The Importance of Taking Smaller Steps

Let’s discuss the importance of taking smaller steps in swing dancing. The baseline step size in swing dancing should be about the full length of your own foot. The connection between the leader and the follower switches between A frame and V frame inside of this small step.

When a dancer takes small steps nothing gets missed. Leaders have plenty of time to prepare their lead and followers alive at the lead with enough energy and time to preform the desired figures. If only one dancer in a partnership takes the right sized steps and the other does not the dance will limp along and most of the leads will be felt.

If the follower is taking giant steps the leader has to work harder to send good strong signals. The inverse is true as well if the follower is keeping their steps tight and the leader is the giant stepper the follower has their work cut out for them for that dance.

This is an awesome drill to help you master smaller steps in you West Coast Swing dancing. It has the 2 major footwork patterns (6&8 counts) as well as a nice reward at the end of the whip for both dancers. You can only get to the end if you keep your steps small!

Learning How to WCS: He Scrolls, She Styles

This sequence features a standard basket whip, a fake basket whip that has the leader scrolling his position down the slot, a free spin for the follower (she can single, double, or reverse her spin), Right sing pass to 2 hand hold, and finally an inside roll to basket he hooks his footwork 5&6 as she styles the anchor 5,6,&1…

Mr. Jonathan has been teaching WCS and Country Two-Step for over a decade. His unique approach to teaching makes him a sought after dance coach. You can catch his 2-Step Class every 2nd Sunday from 6:30 –7:00 pm WCS class 7-7:30pm at the Longfellow Club JoEllen in Wayland, Ma (524 Boston Post Rd) Each Class is $15 and includes practice time/Dancing afterward.