The Road So Far: my west coast swing education

 

Yeah, the title is a reference to supernatural 

I started doing west coast swing in 2015. I'd done collegiate ballroom for about two years, and salsa/bachata for about the same amount of time. Neither very seriously! 

At this point I'd also played violin for over a decade, done martial arts for about four years (both of those when I was much younger), soccer for a couple of seasons (during middle school) track and field for two years (high school), calisthenics on a regular basis since 2008, trained hardstyle (SFG/RKC) kettlebells since 2009, and done powerlifting-style barbell strength training since 2010. I also worked full time as a personal trainer/powerlifting team coach/kettlebell instructor and mentor to other certified instructors as my full time profession from 2014-2018. Yes, all of this helped me a lot. Much more so than the limited dance experience I'd had.

My very first west coast swing lesson was in Washington DC but I really started a few months later after relocating to Tucson. I moved to Phoenix in 2018 after about two and a half years of WCS. I competed fairly regularly 2015-2019, though I haven't done much since then. I pointed out of novice in 2016, intermediate in 2017, and advanced in 2019. Very fortunately, I was able to keep working hard on my dance throughout the entire pandemic (thanks to Fae, Sam Boice, Britny Delp and Olivia Burnsed). This past July, right around my 7 year mark in the dance; I moved to Denver where I've lived and taught regularly ever since. 

*****

My years 1-3: focus on a few people I liked for their overall values and how they saw the dance (Larisa, Malia, Piper, Demetre). Also took lessons with 15+ other champs cause why not. Became confused as a result because I didn't have much perspective. Helpful in the long run, though.

Year 3-6+: fae gives me perspective largely because, not having a dance background or much formal instruction; she's very very good at seeing and understanding how things work. The thing in question being WCS. And I'm heavily influenced going forward in terms of how I look at my own dance and developing it. This point of view is hugely lacking in our dance community. 

Year ~3-4: After doing a strictly with Mia Pastor, I'm fortunate enough to get to work with Robert a decent amount. I'd taken his intensives, gone to his workshops, and bought his videos but the one on one coaching really helps me understand his overall philosophy and theory of the dance. 

Year 3-7: I decide to learn how Jordan and Tat dance after dancing with Tat and realizing that I want to be able to communicate through as wide a range as they do. Plus, taking an initial lesson with Jordan and hearing from fae what following him is like... (my response: "you can do that in this dance?"). 

Years 4-7: Zee ramps up my understanding of everything I've been taught on a technical level. He also very much represents the kind of teacher I want to be. He's learned all the primary philosophies of the dance and can teach to the individual. 

Throughout the past several years, Benji and Ben have been very influential. Despite not having quite as much of an extended coaching relationship--Ben especially, I've done a good number of one on ones with Benji, now--they've shared some truly brilliant insights without which I wouldn't be nearly the same dancer. 

Here's a recent dance of mine that I like

Right now, I would say that if I had to trace dominant influences in how I see and do west coast swing: 

Jordan has informed my connection and communication style, and my overall idea of what west coast swing should be. 

Benji has had the biggest influence on what happens in my body and what I'm trying to do with it -- and this ties in quite heavily with Jordan's tech for leading.

Ben and Robert have had a strong background influence on how I see competition and interaction between partners. 

Fae and Zee really gave me the "see through the matrix" in terms of conceptualizing how everything works together--or doesn't--how people's dogma and philosophies clash, and what they have in common whether they know it or not. (Even the best teachers are often startlingly limited when it comes to dissecting each others styles.) 

Sarah, Brandi and Courtney are absolutely brilliant if you want a healthy psychological and emotional place to dance from. Brandi's 24-hour intensive is a pretty incredible piece of info, too. Courtney has a gift for breaking down complex technical material, especially for followers;  without using jargon/technical language/semantics that might confuse someone who's heard different definitions from various instructors. 

Other instructors I've taken or dummied multiple lessons with: 

Tara Trafzer 

Torri Zzaoui

Alyssa Glanville

Melissa Rutz

Cameo McHenry

Sean Mckeever

Jen Deluca 

Kellese Key 

Dillon Luther 

*****

West coast swing is unquestionably one of the hardest social/partner dances you can do. The prevalence of different "dialects" and influences not just from the original root language of Lindy Hop but also shag, hand dancing, push and whip, and other non-swing dances like tango, hustle and zouk; PLUS solo styles combined with the lack of a syllabus mean that it's very much a melting pot. 

Language wise, I think an apt comparison is American English. 

In terms of other movement disciplines, I think it's actually most similar to something like mixed martial arts wherein a whole bunch of different styles coexist, and athletes from varied backgrounds have to try and create something of their own that works. 

I do also think that it's fairly common to try and teach west coast swing as though it's a syllabus dance, with steps and patterns and a Right Way to do things. Which is horribly misguided. It's a difficult enough dance to learn as it is, we don't have to make it harder! 

(some relevant thoughts ;p )

Until next time, 

Love your dance and be good to each other.