Editing West Coast Swing (section)

==Basic guidelines==
West Coast Swing is an evolving social dance that has gone through many changes throughout its short history, over time incorporating techniques from numerous dance styles. However, there are many guidelines that should be followed to maintain the true character of the dance. A dance's character is typically defined by a basic philosophy, principles of movement, and traditional steps and figures.<ref>Latin: Thinking, Sensing, Doing in Latin American Dancing. Ruud Vermey. Kastell Verlag (January 1, 1994). 192 pages. {{ISBN|3924592446}}</ref> While these guidelines can be violated, by committing too many violations one risks departing from the defining features of the dance.

Modern West Coast Swing is in large part defined by an emphasis on musicality and connection.<ref>Dance Jam Productions MAD JAM 2009 VIDEO NOTEBOOK DVD: Workshop by Bill Cameron</ref> Movement is based on a principle borrowed from ballroom and Latin dance in which the dancer moves their center of gravity immediately over the foot when a weight transfer is desired. Traditional figures include 6-count and 8-count patterns of one of the four basic varieties: (1) Starter Step, (2) Side Pass, (3) Push Break / Sugar Push, (4) Whip. Many common West Coast Swing figures are derived from simple variations of these basic figures.<ref>Dance Jam Productions MAD JAM 2009 VIDEO NOTEBOOK DVD: Workshop by Chris Hussy and Katrina Branson</ref> West Coast Swing is also a fundamentally improvised dance, and thus such defined figures are simply starting points for the skilled dancer. Additionally, West Coast Swing can be said to rely on the leader creating and redirecting the momentum of the follower in order to communicate how they wish to lead the dance.<ref>Skippy Blair on Contemporary Social Dance. Skippy Blair. 1978. pages 113, 114. {{ISBN|0-932980-01-5}}</ref> The follower's step is different from the leader's; partners do not mirror each other.<ref>Social dance : from Dance a while / Jane A. Harris, Anne M. Pittman, Marlys S. Waller. 1998 Allyn & Bacon. page 44. {{ISBN|0-205-27477-3}}</ref>

Dancing to different types of music gives a different feel and look.<ref name="streetswing1" /> In writing about West Coast Swing, Skippy Blair said, "The only problem that exists in swing is when someone decides there is only one way to dance it. There is never only one way to do anything."<ref name="Contemporary Social Dance 1978. page 113" /> In 1994 Blair noted that the posture for men had trended to be more upright than in previous years.<ref>Dance Terminology Notebook. Skippy Blair. 1994. Altera. page 6. {{ISBN|0-932980-11-2}}.</ref>

A 1998 summary of trends in West Coast Swing distinguished the traditional or classic style from modern variations as follows:<ref>{{Cite book|last=Hutchinson|first=Craig R.|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/21616706|title=Swing Dancer: a Swing Dancer's Manual (Version 1.7)|date=1998|publisher=Potomac Swing Dance Club|isbn=0-9620617-0-0|edition=|location=Alexandria, VA|pages=3.5.1–2|oclc=21616706}}</ref>
* ''Traditional/Classic:'' minimal extension of the free arm, the leader moves off and on the center of the track for most moves
* ''Modern'': the free arm may be extended for style, emphasis on large number of spins and other flourishes

===Basic figures===
The following are some examples of basic West Coast Swing patterns. Most are performed with the same "step step tri-ple-step tri-ple-step" pattern equalling eight steps in six beats of music. The term "count" is used as a synonym for a "beat", usually a quarter note, of music.
*'''Underarm pass''': Also called the right-side pass. A six-count basic where the follower is led to the other end of the slot, passing on the leader's right (right side pass), typically under the leader's arm (underarm pass).
* '''Left-side pass''': A six-count basic where the follower is led to the other end of the slot, passing on the leader's left.
* '''Tuck pass''': Similar to a left side pass in six counts, except that the leader creates a "tuck" action on the second count by turning the follower towards themselves and then reversing their direction back toward the slot on the fourth count. Then the follower turns under the leader's left arm – either a half turn or a turn and a half – on the final two counts.
* '''Sugar push''': Also called the "push break" or "six-count basic".<ref>Picture Yourself Dancing. Shawn and Joanna Trautman. Thomson Course Technology PTR. 2006. page 232. {{ISBN|1-59863-246-9}}</ref> In this six-count move, the follower, facing the leader, is led from the end of the slot to a one- or two-hand hold, then led back to the same end of the slot. The deceptively simple pattern requires "compression" or "resistance" with firm but flexible arms, and no excessive pushing or pulling . While the arms remain firm but flexible, there should be no excessive pushing or pulling in the arms but in the body.<ref>Skippy Blair on Contemporary Social Dance" Skippy Blair 1978 page 116 {{ISBN|0-932980-01-5}}</ref> The Sugar Push has been around since 1952.<ref>Skippy Blair at http://www.swingworld.com/wcs.htm rtvd 6.12.2011</ref> 
* '''Whip''': An eight-count basic with many variations. In a basic whip, the follower is led past the leader and then redirected (or "whipped") back towards the end of slot from which they started. The basic footwork for a whip extends the six-count pattern by inserting a pair of walking steps between the triple steps. The footwork is therefore "step step tri-ple-step step step tri-ple-step." The whip is an evolution of the Lindy Hop basic, but with a smoother and more grounded west coast swing interpretation.