Origins
West Coast Swing is a popular style of swing that originated in California during the 1940s and 50s. It was seen as a smoother, more improvised variation of the Lindy Hop, which was brought to the west by Dean Collins in the 1940’s. It quickly became a popular dance for soldiers during World War 2, where it was commonly mislabeled as the Jitterbug. Western Swing looked much smoother and more polished in comparison to the other styles of this time period. It was also danced to slower music, such as blues-style music.
West Coast vs. East Coast
The Ballroom community later invented a much simpler and easier form of swing called East Coast Swing in the forties. East Coast Swing was a lot easier to teach and learn compared to West Coast Swing. East Coast Swing is a fast, energetic, rotational dance that features a bounce. It is also generally danced to upbeat music or fast jazz. West Coast Swing is a lot more smooth, intricate, and slow. It is usually danced in a straight line.
Learn West Coast Swing
West Coast Swing is not usually music dependent, which means that it can be danced to almost any type of music, as long as it’s in a 4/4 time signature. Blues music is the most common style used for West Coast Swing. Today, the movements are typically slower and less contrived. West Coast Swing is a slotted partner dance, featuring 6 or 8 count patterns. Basic steps include Left/Right Side Passes and the Whip, which uses walking steps and triple steps. The dance also emphasizes a slot (linear space) and an anchor step to finish the patterns.
Image: https://motionartscenter.com/west-coast-swing-dance/