Swing

Leaders start with the left foot, followers with the right foot. For the basics, the follows performs the mirror image of the leader.

• In closed position, leader's left arm is straight with the wrist bent to point finders at the follower's right knee.  The follower's right hand, palm down, is similarly straight with the wrist bent to point at the leader's left knee. The opposite arms are in normal closed dance position.  In this configuration, the rock step rotates outwardly and back toward fifth position as if the couple were hinged.
• In open position the hands are connected by curved fingers at waist level, (leaders palm up, followers palm down), and the rock step is straight back.

Slow: Triple step (one and two, three and four, five, six)
Moderate: Double step (one and, two and, three, four = toe, heel; toe, heel,  rock, back.)
Fast: Single step (step, step, rock back) step sizes need to be much smaller.

Some Popular Swing Steps

Marge Champion

The Champion Strut was created by Marge and Gower Champion to accommodate shy people wanting to learn to dance. Marge Champion is an active supporter of dance at Jacob's Pillow in Massachusetts.

Basic Turning basic Underarm left turn Underarm right turn She goes, he goes Back pass Advanced back pass (with arm slide) American spin

Elbow tuck and turn Shoulder tuck and turn Spin whip Lariat Turkish towel Sliding door (Lindy footwork)