Music Sound

East Coast Swing (ECS) is a partner dance derived from the Lindy Hop. The basic step is triple step, triple step, and a rock step. East Coast Swing (6 count) is intermixable with most forms of swing dancing, though primarily with the Lindy Hop.

Steps

• Basic Closed: In closed position, simply remain in the same position while doing footwork.
• Basic Open: In open position, remain in the same position while doing footwork.
• She Goes: In open position, leader raises left hand and follower spins under. (Left Inside Turn)
• He Goes: In open position, leader raises left hand and leader spins under. (Leader Left Outside Turn)
• She Goes, He Goes: In open position, leader raises left hand and follower spins under, then leader spins under. (Left Inside Turn followed by Leader Left Outside Turn)
• Tuck Turn: The leader gives a small nudge and raises left hand, and the follower goes under. (Left Outside Turn)
• Throw Out: After closed position rock step, leader gives small right forearm nudge, and follower goes to open position.
• Return to Close: In open position, the leader gives a small pull and the follower comes into closed position.
• Cuddle: Same step as She Goes, except the leader does not let go of the right hand. The leader and follower end up side-by-side in a cuddle position.
• Waist slide: In open position, leader raises right hand, and turns to his left, putting his right arm and his partners left arm over his head and in front of him while turning. He lets go with his left hand, continues to turn while maintaining the hold with his right hand, ends up facing his partner again, and regrips follow's right hand with his left.

Footwork

Footwork can have many different forms:

• Single Step: Rock-step, step-hold, step-hold.
• Double Step: Rock-step, kick-step, kick-step; or rock-step, tap-step, tap-step.
• Triple Step: Rock-step, triple-step, triple-step.
• Holds: Rock step, hold-hold, hold-hold.

These forms can be mixed and matched, for example: Rock-step, triple-step, kick, hold.

The reasons to choose different footwork are as follows.

• Learning: Beginning dancers can do simple steps easily, but they may struggle with more complex footwork. Advanced dancers may enjoy more complex footwork.
• Tempo: Simpler footwork, such as steps and holds, are easier to do to fast music. Complex footwork makes slow music more interesting.
• Musicality: If the music has very simple rhythm, such as one beat per beat, then kick steps work well. If the music has a more complex rhythm, such as two beats per beat, then triple steps work well. If the music pauses (breaks) then holds work well.
• Variety: It is nice to vary the dance form, so if you use one kind of footwork for a while, you might want to try another form for a while.