji]

You make it looks so easy ❤

[@alpal6300]

Thank you! Now I could learn it, if I didn’t have POTS! Sure wish I was 20 again!❤

[@00keziah]

Thanks so much for the basics. Never heard how the six count is used. Also wonder why no back step which is why it is different than swing. I am keeping your videos to teach my husband. He is not a dancer. Fingers crossed 🤞.

[@etbarton007]

Keerigan, love it…totally love it…still have questions cause…ya know…ignorant newbie. You mention sugar push in like every single video. What EXACTLY is the sugar push? Is it a hand thing or a foot thing or a turn thing? Is it a lead thing or a follow thing? You’re initiating it, right? I keep watching trying to figure out what it is… but I’m still not sure. Also, since the audio is low, could you add some captions? Just label the steps like you did in that last instructional video with Felecia. You would help those of us who are hard of hearing and likely attract a deaf audience. From what I understand, deaf people can feel the music through their feet…you might open up a new genre… just saying. Finally, would it irritate you if I edited your video and sent it back to you? I’m not a video editor at all…I’ve dabbled in the past so I do have some video editing software on my computer. If I could send you back your video with some of the slight alterations that I think would answer the questions I’ve got, I think your videos would by far surpass the other instructors out there. I know you suggested I watch some of the other instructor videos to answer some of these questions…but we don’t want to dance with those people…we want to dance with you. They also tend to go through the steps like we automatically understand everything and it’s frustrating. Plus… well…let’s just say I prefer your personality. Anyway, if I could do a slight edit on your video and you liked it, you could use it too. I wouldn’t mind as your fangirl. Let me know. And keep it coming…totally LOVE it. Now I’m going to go watch it a bunch again.

[@falkland_pinguin]

Now, I'm far from being an All Star, but I think I can at least answer the question about the sugar push. The sugar push is the most basic blocking move in WCS, meaning that the leader initiates a backwards movement (forward for the follower) but stays on the slot, so the follower can't continue all the way to the other side (like in a pass) and moves back to their initial position instead. Crucially, while the follower is close to the leader (being redirected to move backwards again), the kind of connection shifts from stretch to compression - both partners gently lean forward instead of backward, so you will feel your partner's hands pushing against yours. The sugar push itself doesn't include any turns or spins, though the closely related sugar tuck involves a single right turn for the follower. Most commonly, a sugar push will last six beats in total, but it can be extended or blended with other moves, e.g. with a rock-and-go, both of which would change the count. On a beginner level, footwork is taught as the basic six-count step-step, triplestep, triplestep, but this can be varied quite a lot. Similarly, holding both hands for the compression makes a lot of sense in the beginning, but with some experience, most hand configurations work out. So, in summary, Essential for a sugar push are -blocking move -compression Very typically, it -doesn't involve turns -lasts six beats And at a beginners' level, it tends to be taught -with basic six-count footwork -led with both hands as seen in the example in this video. That was quite lengthy, I hope it helps at least a little bit :) TL;DR see "So, in summary"