Swing Dance

Basic Definitions

also see

Raper's Dance Dictionary ... HELP ... Shorthand Terms

Foot Positions
1st : Feet together.
2nd: Feet about a shoulder's width apart.
3rd : Heel to instep
4th : Feet walking with one foot in front of the other.
5th : Toe to heel.
Cross: A foot position that places the free foot in front of, and over the weighted foot.
Hook: A foot position where the "hooking foot" (free foot) goes behind the weighted foot and positions itself next to the outside arch of the weighted foot.

Break
A break refers to a "change of direction". The Break can be executed as a simple Break or a Break Turn. For a Break, the CPB only travels about 1/2 way between the feet then returns back to its original position where it was prior to executing the Break - this holds true for a Break or Break Turn. First you step to the ball of the Receiving Foot. The ball of the Receiving foot now becomes the Sending Foot which sends the CPB back to the original Sending Foot (which has now become the new Receiving Foot).
Turns & Turn Technique
FFF (Feet Follow Frame): Turn your CPB first and your feet will follow.
Forward Foot: Most turns occur in the direction of the forward foot.
Break Turns:
Forward Break Turn
Is a ½ Turn (180 degrees) in the opposite direction of the forward foot which returns you from where you came, leaving the receiving foot in the same position on the floor but facing in the opposite direction.
Back Break Turn:
Is a ½ Turn (180 degrees) in the opposite direction of the forward foot which returns you from where you came, leaving the receiving foot in the same position on the floor but facing in the opposite direction.
Left Turn (Counterclockwise): Turn your flashlight in the direction of your left shoulder.
Right Turn (Clockwise): Turn your flashlight in the direction of your right shoulder.
Pivot: Turn Flashlight "½ turn" (180 degrees) in the direction of the "Forward Foot" - Inner Thighs together in turns.
Swing Turns (Stationary):

Frame (Swing)
Is the connection between dancers that allows information from the CPB of the Leader to be transferred to the CPB of the Follower.
Posture
Erect, Eyes Level, Buttox tucked in - Pull muscles into CPB.
Closed Position (Swing)
Body Positions
Mans Rt hip close to woman's Lt hip with body positions opened in the form of a "V".
Arms (M Lt & W Rt)
Bowed out - not hanging straight down.
M Lh & W Rh
Palm to Palm at about the chin level of the shorter person.
M Rh
Flat on woman's back just below her shoulder blade with his finger tips just about touching her spine.
W Lh
(1) on top of man's right shoulder, or (2) on man's upper right arm.
Open Position (Two Hand Lead)
Body Positions
Facing each other about one arms length apart.
Arms
Upper Arms down with Lower Arms extended forward.
Elbows
Just forward of center of rib cage.
M Hands
Cupped inward.
M Thumbs
Rest on top of W: Hands, but don't press hard.
W Hands
Over top of Mans.
Slot & Rails
In slotted dances, the slot can be thought of as a narrow path between two imaginary rails.
Slot:
The woman's path of travel is in the Slot. Her direction is directly through the man
Rails:
The man moves to the rails on either side of the slot to allow the woman to pass
Syncopation
Is stepping before the beat on the "&" or "a" Count then stepping again or doing something else on the beat. There is one exception which is that a basic Triple Rhythm Unit is not considered to be a Syncopation.