Swing, Swing, Swing! All About Swing Dancing in Arizona!

When someone says the words, "Swing Dance," what pops in your head? Do you imagine a world in black and white, full of suspenders, zoot suits, and fedoras? Or do you picture a more modern world with cowboy boots and jeans? Both are completely valid images, because there are actually many types of Swing dance! At Dance FX Studios, we teach a few of the different types of swing dance. Not sure which one you're looking to learn? Here's a simple break down of each type we offer so you can have a better idea of what you might be interested in:

Jitterbug Swing

Jitterbug is a super fun dance to get started out with! Comprised most of marching or traveling steps and rock steps, Jitterbug is known for its cool rubber band action and bouncing steps. Dancers are continuously switching places with one another and rocking away from each other, while throwing in fun twists and turns. The rhythm is generally slow-slow-quick-quick. Because of the limited steps and the fact that it doesn't travel, Jitterbug is danced to fast tempo music. This is what keeps the dance exciting without tons of extra footwork. It's the perfect dance to learn if you're looking to get introduced to the world of Swing dancing. (*Fun fact! Jitterbug, although intended for Swing music, can be danced to practically anything if it's fast enough. It's sometimes referred to as Rock and Roll dance!)

East Coast Swing

East Coast Swing is a little more of a challenge than Jitterbug. The shape of the dance is generally the same, as you keep the rubber band action and switch places with one another. The difference comes in the timing. East Coast Swing is danced with triple steps, meaning you take 3 steps in 2 beats of music. The rhythm is tri-ple-step-tri-ple-step-rock-step. Although a lot of the same moves from Jitterbug can transfer over from Jitterbug, the trickiest part comes with the bounce. Instead of bouncing with each step, you bounce with the beat. So, your bounces are on time, while your footwork is syncopated. Because of the extra footwork, East Coast Swing is usually danced to slower music. Think Big Band and crooners when looking for the perfect practice music!

Country Swing

Country Swing is the newest of these Swing dances, or at least it is the newest to be recognized. Country Swing dancing is very closely related to Jitterbug, maintaining the same timing of slow-slow-quick-quick. The moves are generally the same, but the styling is quite different. Cut out the bounces, add in a little more glide from some cowboy boots, and you've got Country Swing! A lot of Country music is too fast for Arizona Two-Step, so Swing is the best option. Country Swing is also a great space saver for those packed bars, so it's a good one to keep in your back pocket if you want to be a Country dancing machine.

West Coast Swing

West Coast Swing is one of the coolest Swing dances out there and by far one of the hardest. Although it maintains the idea of generally staying in one dance space on the floor, the shape is completely different. Dancers stay on a slot in order to keep the floor spacious and safe for everyone. The general rhythm is walk-walk-tri-ple-step-tri-ple-step, although this rhythm varies throughout the dance. West Coast Swing also maintains a type of rubber band action, like all Swing dances, but it looks and feels quite different from the others. West Coast can be danced to a variety of music, from R&B to Country to 80's pop. All it requires is a solid beat and some funk to play with!

No matter what style you want to rock, we can help you jump, jive, and wail! Dance FX Studios has been around for 13 years now to get people out on the dance floor through private dance lessons and fun group classes. Even if swing isn't your thing, we offer everything else from Country dance, to Latin dance, to Tango. If you live in the greater Phoenix area, check out our studio in Mesa just off the 60 and the 101. We're a hop, skip, and a jump away from Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert, Scottsdale, and Phoenix, so call and set up an introductory lesson today. Just remember... It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing!

P.S. Want to check out some Swing Dancing in person? We're having a Swing Dance Party September 6 from 8-11PM with live music by Come Back Buddy! Only $15 ahead of time or $20 at the door, join us for a Swing dance lesson, refreshments, awesome music, and lots of dancing! Not only will there be plenty of students and other dancers, but there will be instructors available to ask questions or steal a dance. Newcomers welcome!