West Coast Swing

(Western Dance – Couples )    

West Coast Swing:

The basic dance position is called Promenade.  

The tempo of music can vary between 112 and 132 beats per minute.

The basic step pattern is danced to six or eight counts of music – 1&2 3&4 5 6 or 1 2&3 4 5&6 or 1 2 3&4 5 6 7&8.

The man does a rock step and the woman does a forward walk on counts 1 2, this is followed by both partners mutual but not necessarily synchronous triple step rhythm to the pattern’s end. 

譯自英文-

西海岸搖擺舞（West Coast Swing）是一項源自Lindy Hop的合作舞蹈。它的特點是具有彈性外觀，這是由於其搭檔連接的拉伸壓縮技術所致，主要在舞池的開槽區域中跳舞。舞蹈允許雙方搭檔一起跳舞時即興表演，將西海岸搖擺舞列入強調即興表演的簡短舞蹈清單中。

Waltz

(Western Dance – Couples )   

Waltz :

Danced at between 92 and 108 beats per minute, the basic dance position is Closed Western.

Waltz is danced to six counts of music, simply counted 1 2 3 4 5 6 with counts 1 and 4 accented.

The dance generally travels forward and any moves that temporarily slow or stop should be done towards the centre of the floor.

圓舞曲有別於貝多芬、舒伯特、布拉姆斯等維也納作曲家的嚴肅作品，它和「輕歌劇」可說是19世紀民主化社會中，為適應一般群眾較通俗品味而形成的「輕音樂」；它們在維也納的誕生、興盛與衰竭，正好與整個19世紀奧地利哈布斯堡王朝的榮枯息息相關，了解其社會背景有助於對維也納輕音樂的認知。

舞蹈特點

圓舞曲擺盪的動作與轉身動作是不能分開的，兩者之間並存的是一種引擎與輪胎的關係，沒有轉身動作，擺盪的動作將顯得硬而不平衡，擺盪的完成表象，要藉著身轉動作經過身體中心以及腿部、臀部的運動，還有肩膀與手臂的擺轉來達成時間運動的技巧，來完成輕盈且優雅而具有動力型態舞姿。開始移動後，舞步里所指的轉度，指的是雙足之間的轉度，並非指身體的轉度，尤其是女士，幾乎只有前進與後退的動作，轉度則由男士全部來完成。

Two Step

(Western Dance – Couples )   

Two Step:

The basic position is Closed Western Dance Position.

The tempo of music can vary from about 160 to about 192 beats per minute.

The basic step is danced to six counts of music, quick, quick, slow, slow counted 1 2 3 5, or slow, slow, quick, quick counted 1 3 5 6.

The dance has a generally forward movement and any move that temporarily slows the forward movement should be done towards the centre of the floor.

Eight count variations and six count syncopations are acceptable.

譯自英文-鄉村/西部兩步舞，通常稱為“德克薩斯州兩步舞”或簡稱為“兩步舞”，是通常在普通時間隨著鄉村音樂跳舞的鄉村/西部舞。“我的理論認為，傳統的[Texas]兩步曲發展起來了，因為它適合用[在鄉村音樂中找到的]堅定的節拍演奏兩到四次的小提琴和吉他音樂。一二，一二，幻燈片隨機播放。

Three Step

(Western Dance – Couples )    

Three Step:

The basic dance position is Closed Western Dance Position.

The tempo of music can vary from 96 – 128 beats per minute.

The basic step is danced to three counts of music – Quick, quick, quick, slow.

The three quick steps are done to two counts of music – 1&2 3. The dance has a generally forward movement and any move that temporarily slows the forward movement should be done towards the centre of the floor.

During the basic step the man’s right foot and the woman’s left foot on the quick steps never pass the other foot, but does pass on the slow step.

Southern Style Schottishce

(Western Dance – Couples )    

Southern Style Schottishce:

The basic dance position is Sweetheart.

The tempo of music can vary from 136 to 176 beats per minute.

The basic step is a series of three steps mainly vine patterns followed by a kick, scoot, hop or brush counted 1 2 3 kick 5 6 7 kick.

Four consecutive schottische patterns are performed followed by two 2-count step kicks followed by three backward or in place steps and a kick followed by one 2-count step kick.

The dance has a generally forward movement.

Shuffle

(Western Dance – Couples )    

Shuffle:

These patterns are very often used in repetitive partner.

