| The Western Swing | ||
|
This is not
the Six Count Swing and it is not the Jitterbug. Nor is it either of the
variants called the East Coast Swing or the West Coast Swing. The Western Swing
uses the Pony Step as its only footwork. As does the Cajun Swing. The Pony Step is somewhat demanding. You're not likely to be aware that you had those leg muscles in the first place. But you're brave, so get up out of that chair and begin tapping your right toe in time to the music. Got it? Keep at it for a little while. OK, now switch to tapping your right heel in time to the music. Got it? Piece of cake. (Don't do this on a carpet or while wearing soft-soled shoes. You must be on a wooden or tiled floor and be wearing hard-soled footwear). OK, keep tapping that right heel in time to the music and begin shifting all of your weight onto your right leg. Don't stop tapping the right heel in time to the music. OK, keep the right toe always in contact with the dance floor, and now begin a little push off with the left toe (keep tapping!). This will let you turn or travel a little bit. Practice using the left leg as the weight carrying leg too. When you feel equally (un)comfortable with both, practice switching leads by scuffing the free foot on the dance floor in transition to putting your weight onto that leg. The Pony Step, very similar to the buzz step from square dancing, begins on a half count (with the push off) and ends on the count (with the heel of the weight carrying foot thumping down on the dance floor). So the count is "and-one." Just and-one. But prompt: 'n ONE 'n TWO 'n ONE 'n TWO .... All you need learn now is the Push-Pull interaction with your partner and a dozen or two fancy turns. But the beauty of the dance is in performing the Pony Step, in time with your partner and in time with the music. Hey, how're the legs? And did I just hear you swear off cigarettes? |
