Difference between ECS and WCS?

*Lee Bartholomew* · 28th-January-2008, 11:42 AM

There is a East Coast Swing class run at the bottom of my road and im thinking about going after doing a taster Lindy Hop lesson at weekend (with Gypsy John).

The format of the class is beginners learn ECS and then the intermediate lesson is Lindy.

Anyone know what the differences between ECS and WCS are? is the footwork patteren the same etc?

**ducasi** · 28th-January-2008, 12:23 PM

From what I understand ECS is quite different from WCS, and can be best summarised as "Lindy Hop made easy."

**robd** · 28th-January-2008, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ducasi

From what I understand ECS is quite different from WCS, and can be best summarised as "Lindy Hop made easy."

As we await the obvious follow up that WCS also 'can be best summarised as "Lindy Hop made easy."'

I always thought that ECS had a bit of a ballroom jive flavour to it but I really don't know enough about it to state so definitively.

Little Miss · 28th-January-2008, 12:53 PM

Look on You Tube and you will get an idea of the difference, it has quite a different feel and look to WCS. Don't see why it shouldn't be as much fun though and if it is at the bottom of your road then why not try it.

*Lee Bartholomew* · 28th-January-2008, 12:57 PM

Found a few ECS vids on youtube

YouTube - East Coast Swing @ UWO

YouTube - Anyone Can Dance East Coast Swing

YouTube - East Coast Swing Performance - Stand View

YouTube - Robbie Magnolia and Maureen Mullen - East Coast Swing

4 different vids and it looks like 4 different dances. Rock Step, Tripple Step, Tripple step seems a common pattern though.

**ducasi** · 28th-January-2008, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robd

As we await the obvious follow up that WCS also 'can be best summarised as "Lindy Hop made easy."'

I always thought that ECS had a bit of a ballroom jive flavour to it but I really don't know enough about it to state so definitively.

I can just hear the swing collective reel in horror at you linking "jive" with "swing".

**robd** · 28th-January-2008, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ducasi

I can just hear the swing collective reel in horror at you linking "jive" with "swing".

Aren't you more likely to 'see' than 'hear' someone reeling in horror?

Back to the thread, one of the YouTube clips seems to back up my thought that there's a similarity with Ballroom Jive but the pattern in ECS seems to be triple - triple - rock rather than the rock - triple - triple that I associate with BJ (cheap cracks welcome

)

**ducasi** · 28th-January-2008, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robd

Aren't you more likely to 'see' than 'hear' someone reeling in horror?

I'm hardly likely to see them in my office. However, I can hear them reeling all over the country, so strong is their horror.

*straycat* · 28th-January-2008, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robd

As we await the obvious follow up that WCS also 'can be best summarised as "Lindy Hop made easy."'

Why 'obvious'? To me, modern WCS seems like a completely different dance from Lindy, for all their shared heritage. ECS on the other hand (purely judging from these clips, as I know nothing else about it) looks to me like MJ with a 6-count structure and triple steps. No more like Lindy than WCS is.

*straycat* · 28th-January-2008, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ducasi

I can just hear the swing collective reel in horror at you linking "jive" with "swing".

Yeah - especially Joseph and Tricia at JiveSwing.com. They'd be in a state of shock

cms · 28th-January-2008, 05:12 PM

as you know i love lindy but dont mind saying its where jive had its root! i started dancing 3 years ago (yes even before mj!)to 'glasgow jive' which ive always known to be a derivative of east coast swing as it is danced with a six beat basic. from what i know east coast is 6 beat although can be mixed with 8 beats as in lindy, west coast is eight beat but can be split into much smaller sections to fit the music!

mind you the ever helpful wikipedia do good descriptions!

West Coast Swing - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

East Coast Swing - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

MartinHarper · 28th-January-2008, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lee Bartholomew

Anyone know what the differences between ECS and WCS are?

Based on my experience:
East Coast is back-on-1, West Coast is forward-on-1.
East Coast is mostly 6-count, West Coast is mostly 8-count.
East Coast is not slotted, West Coast is.
East Coast is low technique, West Coast is high technique.
East Coast is danced to faster music than West Coast.
East Coast has rolling shoulders (like Foxtrot), West Coast has level shoulders (like mannequins on roller skates).

East Coast is lead/follow-compatible with six-beat Lindy, to the extent that people question whether it is a different dance.

MartinHarper · 28th-January-2008, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by straycat264

Yeah - especially Joseph and Tricia at JiveSwing.com. They'd be in a state of shock

Also my local teachers: James Hamilton at jazzjiveswing.com and Gary Boon at jiveandswing.co.uk

StokeBloke · 28th-January-2008, 07:20 PM

I think that when you dance ECS you're allowed to smile

**Minnie M** · 28th-January-2008, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MartinHarper

Based on my experience:
East Coast is back-on-1, West Coast is forward-on-1.
East Coast is mostly 6-count, West Coast is mostly 8-count.
East Coast is not slotted, West Coast is.
East Coast is low technique, West Coast is high technique.
East Coast is danced to faster music than West Coast.
East Coast has rolling shoulders (like Foxtrot), West Coast has level shoulders (like mannequins on roller skates).

