Lindy / West Coast Swing difference?

[Emma]

Originally posted by DavidB

(And I don't do Lindy because I dont really like either the style or the music.) I dance Ceroc and West Coast Swing because I like the dance, and I can do it to the music I like.

This is definitely off topic, but I didn't think it was worth starting a new thread for...

What's the difference between WCS and Lindy? I was sort of under the impression that they were similar/the same. Obviously they aren't!

[Heather]

West Coast Swing and Lindy Hop are ( in my opinion) poles apart in Style. They are about as far apart as you can get. Don't ask me to get technical about this, I'll leave that to some of the others on the board, DavidB, for instance. But where WCS has a sexy Latin feel to it, Lindy Hop is more jumpy and lively, in fact, (and I'm sure I'll be corrected if I'm wrong ) Lindy has it's basis in the Charleston.
The only way for you to find out for yourself, Emma, is to get along to some classes and TRY THEM OUT !!!!!!!!!!!!
Personally, I LOVE West coast Swing but I can't really get excited about Lindy Hop. Having said that, I like to watch other people doing it (if they are good).


Heather

[Heather]

Bye the way, Emma, Don't worry too much about going 'Off the Topic'. Some of us are at it all the time!!!!!!
In fact, some could actually make a career out of it!!!!!!!
(Sorry Franck, you are fighting a losing battle).
If you think about it, it's really quite a natural progression, being on the Chat Board is like having a conversation, and during the course of a conversation, people DO naturally digress, it's human nature.Only at BORING things like committee meetings, do people adhere to a strict agenda, and we are certainly NOT boring on the chat board!!!!!

Heather

[DavidB]

Originally posted by Emma
What's the difference between WCS and Lindy? I was sort of under the impression that they were similar/the same. Obviously they aren't!

They are not the same, but West Coast Swing did directly develop from Lindy.

In Lindy you have two different styles - Savoy and Hollywood. Both are danced to the same music. Savoy style is by far the popular style in the UK, and is what people are used to seeing. Hollywood style was started by a dancer called Dean Collins, who adapted the dance so that it would look good in movies (hence the name). I don't know many of the differences, but one main one was to dance in a 'slot' instead of rotating round each other.
(Ceroc dancers sometimes get confused when you talk about a slot, even though they do it in every lesson! If you dance freestyle, you don't worry about which way you are facing. But in a lesson there isn't enough room to do thes. So the man and the lady dance along a line and keep changing places - that is dancing in a slot.)

West Coast Swing developed from Hollywood Style Lindy in much the same way as Ceroc developed from Jitterbug, and is now the most popular modern swing dance in the US. It is done to slower music than Lindy, or even Ceroc. Traditionally this was blues and soul music, but is now frequently danced to modern RnB, 'club' music and even rap. It is danced in a slot, and has a very light and quiet (ie non bouncy) lead. Since the music is pretty slow, it suits a lot of improvisation - more so than any other style I've seen. The standard of dancing in the US is very high, but then again most of the top dancers teach and perform full time.

If you want to see how West Coast Swing should look, Robert Cordoba & Deborah Szekely (one of the top couples) are coming over in October. They are only teaching for one day, and are doing a demonstration in the evening. You can get more details at http://www.rebelroc.com (follow the links for 'Rebel Yell').

There is only one couple I know who teach Hollywood style Lindy in the UK - Robert & Claire Austin. As far as I know they have never done WCS, and we have never done Lindy. But I can lead Claire in WCS, and Robert can lead Lily in Hollywood Swing.

David

[SwingSwingSwing]

To add to David's lindy description:-

"Hollywood Style" is a term usually given to the lindy hop style taught by Erik Robinson and Sylvia Skylar. They took their inspiration from the Dean Collin's choreographed lindy hop seen in the movies but altered the technique. Hollywood style is danced with a light connection and both partners support their own weight. Robert and Claire base their teachings on Erik and Sylvia's style.

Dean Collin's Style or Smooth Style is the style of lindy hop taught by Dean Collins. It usually has a strong connection and partners will be counterbalancing each other at times.

Both use the slot more than Savoy style.

