Reality shows continue to dominate the airwaves, with a number of these shows focusing on a person’s dance skills. As a result of these shows, many individuals are now opting to try their hand at one or more new forms of dancing, such as West Coast Swing Dance. This type of swing dancing makes use of music with six or eight beats, in most cases, yet can be adapted to any song with a plus or minus two beat increment. For this reason, people may see dancers doing the West Coast Swing to rhythm and blues, blues with a moderate tempo, and contemporary music.
it is believed that this form of dance originated somewhere in the late 1930s to the early 1950s, around the same time as many other forms of swing came about. It is believed that Dean Collins and Arthur Murray played a role in the development of this dance style, although Murray referred to it as Western Swing. Today, it is often referred to as California Swing, and it’s actually the state dance of California and has been since 1988.
This dance format continues to increase in popularity, thanks in large part to its versatility. It’s been featured on popular shows like So You Think You Can Dance and 30 Seconds to Fame, and numerous people have demonstrated their West Coast Swing flair on Internet sites such as YouTube. Regardless of whether the person likes soul, pop, acoustic, or folk-rock music, there’s a song that can be used for this dance. The key is to find a song with a tempo of between 80 and 160 beats per minutes. It’s a moderately challenging dance, yet one that allows each person to express him or herself.
It’s fairly easy to learn the basics of West Coast Swing Dance, yet there are many nuances. For this reason, those wishing to learn this dance style often turn to the Fred Astaire Dance Studios. Choose from private or group lessons and add practice sessions to brush up on the skills learned. Imagine showing off your skills on the dance floor and amazing your family and friends. With the help of these lessons, doing so has never been easier.
