West Coast Swing

West Coast Swing is a dance that has become extremely popular in the USA in recent years and it’s following is increasing here in Sydney and the rest of the world. It was originally danced to slower Rock ‘n’ Roll and Blues music but is now danced to a wide range of popular music. The opportunities to dance West Coast Swing socially in Sydney are ever growing and those that dance West Coast Swing find it addictive, rewarding and ever challenging.

West Coast Swing has a very smooth character with an elastic connection unlike any other partner dance. It is danced in a “slot” with the lady dancing forward and backward to change places with her partner. The dance is dynamic and allows ample opportunity for the dancers to express their musicality.

There are various versions of how West Coast Swing came into being but Lindy Hop was the source. One version was that people began to dance in a slot to avoid being kicked by the wild Jitterbug dancers. Others suggest that the end of the Big Band era saw saw dancers modifying the Lindy Hop to fit the smaller spaces and slower music as they moved into intimate Blues clubs. Yet another theory is that West Coast Swing was created in Hollywood by dancer Dean Collins as dancing in a slot was better for cammera shots.

West Coast Swing was truly born in California in the 1940′s. This new dance called “Western Swing” was popularised in the 1950′s by Arthur Murray dance studios and Skippy Blair. In 1959, the dance was renamed West Coast Swing and became the official state dance of California.

West Coast Swing is referred to as the lady’s dance because the follower has greater opportunity to improvise and style than in most dances.
Once you learn the basic syncopated patterns that give West Coast Swing it’s distinctive feel, our teachers can help you explore and develop your own individual flair. West Coast Swing can be danced to a wide range of tempos and styles of music ranging from R & B, Blues, Country, Funk, Disco to Rock & Pop.

You can learn West Coast Swing at Firefly in Private lessons or 8 Week Series Group classes. West Coast Swing is always a popular inclusion in our Firefly Friday Dance Nights – especially as more of Firefly’s regulars get to know this fabulous dance.

West Coast Swing can be challenging for those new to dancing so we recommend some dance experience if you would like to enrol in Group Classes for this dance or you may want to consider the Firefly Dance Club’s Dance All Angles package which includes some Private lessons to support what you learn in the Group.

If you are interestd in learning West Coast Swing:

• Talk to Firefly on 1300 725 977
• Check the 8 Week Group Class Timetable to see when the next class is scheduled
• Send us an Enquiry and we will contact you