The basic dance position is Sweetheart.

The tempo of music can vary from 124 – 140 beats per minute. The basic Shuffle step is counted 1&2 3&4.

The dance has a generally forward movement but must include some non-progressive step patterns with a minimum of 8 counts and a maximum of 16 counts of music.

At least 4 shuffles and not more than 8 or 10 shuffles are done consecutively without entering the standing step pattern.

No Schottische style patterns are allowed, i.e. vine step patterns followed by a kick accent performed on count 4 of the rhythm.

No rhythm breaks are allowed during the shuffles, but any steps may be done during the standing steps.

Schottische

(Western Dance – Couples )   

Schottische:

These patterns are very often used in repetitive partner dances.

The basic dance position is Sweetheart.

The tempo of the music can vary from 120 to 148 beats per minute.

The basic step is a series of three steps, mainly vine patterns, followed by a kick, scoot, hop or brush, counted 1 2 3 kick 5 6 7 kick.

Any number of patterns can be performed consecutively before entering into a series of two or more 2-count step kicks.

The dance has a generally forward movement.

沙蒂希步，又稱沙蒂希跳，是源自於波西米亞的民俗雙人舞蹈。這種舞蹈的步伐常常是二個小跑步，再接著四個踏跳。其舞步為跑三步躍、跑三步躍、踏跳踏跳踏跳踏跳。而取其跑三步躍稱之為沙蒂希步。

Rhythm Two Step

(Western Dance – Couples )    

Rhythm Two Step:

The basic dance position is Closed Western.

The tempo of music is between 136 and 176 beats per minute.

The basic step is danced as six or eight count combinations of stationary Two Step patterns counted 1 2 3 kick or touch 5 kick or touch; or 1 2 3 4 5 kick or touch, 7 kick or touch; or 1 2 3 kick or touch, 5 6 7 kick or touch.

The dance has a generally stationary step pattern.

Pony

(Western Dance – Couples )    

Pony:

The basic dance position is called Open (Double Hand).

The tempo of music can be between 200 and 220 beats per minute.

The basic step is danced to four or eight counts of music: &1 &2 &3 &4.

The dance continuously changes weight between feet, the weight should
be mainly over one foot and changed momentarily in a push step to
the other foot, then immediately returned to the primary foot.

The dance has a mainly circular step pattern.

Polka

(Western Dance – Couples )   

Polka :

Danced at between 124 and 140 beats per minute, the basic dance
position is Closed Western.

Polka is danced to four counts of music, counted 1&2 3&4.

The dance generally travels forward and any moves that temporarily slow or stop should be done towards the centre of the floor.

Open Swing

(Western Dance – Couples )    

Open Swing:

The basic dance position is dependant on the type of Swing danced.

The tempo of music is between 124 and 164 beats per minute.

Any combination of Swing patterns as described above is allowed in the
General Swing category.

Usually any specific swing outlined above that is offered with this category at the same competition event disqualifies that specific Swing from being danced in this general category.

East Coast Swing

(Western Dance – Couples )  

East Coast Swing :

The basic dance position is called Promenade.

The tempo of music can vary from between 140 to 156 beats per minute.

The basic step is danced to six counts of music.

It can be danced to single rhythm 1 3 5 6; double rhythm 1 2 3 4 5 6 where weightless counts are taken on either 1 and 3 or 2 and 4; or most commonly triple rhythm 1&2 3&4 5 6.

Each style has mutually performed rock steps in any direction done by both partners on counts 5 and 6.

The dance has a generally stationary, circular and slotted step pattern.

Four and eight count variations and syncopations are acceptable.

Double Two Step

(Western Dance – Couples )   

Double Two Step :

The basic dance position is Closed Western.

The tempo of music can vary between 112 and 132 beats per minute.

The basic step is dances as two triple steps or shuffles followed by two walking steps counted 1&2 3&4 56.

The dance has a generally forward movement and any move that temporarily slows the forward movement should be done towards the centre of the floor.

Cotton Eyed Joe

(Western Dance – Couples )    

Cotton Eyed Joe:

The basic position is Sweetheart.

The tempo of music can vary from 124 to 156 beats per minute.

The basic step is a series of sixteen counts of standing step Cotton Eyed Joe patterns (1 2 3&4), followed by eight shuffles (1&2 3&4).

