how to swing dance
How to Swing Dance
Game for some couple-activity this summer? What about swing dance? Read ahead to get some quick pointers on how to swing dance the easy way and have loads of fun with your partner, as both of you move your bodies to the rhythm of swing jazz.
- Step # 1: The correct beginning stance is absolutely necessary for an elegant start. Since it is a couple's dance, the right positioning of you and your partner is very important. The leader should place his (traditionally, the guy leads the dance) hands parallel to his torso and hold his forearm forward by bending his elbows likewise. The height of the arms so extended should be at the same level as his partner's (the follower) waist. The follower should assume a similar stance with her arms and face the leader such that her downward facing palms fit in the leader's upward facing palms and their hands should grasp on to each other.
- Step # 2: On the first beat, the leader should slightly step back on his left foot, extending not more than a foot's length backwards. This back-step will be accompanied by a gentle push to the follower while still holding her hands as instructed above. The follower would mirror the leader's movement by stepping back slightly on her right foot and giving a gentle push t her partner while holding the first stance. All this should look like both partners are trying to get away from each other in an artistic manner, following the right beats.
- Step # 3: As soon as the second beat sounds, both partners should shift their weights on that foot which has not shifted position. That means, the leader would rest his weight on his right foot and the follower on her left. This will cause both partners to slightly step forward. Now, the lead should gently tug at his partner while stepping forward while the follower should assume a stance of gently pulling away. The effect of this stance should look like a playfully romantic come-hither-not-now pose, if you get what I mean.
- Step # 4: On the third beat, the lead should take his backward extended leg to the left and step on it. Rest your weight on your left foot and move your arm in tandem to your foot movement. The follower should mirror the lead's stance and take her right foot to the right, rest her weight and step on it. Arms movement should also mirror the lead's arm movement. You may choose to remain at this stance for the fourth beat or you can repeat the same stance on the other foot and then come back to the original stance between third and fourth beat.
- Step # 5: Both lead and follow should repeat step # 4 on the fifth and sixth beats, only doing it in the reverse order, i.e., the lead should step right and then left and the follow should step left then right and vice versa.