If you see a couple doing lindy hop and they look "bouncy" it will probably be Savoy Style. "Bounce" here doesn't necessarily mean that their whole bodies are bouncing up and down. Good dancers will absorb the bounce and keep their head/torso on one level but you will probably be able to see a "pulse" in their movements that matches the beat of the music.

Smooth style dancers won't have this pulse and their movements will be fluid. If anyone wants to see some Smooth/Hollywood style goto http://www.glitterlisa.com and follow the "video clips" link. There are plenty of clips available and most are smooth style. One of my favourites is Fritz and Danielle. Although it is a choreographed piece, it looks like lead and follow.

I love smooth style but I don't get the chance to learn it or dance it as often as I'd like. Hopefully I'll be able to get myself down to London for one of Robert and Claire's workshops soon.


SwingSwingSwing

[Heather]

I see you have got yourself a new Avatar, David !!!!
What is the significance of the motorbike? You are surely not going to reveal that you are a closet Hell's Angel!!!!



Heather

[Heather]

Bye the way, I just KNEW you would be able to answer the question about WCS and Lindy!!! You ought to write a book on Contemporary dance styles!!! Where do you get all your info!!!!

Heather

[Lindsay]

I thought SwingSwingSwing's response also v. impressive! He's a fab dancer too....

For me there's no competition between modern jive/wcs/lindy - in terms of how it looks, the music it's danced to, and the style/feel, 'swing' (i.e. Lindy Hop not West Coast Swing) wins every time.

[DavidB]

Originally posted by Heather
I see you have got yourself a new Avatar, David !!!! What is the significance of the motorbike? You are surely not going to reveal that you are a closet Hell's Angel

Not quite a Hell's Angel, but it is a picture of my bike (a 2001 Heritage Softail Classic). Now if only I can work out how to get sound effects with an avatar...

David

[DavidB]

Originally posted by Lindsay
I thought SwingSwingSwing's response also v. impressive!

So did I - I was trying to make my description of Lindy as vague as possible. I don't know much about it, other than how it has affected the development West Coast Swing. I know a bit more now.

For me there's no competition between modern jive/wcs/lindy - in terms of how it looks, the music it's danced to, and the style/feel, 'swing' (i.e. Lindy Hop not West Coast Swing) wins every time.

Wouldn't it be boring if we all liked the same thing!

A lot of Lindy dancers are just as interested in the history of the dance, and the personalities involved, as in the dance itself. You don't see this yet in Ceroc, but it could happen. Can you imagine in 60 years time a 'Ceroc Jam', featuring some of the original teachers and music. The scary thing is that this website would be a 'historical document'! Do you want your grandchildren talking about this 'new' dance craze, and then explaining that to be authentic, you have to 'go commando', complain at the music, have an avatar, and constantly change the subject!

David

[Franck]

Originally posted by Heather
Bye the way, Emma, Don't worry too much about going 'Off the Topic'. Some of us are at it all the time!!!!!!
In fact, some could actually make a career out of it!!!!!!!
(Sorry Franck, you are fighting a losing battle).
If you think about it, it's really quite a natural progression, being on the Chat Board is like having a conversation, and during the course of a conversation, people DO naturally digress, it's human nature.

Thanks Heather, but I think you misunderstood what I was trying to achieve.
I do not want everyone to stick to a strict set of pre-defined topics, I want people to digress and go off all sorts of tangents... and indeed we all do
What I would like to achieve is an easier to use forum, where everyone can easily navigate and identify the interesting (to them) topics.
As the Forum becomes more popular, there will be too many posts for (most) people to read, and they will have to be selective. The only way to do this, will be by the thread subject.
In the case of this thread, many people not interested by Lindy or West Coast Swing, will simply ignore this thread and therefore miss out on a very interesting discussion on off-topic postings , DavidB's motorbike etc...

So instead of preventing off-topic chat, I would rather new threads popped-up all over the place providing many varied subjects to get one's teeth into!
So go forth and multiply...

Franck.

P.S. I am aware that this very post is off topic, and ideally I should have started a new thread or attached it to a previous thread called off-topic!
But what are rules for if you can't break them occasionally!