The dance has a generally forward movement.

Cha Cha Cha

(Western Dance – Couples )    

Cha Cha Cha:

The dance is more commonly done as a repetitive line or partner dance pattern, but it is fairly popular as a Couple’s Dance.

Danced between 84 and 124 beats per minute it requires five weight changed done to four counts of music counted 1 2 3 4& or 1 2 3 & 4.

The break beat or changes of direction on the 2nd and 6th count or 1st and 5th count of music must remain constant throughout the dance.

If dancers start by breaking on count 1 they should not change during the dance to break on count 2.

Cha Cha may be danced in two ways or a combination of both, the first and most common is Rhythm Cha Cha.

The basic dance position is Closed Western like the Two Step, the dance may have some form of forward movement but large parts of the dance should be stationary.

Secondly, Cha Cha may be danced as Progressive; the basic dance position is Sweetheart like many partner dances.

It is danced with generally forward movement with any moves that slow or stop being done towards the centre of the floor.

Basic Nightclub Two Step

(Western Dance – Couples )  

Basic Nightclub Two Step:

In Couples, the male takes a long step to the left on count 1, rocks back on the right on the & count – toe behind the heel, then steps out to the right on the count 2.

The lady dances the similar pattern but starting on the right foot.Then both dancers repeat on the opposite leg.

Night Club Two Step is predominantly danced to mid-tempo ballads with 4/4 timing.

The basic rhythm is slow quick quick slow quick quick slow i.e. 1 2 & 3 4 & 5 etc.

A “sway” is maintained throughout a Nightclub Two Step to give the dance a smooth, romantic feel and this is done by stretching up through the body and leaning to the side, without any break in the waistline.

Arm lines should be smooth and clean, balletic in nature with no breaks at the wrist (e.g. as in cha cha) or elbows. Arms should feel weightless and look effortless.

The feet should remain in contact with the floor; as the working foot is stepped onto, the foot makes a small sweep on the floor before stepping to foot’s destination – this is known as “tracing the floor”.

The working foot is stretched out away from the opposite foot, and as the weight is transferred onto the working foot, the other foot draws in towards it.

A Technical Introduction

(Western Dance – Couples )   

A Technical Introduction:

Country Western Couples’ dances are done in a flowing progressive anti-clockwise direction around the outer edge of the dance floor. ( with the exception of stationary dances, e.g. East & West Coast Swing etc )

A natural smooth movement is emphasised.

Dancers use a relaxed posture with slightly flexed knees keeping their feet close to the floor and move with a level gliding motion.

Synchronised movement is emphasised in all aspects of country western dancing.

Couples dance in complete unison as one unit both dancers move in time to the music.

If a hand is not joined it is usually held at waist level.
As in all couples dancing the man leads, the woman follows; better still she interprets that lead.

Each is a separate responsibility and should be done well.
Proper lead and follow techniques enhance the couple’s ability to dance in unison and maintain rhythm, timing and balance.

All dancers should follow Dance Floor Etiquette, if you are moving slower that other couples move to the inside of the floor so you do not interrupt the other dancers.

The counts described below are only intended to give the basic step pattern and do not include the many variations created by rhythm breaks and syncopations.

A rhythm break or variation occurs when the basic rhythm pattern in altered by extending or changing the basic rhythm count, e.g. Two Step – instead of dancing two slow steps and two quick steps the rhythm could be changed to danced six quick steps.

A syncopation occurs when any step places the accent between the beats of music, e.g. Swing – instead of dancing a rock step a syncopation could be included by dancing a kick ball change.

Terminology-Z

(Basic Line Dance Terminology-Z)  

Zig Zag:

A diagonal step pattern that alternates direction at 45° .

Terminology-W

(Basic Line Dance Terminology-W)    

Weight Change:

Transfer of body weight from one foot to the other.

Terminology-V

(Basic Line Dance Terminology-V)    

Vanilla:

The plain steps as written on Choreographers sheet.

Variations :

Any temporary changes of the original footwork.

Vaudeville Steps:

A four count syncopated combination of moves leading with either foot.

i.e:- (&l ) Step back on ball of left foot. Step right foot across left ,(&2) Step left to left side. Touch right heel fwd to right diagonal ,(&3) Step back on ball of right foot. Step left across right ,(&4) Step right to right side. Touch left heel diagonally fwd.