West Coast Swing is a fun, modern, smooth, and versatile style of swing dance that is typically danced to today’s popular music. It is a partner dance with a leader and a follower and uses 6-count and 8-count basic patterns danced in a “slotted” structure.

The patterns are built from walking steps and triple steps, with lots of opportunities for musical interpretation, improvisation, and personal styling. The dance feels like an ongoing conversation between partners, using stretch (away) and compression (toward) connections. The leader initiates movement, the follower responds, and together they co-create a dance that is unique to each partnership and song.

West Coast Swing is often described as an “educated” dance, meaning both partners are expected to understand their roles, the structure of the dance, and the mechanics behind the patterns—allowing for creativity, adaptability, and connection.

West Coast Swing can be danced to a wide variety of music, including pop, blues, R&B, jazz, and hip hop. It works well with any music in 4/4 time, typically ranging from 80 to 120 beats per minute, with a strong emphasis on the upbeat (counts 2, 4, 6, and 8).

Some examples include:

• Ed Sheeran – Nina

• Daya – Sit Still, Look Pretty

• Michael Jackson – The Way You Make Me Feel

• Aretha Franklin – Try Matty’s

• Beyoncé – Love on Top

• Roomful of Blues – Turn It On! Turn It Up! 

No partner is required. At social dances, it’s common to dance with a different partner for almost every song. Dancing with multiple partners keeps things fun and allows you to experience the dance in new ways each time.

In classes, we rotate partners to help students learn more effectively and avoid getting used to just one person’s habits. Partner rotation also reflects the social dance environment and makes it easy to meet new people and build confidence on the dance floor.