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West Coast Swing
History
West Coast Swing (WCS) is a partner dance derived from Lindy Hop. It is characterised by a distinctive elastic look that
results from its basic extension-compression technique of partner connection, and is danced primarily in a slotted area
on the dance floor. The dance allows for both partners to improvise steps while dancing together.
Typically the follower walks into new patterns traveling forward on counts "1" and "2" of each basic pattern, rather than
rocking back like in Lindy Hop.[4] The Anchor Step is a common ending pattern of many West Coast Swing figures.[1][2]
It is believed that the origins of the WCS are in Lindy Hop. In a 1947 book, Arthur Murray recognized that, "There are
hundreds of regional dances of the Jitterbug type. Each section of the country seems to have a variation of its own." [3]
Dean Collins, who arrived in the Los Angeles area around 1937 after learning to dance at the Savoy Ballroom in
Harlem, was influential in developing the style of swing danced on the West Coast of the United States, as both a
performer and teacher. When his wife, Mary Collins, was asked if Dean was responsible for the emergence of the
dance, however, she said that Dean insisted there were "only two kinds of swing dance - good and bad".[4]
Lauré Haile, Arthur Murray National Dance Director, and an instructor of teachers[5] documented swing dancing as
done in the Los Angeles area and used the name "Western Swing". Murray had used the same name, "Western Swing",
in the late 1930s for a different dance.[6] Haile included Western Swing in Dance Notebooks she authored for Arthur
Murray during the 1950s. Western Swing was also called "Sophisticated Swing" in the 1950s. [5]
Dancing to musicians wearing cowboy hats and string ties playing fiddle, steel guitar, etc. Pumpkin Center, Bakersfield,
CA 1950s Western swing, country boogie, and, with a smaller audience, jump blues were popular on the West Coast
throughout the 1940s and into the 1950s when they were renamed and marketed as rock 'n' roll in 1954. Dancers
danced "a 'swingier' - more smooth and subdued" form of Jitterbug to Western Swing music.[7]
West Coast Swing (still known as Western Swing at that time) is the basis for the dancing in the rehearsal scene in “Hot
Rod Gang” (1958).[6][7] Music is supplied by rockabilly musician Gene Vincent’s “Dance to the Bop”. [8] The song
alternates between very slow sections and those with the rapid pace and high energy of rockabilly. Choreographer Dick
DiAugustine includes recognizable patterns such as the chicken walk, swing out from closed position, etc., along with
the classic woman’s walk walk triple step triple step at the end of the slot. On the final step of the second triple the
women are weighted left with the right heel on the floor and the toes pointed up. Dancers also do classic Lindy flips at
the end of the slot, as well as non partner, non West Coast Swing movements.[8]
Murray's taught Western Swing beginning from a closed position and the possibility of dancing single, double, or triple
rhythm. After a "Throwout" patterns began with the woman "walking in" and the man doing a "rock step", or step
together for counts one and two.[9] Although the dance remained basically the same, the Golden State Dance
Teachers Association (GSTDA) began teaching from the walk steps, counts 1 and 2.[10] It replaced Lauré Haile's
Coaster Step with an "Anchor Step" around 1961.[11]
The name "West Coast Swing" was used in a little known hand book for Arthur Murray dance studio teachers in the
1950s, but the Murray studios used the term "Western Swing" on charts. [9] "West Coast swing" as a synomym for
"Western swing" appears in a 1961 dance book,[12]. and was used in an advertisement by Skippy Blair in 1962.[13][14]
in 1962, but wasn't incorporated into mainstream swing circles until the late 1960s. [10]
Blair credits Jim Bannister, editor of the Herald American newspaper in Downey, for suggesting the name West Coast
Swing. The name change came about because she had found that "nothing Western was really welcome in the city of
Downey in 1958".[15][16] Beginning with the 1967 opening of the Golden West Ballroom in Norwalk, CA, and through
1980, West Coast Swing was on the marquee as the dance taught every Wednesday and Friday night.[17]
Western Swing was documented in the 1971 edition of the "Encyclopedia of Social Dance", listing the "Coaster Step"
(with a forward step as the last step of the 2nd triple) rather than the Anchor Step. The one song that was listed for this
dance was "Comin' On" by Bill Black's Combo (1964[18] Hi #2072).[19] As late as 1978, the term "Western Swing" was
common usage among Chain and Independent Studios to describe "slotted swing".[20]
Circa 1978 "California Swing" was yet another name for West Coast Swing, albeit with styling that was "considered more
UP, with a more Contemporary flavor."[21] By 1978 GSTDA had "some 200 or more patterns and variations" for West
Coast Swing."[22]
In 1988, West Coast Swing was pronounced the Official State Dance of California.[23]
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