Wondering what the difference between the West Coast and East Coast swing styles might be? Then let us tell you all about swing.
Swing dance is an energetic and bustling genre that has a rich history, rooted in the vibrant music and dance culture from the roaring 20’s to the 40’s. Swing is known because of its dynamic movements and infectious rhythms, and encompasses a very diverse range of styles, each on with its unique flair and cultural influence.
Of course, both West Coast and East Cost fall under the category of Swing Dance. Nonetheless, this dance has a myriad of distinct styles (over 10), and there’s four of them that had direct influences on West and East swing. Let’s take a closer look at each:
- Lindy Hop: This dance originated during the 30’s, and is known due to its high-energy nature. It features very “athletic” and acrobatic fast steps, and generally leaves all spectators in awe. You won’t be indifferent to it, and that’s for sure!
- Shag: It came around during the 20s, and became widespread during the 30’s. It has a Jazzy spirit and is danced to up-tempo.
- Balboa: This dance is performed in a closed position and originated during a time with very strict social codes and limited dancing spaces. It doesn’t feature turns and spins, and there’s a constant connection maintained between the dancers’ chests.
- Lindy Charleston: This style bears a resemblance to the Charleston dance of the 20’s. It encompasses various positions, including the jockey, side-by-side, hand-to-hand and tandem. All adding depth and versatility to this classic dance style.
So… what’s the difference?
To differentiate them, we need to know each one. Let’s start with East Coast Swing, which is also known as Jitterbug.
East Coast Swing:
As its name implies, this swing has its origin mainly in the east coast, and is distinguished by its association with jazz music and big bands. Its also related to the vibrant New York City scene of the 40’s.
This style emerged from the Lindy Hop, which was the popular and predominant dance style of that moment. East Coast was a response to the huge demand of dance studios for a more mainstream, approachable, and structured version of Lindy Hop (because, as you might imagine, not everyone was able to perform such an acrobatic dance at almost inhuman speeds), so East Coast Swing was designed for beginners.
Here, the fast melodies of rock and big bands dominate. This swing uses rock steps and has a nice energy, which makes it a good bet for beginners, and, in a certain way, it positions it as a standard dance. Here’s some nice examples…
West Coast Swing:
Now for West Coast (or Western) Swing, which originated in California. It’s important to note that this style is performed in a groove, and is considered a slower dance than the East swing.
Musically, west coast prefers slow rock, as well as blues rhythms. It can also favor country music at times. This swing can be seen as more sensual when compared to its counterpart and emerged when the Lindy Hop dance started to decline.
In social dances, it’s common to find people fusing elements of both styles, making a mixture of East Coast and West Coast dance. This video showcases some really fun examples.
The tempo
As a general “rule”, East coast Swing is danced to a fast tempo (between a BPM of 136 and 144), as follows its energetic nature and musical preference. In the contemporaneous American Rhythm of this swing, dancers also perform to the gleeful and vivacious pop music.
As for West Coast Swing, its enchanting aspects include that it is very versatile when it comes to choosing music. This dance style adapts itself gracefully to a myriad of music genres that go from the sensual hug of slow blues to the contemporaneous vibes form hip-hop, the melodious harmonies of pop, music from the 40’s and even the twang of country.
The tempo for this style varies greatly, but it oscillates in a BPM of 90-120 range. One of the hallmarks of West Coast Swing is its strong emphasis on dancing in sync with the music, a quality that plays a key role in winning West Coast Swing dance competitions.
Achieving this synchrony involves embodying the lyrics of the songs, skillfully combining dance moves with musical pauses, and harmonizing body movements with rhythmic beats.
A West Coast dancer must prove a ‘dance chameleon’, adapting their style to the musical context and passing easily from sensual and slow, to energetic rhythms.
The Basic Steps
In essence, East Coast Swing revolves around a dynamic interplay of rock steps and triple steps. What really defines East Coast Swing is its inherent sense of rhythm, characterized by a lively bounce, graceful ups and downs, and a captivating cadence.
Dancers infuse this style with an infectious burst of energy, accentuated by energetic shakes and kicks of the legs and feet, along with the mesmerizing swaying of the hips in a pendulum motion. Lifting the knees between steps is a testament to the exuberance of the dance and synchronizes perfectly with the vibrant energy of the accompanying music.
The foundation of West Coast Swing is its fundamental footwork, characterized by a rhythmic sequence of walk, walk, triple step, and triple step. It is important to note that within this sequence, the final triple step has a special designation as the “Anchor Step”.
What distinguishes West Coast Swing is its fluid and sophisticated style, marked by a deep emphasis on partner connection, a keen sense of musicality, and precision footwork.
Wrapping it up…
Both East Coast Swing and West Coast Swing have carved out a niche as enjoyable and sociable dances, often gracing the dance floors of weddings, parties, and lively bars. I enthusiastically encourage anyone to venture into the world of both dance styles – do you have a preference between the two and, if so, what attracts you to them? We’d love to hear from you.