East Coast is lead/follow-compatible with six-beat Lindy, to the extent that people question whether it is a different dance.

I have been known to dance ECS, WCS and Lindy - and IMO Mr. Harper is spot on !

Quote:

Originally Posted by StokeBloke

I think that when you dance ECS you're allowed to smile

**ducasi** · 28th-January-2008, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by straycat264

Yeah - especially Joseph and Tricia at JiveSwing.com. They'd be in a state of shock

Quote:

Originally Posted by MartinHarper

Also my local teachers: James Hamilton at jazzjiveswing.com and Gary Boon at jiveandswing.co.uk

In which case, do these guys know what a tautology is?

Astro · 28th-January-2008, 08:15 PM

Is it really true that the 2 camps hate each other?

**ducasi** · 28th-January-2008, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Astro

Is it really true that the 2 camps hate each other?

No, though it's true that some "swing" people look down on "jive". This seems to be more prevalent amongst WCS dancers, though clearly it is not true of all of them.

Some "jivers" resent the condescension.

Personally, I think of them as very similar dances, but don't like the name of either.

28th-January-2008, 11:42 AM	#1 (permalink)
Lee Bartholomew Commercial Operator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Smooth Hastings (not the bouncy part) Posts: 3,380 Rep Power: 1 Reputation Total: 434	Difference between ECS and WCS? There is a East Coast Swing class run at the bottom of my road and im thinking about going after doing a taster Lindy Hop lesson at weekend (with Gypsy John). The format of the class is beginners learn ECS and then the intermediate lesson is Lindy. Anyone know what the differences between ECS and WCS are? is the footwork patteren the same etc?

28th-January-2008, 12:23 PM	#2 (permalink)
ducasi Lovely Moderator Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Glasgow Posts: 9,500 Rep Power: 6 Reputation Total: 3224	Re: Difference between ECS and WCS? From what I understand ECS is quite different from WCS, and can be best summarised as "Lindy Hop made easy." __________________ Let your mind go and your body will follow. – Steve Martin, LA Story

28th-January-2008, 12:53 PM	#4 (permalink)
Little Miss Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: St Neots Posts: 42 Rep Power: 1 Reputation Total: 32	Re: Difference between ECS and WCS? Look on You Tube and you will get an idea of the difference, it has quite a different feel and look to WCS. Don't see why it shouldn't be as much fun though and if it is at the bottom of your road then why not try it.

28th-January-2008, 12:57 PM	#5 (permalink)
Lee Bartholomew Commercial Operator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Smooth Hastings (not the bouncy part) Posts: 3,380 Rep Power: 1 Reputation Total: 434	Re: Difference between ECS and WCS? Found a few ECS vids on youtube YouTube - East Coast Swing @ UWO YouTube - Anyone Can Dance East Coast Swing YouTube - East Coast Swing Performance - Stand View YouTube - Robbie Magnolia and Maureen Mullen - East Coast Swing 4 different vids and it looks like 4 different dances. Rock Step, Tripple Step, Tripple step seems a common pattern though.

28th-January-2008, 05:12 PM	#11 (permalink)
cms Registered User Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: east kilbride Posts: 268 Rep Power: 2 Reputation Total: 100	Re: Difference between ECS and WCS? as you know i love lindy but dont mind saying its where jive had its root! i started dancing 3 years ago (yes even before mj!)to 'glasgow jive' which ive always known to be a derivative of east coast swing as it is danced with a six beat basic. from what i know east coast is 6 beat although can be mixed with 8 beats as in lindy, west coast is eight beat but can be split into much smaller sections to fit the music! mind you the ever helpful wikipedia do good descriptions! West Coast Swing - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia East Coast Swing - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

28th-January-2008, 07:20 PM	#14 (permalink)
StokeBloke Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Stoke-on-Trent Posts: 1,692 Rep Power: 1 Reputation Total: 859	Re: Difference between ECS and WCS? I think that when you dance ECS you're allowed to smile

28th-January-2008, 08:15 PM	#17 (permalink)
Astro Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: mostly planet Earth Posts: 2,444 Rep Power: 1 Reputation Total: 240	Re: Difference between ECS and WCS? Is it really true that the 2 camps hate each other?

28th-January-2008, 08:43 PM	#19 (permalink)
robd Basically lazy Join Date: May 2005 Location: Nr Cambridge Posts: 2,504 Rep Power: 3 Reputation Total: 1577