Term 7 Starts September 23rd, 2024
West Coast Swing
Syllabus
Here at JRDA, we take the progression of our students very seriously, and also for those who make it to the higher levels, that they are challenged whilst learning, so it's important that at each level, certain goals are attained.
Below is an outline of our first two levels including what is expected (at a minimum before progressing to the next level.
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West Coast Swing was one of the 3 founding dances of Juan Rando Dance Academy in 1998. Juan has been passionately involved in teaching West Coast Swing dance classes longer than any other teacher in Australia, and is still actively updating his knowledge and bringing the latest techniques from around the world to Perth.
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Also an active competitor, Juan competes in the Advanced division and has trained many dancers to a high level for those who are interested in taking their dancing beyond the social level.
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Level 1 : For absolute beginners. No need to worry if it's your first time. A great introduction.
Level 2 : Building on the basics, you'll stay in level 2 for while until you are confident social dancing the basics.
Level 3 : Open and anything goes.
A Bit of West Coast Swing History
West Coast Swing (WCS) is a partner dance characterized by a distinctive elastic look that results from its basic extension-compression technique of partner connection and is danced primarily in a slotted area on the dance floor. Within the spectrum of partner dances, WCS is one of the most improvisational.
West Coast Swing originated from an earlier dance known as the Savoy Style Lindy, which was done at the Savoy Ballroom in New York in the early 1930’s. Although WCS was not invented by, it was indirectly spawned by a man whose name was Dean Collins, who also danced at the Savoy while living in New York.
Collins came to California in the 1930’s to get into the movie business and brought with him ‘his version’ of the “Savoy Style Lindy.” Collins, after dancing in Hollywood for a couple years and dancing in many nightclubs began dancing and competing. He would get to know some of the other local dancers, which have been said too have “not seen that style of the swing before, but they liked it very much.” It was a lot different than what they were doing at the time.