Swing Dance - Part III - Lesson I - Retro Swing: The Basic Step

Most styles of dance have what is a considered to be a "basic step." This is the common form from which all elements come. In a manner of speaking, you could say the basic step is like a diving board. Elements are extensions, so to speak of the basic step. Most elements have names. Throughout the "lessons" parts of this Swing dance guide, you will be taught the basic as well as the following elements:

1. The Underarm Turn
2. The Reverse
3. The Charleston
4. The Cuddle
5. The Palm Spin
6. The Tuck Turn

These few elements, though they may not seem like much when I list them, can be strung together in so many different ways that you could dance an entire song using only these elements. And you can have fun doing it!

For this lesson, we will begin with the basic step. Because of eBay's limit of 10 pictures per guide, I have had to revamp the way I was going to go through these lessons. Please be patient. I will be providing links at the bottom of the page to take you to the next lesson, as it becomes available.

Addressing Your Partner

The first thing you need to know before you begin to dance is the proper way to address your partner. The way you stand and your hand placement is crucial to the proper execution of this dance.

Body Formation

The first thing to note is that when you stand side by side with your partner your foot placement and proximity to one another will cause you to form a "V," in a sense.

Hand Placement

The leader, which is typically, but not always, the male, will start by placing the palm of his right hand on the left shoulder blade of his follower.

There should be a slight bend in his elbow when making this connection. The follower will then rest her left hand on her leaders right bicept, or where it would be if he had one. She allows her arm to hang toward the outer side of his arm.

Next, the leader will extent his left hand, palm up, toward his follower. His thumb should be toward her.

The follower will then rest her right hand, really just her fingers, in her leader's hand.

The leader should then, GENTLY now fellas, allow their thumb to rest atop their follower's fingers.

Now, look at yourselves. You should be in a "V" formation. If you are not, then adjust your feet. You are now ready to begin your steps.

The Steps

The steps you will be taking will be in 6 beats, although we will only count 4. Between 1 and 2, there is a pause. Between 2 and 3, there is a pause. There is no pause between 3 and 4. So if I were to write this, it might look like:

1 pause
2 pause
3 4

Something to note here is that the 3-4 is commonly referred to as a "Rock Step." It gets its name from the fact that you are in a sense rocking when you take those steps.

Now, for the leaders, they will always start this dance with their left foot. Followers will start with their right foot.
This will be called your "lead" (pronounced with a long "e" sound... not like what you have when you drive too fast) foot.

There is a Web address below that, when put into your browser, will pull up a video of the basic step. The visual may make this easier to understand.

For the first step, you will begin with your lead foot. You will take a step in place. You will pause for a moment, according to the beat.

For your second step, you will use your other foot and take a step in place. Again, you will pause.

Now for your third and fourth steps... you will take them in succession without a pause. For step 3, you will now take your lead foot and place it slightly behind your other foot. This portion of the basic works best if you stay on the ball of your lead foot when stepping.

Now, with your lead foot still slightly behind you, you will take your fourth step with your other foot. You will do this step in place.

Your lead foot will stay behind you until you step for "1" again.

This is the basic. Now do that several times in a row. Count out loud as you go along. Believe it or not it helps. After you have done that a few times, put on some relatively slow, but not too slow, music and practice to it. Get a feel for the beat and start dancing. It is a good idea to continue to count even while the music is on. Don't worry, eventually, the counting will go away.

Now, you are dancing!! Keep in mind that there is no real substitute for being in lessons. You really get so much more from learning that way. However, this is a good place to get a taste of it to better determine if you'd like to take it further.

If you need some music to practice to, try Brian Setzer. There are shoes that are good for Swing dancing. My favorite are Bleyer's. They are not always readily available because people who buy them end up wearing them out. However, there are other great Swing dance shoes out there. Ladies, I suggest flat sole shoes.

For information on the history of Swing dance, please visit Swing Dance Part I.

Watch the video! Copy and paste the following address into your browser to view the basic step in action.

smg.photobucket.com/player.swf?file=http://vidmg.photobucket.com/albums/v14/onebighoax/swing012.flv

Please, vote on the helpfulness of this guide and then...

go to Lesson II - The Underarm Turn

Special thanks to my son, Jason, and his girlfriend, Jamie, for their help with the pictures and the video. They are, as I once was, Swing dance instructors for South Florida Swing Dance Productions, Jensen Beach, FL.

Special thanks to Michael & Michele Succato, owners of South Florida Swing Dance Productions, from whom I learned nearly everything I know about Swing.

Special thanks to Swingtastic, of which I was once a member, for allowing me to have been a part of one the most wonderfully, family oriented performing Swing dance troupes on the face of the planet.

I reserve the right to be human and err. Nothing here was written to intentionally misinform or otherwise mislead.
© 2006 Trina Hoaks