This is a lesson plan for dance clubs consisting of a two hour lesson each week for two weeks. The lesson plan allows for new students to start on a drop-in basis at any lesson. This two-week lesson structure allows those students who didn't get it the first time to experience it again two weeks later.
6 Count Patterns and Integration Exercises:
The 6 count step patterns are, (1) Underarm Pass (AKA: Underarm Turn), (2) Left
Side Pass, (3) Underarm Pass with Hand Change, (4) Right Side Pass with Hand
Change, (5) Turning Basic, (6) Throw-Out, (7) Starter Step, (8) Push Break (AKA:
Sugar Push), (9) Tuck Turn from Closed Position and (10) Tuck Turn from Open
Position with Two-Hand Lead.
The 6 count rhythm patterns will be taught first. Then the instructor will introduce new step patterns and lead the students through exercises integrating two or more step patterns.
8 Count Patterns + Integration Exercises for 6 & 8 count patterns:
The step patterns are, (11) Basket Whip (AKA: Lock Whip, Pull Thru) and (12)Whip.
The 8 count rhythm and step patterns will be taught first. Then a the instructor will conduct a brief review of the 6 beat rhythm and step patterns that will be used in step pattern integration exercises. Quite a bit of time should be spent on exercises integrating both the Whip and the Turning Basic -- since this is one of the most difficult concepts to differentiate between.
This is a highly concentrated lesson structure. To be successful the instructor must quickly present information (verbally and by demonstration) and keep the students feet moving. The instructor should not talk any more than absolutely necessary. Remember, the instructor has only two hours to teach all of the basic 6 count patterns in the first lesson.
Normally dance instructors want to give their students as much information as possible related to theory of movement, music and dance notation. However, there is no time in a two lesson plan (2 hours each) to communicate most of this material. The two lesson plan is a different concept in teaching west coast swing. The object of this plan is to guide the students total concentration to rhythm, movement and step patterns and not confuse them with extraneous technical information related to music, styling, etc.
The most difficult task a new student faces is trying execute their basic step patterns while maintaining the required rhythm pattern (6 or 8 beat). This is where an instructor providing less information can accomplish more results. That is, every new piece of information that the student is given interferes with their concentration on the one most important item -- the rhythm pattern. Once they can mentally lock onto the rhythm pattern they can learn very quickly. This is called muscle memory training.