Watch a joyous performance by Benji Schwimmer and dance partner Torri Smith at the 2011 U.S. Open Swing Dance Championships. The dance opens with a gentle, sublime musicality, but soon moves to a symphonic rhythm that underscores the couple’s daring choreography. It’s mesmerizing!
West Coast Swing is a dancer’s dance. It’s a slower, bluesy version of East Coast Swing or Jitterbug. Danced to classic or contemporary blues tunes, it’s built on a six-count pattern with variations of eight or ten. It’s fun and playful, fast or slow; alluring or rapid-fire. The musical breaks and beats give dancers time for creative footwork and syncopated movements.
Here’s one of my favorite performances: Benji Schwimmer and Heidi Groskreutz at the 2001 US Open Swing Dance Championships. The sheer physicality, artistry, and choreography caught the eye of talent scouts. Both dancers landed on national TV dance shows: