West coast swing.....seriously!!

[angelblue]

Hi guys,

Having not been on this forum for the best part of a year i have logged on and read some of the posts on west coast swing.....all i want to say is....chill out guys!!!!

When did west coast swing become so...serious!!!

I know this is a forum and we can discuss anything, good and bad...but it seems some people have forgotten the one fundamental key to dancing...

..HAVING FUN....!!!

Its even part of the word FUNdamental

Yes wcs is more technical, yes wcs has more footwork than jive and yes the increasing competetive circuit highlights the need for perfection but when did people stop having fun?

People want to improve and are asking a thousand questions on 'how to's' but in many cases you improve as a dancer when your heart is in it, when your smiling and enjoying it. You can have the knowledge of the best wcs teacher in the world (mario)but what good is knowledge if your not having fun applying it? It seems by reading some posts people are going way way too technical ....it really is a simple dance...its just getting your head around the simplicity of it which is the most technical part!

So, stop putting so much pressure on yourselves,enjoy the learning process and just dance!!

Sometimes some of the things that seem hardest to do just come together when your least expecting it and its almost always when your having fun!!!!

Carron

[Caro]

When did west coast swing become so...serious!!!

(...)
It seems by reading some posts people are going way way too technical ....

honey... for some people, getting technical is part of the fun - weirdos, hey

[mikeyr]

....it really is a simple dance...its just getting your head around the simplicity of it which is the most technical part!

So, stop putting so much pressure on yourselves,enjoy the learning process and just dance!!

Just walk walk, triple triple, how hard can it really be

[robd]

Just walk walk, triple triple, how hard can it really be

Clearly too hard for you Mikey given Mario's digs at your lack of triples

[straycat]

I know this is a forum and we can discuss anything, good and bad...but it seems some people have forgotten the one fundamental key to dancing...

..HAVING FUN....!!!

Why fundamental? Granted this is the case for the vast majority of people in our dance world, but it's certainly not the case in the broad sense - dance can easily become an overriding passion in many ways that have nothing to do with fun.

Its even part of the word FUNdamental

Yes - but it's also a part of the word fungus.

Yes wcs is more technical, yes wcs has more footwork than jive and yes the increasing competetive circuit highlights the need for perfection but when did people stop having fun?

What makes you think they did?

Don't get me wrong - for all my nitpicking, I do take your point... but quite simply put, if you want to improve your dancing beyond a certain point, you need to start working on technique. Not everyone wants to do this, and that's absolutely fine - but for those of us that do, exploring the technical aspects of dance, no matter how seriously we seem to take it, can be exciting, fulfilling, rewarding, and yes - even fun

[NZ Monkey]

Not everyone wants to do this, and that's absolutely fine - but for those of us that do, exploring the technical aspects of dance, no matter how seriously we seem to take it, can be exciting, fulfilling, rewarding, and yes - even fun

I place myself firmly in that camp too.

The thing is, it's hard to really get a feel for where someone is coming from just from what they write online. They may sound deadly serious about it all - but that's not necessarily the way they act, or an indication of the way they dance.

Then again, it might be.....we really don't always know.

[mikeyr]

Clearly too hard for you Mikey given Mario's digs at your lack of triples

Me, I'm big fan of the walk walk, stand there stand there, much better suited to my dancing ability

[DavidB]

Me, I'm big fan of the walk walk, stand there stand there, much better suited to my dancing ability

Personally I find the 'walk walk' a bit energetic. Even the 'stand there' has on occasion been replaced by a 'sit down' or a 'lean against the bar'

[Minnie M]

Me, I'm big fan of the walk walk, stand there stand there, much better suited to my dancing ability

Personally I find the 'walk walk' a bit energetic. Even the 'stand there' has on occasion been replaced by a 'sit down' or a 'lean against the bar'

My Jack (cgull) saw Mike's demo on Monday and said "this is the dance for me, the lead is hardly moving"
Can't wait for him to see David dancing However, both Mike & David and fab leads and IMO it is all in the lead whatever the feet are doing

Yes - but it's also a part of the word fungus.

Sorry, but this made me laugh lots

[Minnie M]

I have been dancing WCS for 10 years now and am still a beginner, I think I can do the basics well and that is all - however I think I can follow well (after a fashion) and to be honest I don't care that I am on the correct foot etc., I don't intend to compete, so why do I need to ??? (As long as I don't tread on my partner's foot)

As long as the lead doesn't go into choreograph patterns etc I am fine - I just relax, listen to the music and enjoy the dance

Hopefully the leads I dance with enjoy my dances with them as much as I do with them

(My Lindy is at the same level too - and I have had some fab dances there too)

[SPROGGS]

Me, I'm big fan of the walk walk, stand there stand there, much better suited to my dancing ability

My technique is similar - STEP STEP.....TRIP & STEP.... STEP STEP....TRIP & STEP...

[sunnybunny]

My technique is similar - STEP STEP.....TRIP & STEP.... STEP STEP....TRIP & STEP...

Perhaps you need to take more water with it


I'm with Minnie on this one. As long as I am on "my" foot - and not anyone else's = 50% chance of being "right" & progress in my book.

[SPROGGS]

Perhaps you need to take more water with it

WATER!

[Lee Bartholomew]

My technique is similar - STEP STEP.....TRIP & STEP.... STEP STEP....TRIP & STEP...

I am always willing to teach if you are struggling with it.