Basic Part 1
Swing
Links: Define – Standard – Analyze – Module – Other
Choreography for Patter Teaching with Singing Call Options:
Teaching Tips:
Swing
A.) Get in a ballroom dance position, as if you were going to do a waltz.
B.) Boy’s left hand and girl’s right hand form a pump handle.
C.) Slide right hip to right hip and walk forward around each other.
D.) Place the girl on the boy’s right side, rolling off the arm after the swing.
E.) Open up, like a book, toward the center of the set.
F.) Demonstrate.
More teaching suggestions:
— Demonstrate. Teach the walking step first and emphasize how to comfortably end as a normal couple.
— To teach the buzz step, make a big circle and move to the left using the buzz step then have everyone continue the buzz step as the gents turn to their right into a Swing with their partner.
— The most satisfying Swing occurs when the steps of both dancers are perfectly synchronized with the beat of the music.
— When opening up, first point the connected hands in the direction the couple wants to face.
Global view: Two dancers walk (or buzz step) clockwise around each other.
Dancers should end as a couple with the gent on the left and the lady on the right.
The facing direction of the couple will depend on specific instructions or on the next call.
Quick quote: “Right sides near, move with music, end with lady on the right”.
Teaching Standard Applications:
Big Circle Mixer or Partner Change Singing Figure:
Circle Left (16),
Circle Right (16),
Forward and Back (8),
Partner Dosado 1 1/2,
Next one Swing (8) (this is your new partner),
Forward and Back (8).
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If Teaching Swing is delayed until after the dancers learn Promenade:
Four Boys Promenade Inside,
Get home and Swing,
Put her on the right, Forward and Back,
Four Girls Promenade Inside,
Get home and Swing, Promenade.