[filthycute]

where the hell have you been hiding Franck?
I've been snowed under with college stuff, Paul has been busy getting organised for his hols and Gus.....i'm not sure what his excuse is actually maybe just the fact that he's had no one to "banter" with
come now...tell us why we have been deprived of your presence for so long

filthycute x x

ps. look at the size of my off topic post compared to yours
tut tut Administrator

pps. Heather is reeling you in....you'd think you'd learn by now hehe

[Franck]

Originally posted by filthycute
where the hell have you been hiding Franck?
come now...tell us why we have been deprived of your presence for so long

Why, thank you It is nice to know you missed me! No excuse, just been pretty busy, there are a lot of Ceroc events happening in the next few weeks / months, and I am snowed under! It seems that everyone else has been busy as well... The Forum has remained fairly busy despite all that, and I can only guess how mad it will become after the Style week-ends and the Ceroc Comp in Musselburgh!

ps. look at the size of my off topic post compared to yours
tut tut Administrator

Yeah, puny really You are losing your touch, I would have expected more from you!

pps. Heather is reeling you in....you'd think you'd learn by now hehe

I know, she is very good though, I just could not help myself! I'll have to take my revenge on the dance floor with some off-topic dancing...

Franck.

[Sandy]

Originally posted by filthycute
where the hell have you been hiding Franck?

Talking of people disappearing - where is John McAuley??

Noticed a drop in the level of sarcastic wit. Also Amanda very quiet. Are you both still there??

Cheers


Sandy

[Emma]

Originally posted by Franck
I'll have to take my revenge on the dance floor with some off-topic dancing...

Franck.

Off topic dancing? The mind boggles!!

[Tiggerbabe]

Originally posted by Emma

The mind boggles!!

And that's not all Emma! You should venture up here just for the experience.

[Emma]

Originally posted by Sheena


And that's not all Emma! You should venture up here just for the experience.

One of these days I fully intend to!

[filthycute]

Originally posted by Franck
Why, thank you It is nice to know you missed me!

oh come now Franck.......you know we all miss you when you dissapear! who's going to keep all us ruffians under control if not you??

I'll have to take my revenge on the dance floor with some off-topic dancing...

oo-er!! is that still to be introduced to "standard ceroc moves"?

can i put my name down for the first workshop? i wouldn't mind learning some "off-topic" dancing....it may come in useful.....one day Do you need to be of specific criteria to qualify in the "off-topic" dance section? should there be a certain number of week/years i should have under my belt? as an intermediate will i pick this up rather easy or does it take a while to master?
should i start auditioning partners or can i come alone?
anyone looking for a partner?

flthycute x x

[Franck]

Originally posted by filthycute
Do you need to be of specific criteria to qualify in the "off-topic" dance section?

I would think you would fit right-in that section
I am sure this week-end will see plenty of "Off-topic" dancing, in fact I hope so, fuelled by H's style tips and energy, inebriated with the sheer madness of the week-end and judging by who will be attending...

Seriously though, off-topic dancing sounds like a good concept, and one I might develop into a "Fun" class for a party sometimes, or even a workshop!

Franck.

[Lory]

An old thread but I didn't want to start a new one just for this...

This made me laugh and I think some of you will see the funny side of it too..

Last night, my parents stayed and after dinner and a few little drinky's, the music went on and guess what, we started talking about dancing! (surprised?)

Anyway, my Mum and Dad were pretty good 'rock and rollers' or boogie woogie'ers in their day, so I said to Dad, come on, you lead and I'll see if I can follow....

(Pause here a moment while I set the scene..... we were in the TV lounge with 3 settee and a large glass coffee table that we'd pushed back but this only left a long narrow'ish space)

So up we got and we started to dance, the beat was slightly different and mum and dad explained that some of the ladies turns were done in two beats, I was really getting into it then SUDDENLY, it occurred to me, 'Your doing west coast swing and you don't even know it,' WHAT? my dad said, I've never heard of it?

So I went into a lengthy explanation of the 'beat' and then onto my main observation, 'You dance perfectly in a slot, people take years to get this right and here you are doing it perfectly without even thinking about it!
That's when my Dad chirped up, I just hit my bloody leg on that flipping glass coffee table, that's why i'm dancing in the slot ya silly moo! DERR!