What Is West Coast Swing?
West Coast Swing (WCS) is a smooth, elastic and improvised partner dance that you dance to modern music – everything from pop and R&B to blues. It grew out of Lindy Hop, developed in California and is now danced at socials and events all over the world. This page explains what West Coast Swing is, how it works and how to get started in Oslo and Ås.
West Coast Swing in a nutshell
- A partner dance with a leader and a follower.
- Danced in a slot – a narrow, imaginary lane on the dance floor.
- Built on simple walking steps (walk-walk) and triple steps; most patterns last 6 or 8 counts.
- Improvised: there is no set choreography on the social floor – you create the dance together in the moment.
- Danced to a huge range of music, as long as it has a clear beat.
From Lindy Hop to California’s state dance
West Coast Swing grew out of Lindy Hop and the swing dances of the 1930s and 40s. On the US West Coast the dance became smoother and more grounded, and it kept evolving with the music – from rhythm and blues to rock, disco, pop and today’s charts. In the dance studios of the 1950s the style was often called “Western Swing”, and the name West Coast Swing caught on in the 1960s.
In 1988 West Coast Swing was named the official state dance of California. Since then it has spread worldwide, with local scenes, weekly classes and international events – including in Norway.
The slot
What makes West Coast Swing easy to recognise is the slot: a narrow, straight line on the floor along which the follower travels back and forth. The leader mostly stays in the middle and steps out of the way as the follower passes. There are several theories about why the dance took this shape, but the result is a dance that takes up little space, looks elegant and leaves plenty of room for variation.
Many patterns end with an anchor at the end of the slot – a small “breathing space” where the couple settles into a stretch before the next pattern. Not sure what a word means? Look it up in the West Coast Swing glossary.
Lead and follow – a conversation without words
In West Coast Swing the leader suggests direction and timing, while the follower interprets those signals and adds their own style and musicality. It is not about one person giving orders and the other obeying: a good WCS dance is a dialogue in which both partners contribute. The follower might extend a movement, add styling or even take over the lead for a moment (a “hijack”).
You communicate through connection – the contact between you, mainly through your hands and your posture. The dance alternates between compression, where you press lightly towards each other, and stretch, where you extend away from each other. That alternation is what gives WCS its elastic look. Anyone can learn to lead, follow or both.
The music: from pop and R&B to blues
West Coast Swing is famous for working with almost any music in 4/4 time. At a typical social you will hear pop, R&B, blues, soul, funk, hip-hop, country and electronic music – slow songs and fast ones. Because the music is so varied, no two dances are the same. For many dancers that is the best part: you get to dance to the music you already love.
Musicality is at the heart of the dance. Over time you learn to catch the pauses, accents and moods of a song and let them shape your dancing.
Why West Coast Swing is great for beginners
- Only a few basics to learn: with a handful of basic patterns – such as the sugar push, left side pass, underarm turn, tuck turn and whip – you can dance a whole song.
- Clear structure: the slot makes it easy to know where to go, even on a crowded floor.
- Familiar music: you dance to songs you know from the radio and streaming services.
- Walking as the foundation: much of the dance is based on ordinary walking steps, so you don’t need any dance background to start.
- Social from day one: after class you can practise what you’ve learned at the social, together with dancers of all levels.
How social dancing works
Social dancing is the heart of West Coast Swing. At a social a DJ plays music, and you dance one or two songs with each partner before thanking them and finding someone new. Anyone can ask anyone – a smile and “would you like to dance?” is all it takes. It is completely normal to dance with people at other levels; experienced dancers are often the ones who help beginners the most.
In Oslo we stay after class on Wednesdays for our social (Westie Wednesday) at Sagene samfunnshus, and in Ås class and party go together. At our parties, everyone dances with everyone.
Levels and competitions: the WSDC
Many dancers stick to social dancing for life, but WCS also has its own competition culture. The international WSDC (World Swing Dance Council) sanctions events and keeps a points registry. Competitors are divided into levels: Newcomer, Novice, Intermediate, Advanced, All-Star and Champion. You move up by earning points in Jack & Jill finals – a competition where you get a random partner and unknown music, and everything is improvised.
Oslo is home to Winter White WCS, an international WSDC event that Ardena Gojani founded in 2012. You don’t need to compete to enjoy the dance – but it’s fun to know what everyone is talking about at festivals.
Where can I start West Coast Swing in Oslo and Ås?
ARGO Movement runs weekly West Coast Swing classes in Oslo and Ås:
- Oslo, Wednesdays: classes for Levels 2, 3, 4 and the Comp level at Sagene samfunnshus (Kristiansands gate 2), followed by the Westie Wednesday social.
- Oslo, Thursdays: Level 1 at 18:00 and Patterns & Styling (recommended from Level 2) at Studio Orient (Arbeidergata 4), then open practice from 20:20 to 22:00.
- Ås, Tuesdays: class and party at Ås menighetshus (Johan K. Skanckes vei 7). Full semester 2,400 NOK, drop-in 250 NOK, 20% student discount.
See schedules and prices on the West Coast Swing in Oslo and West Coast Swing in Ås pages. Coming for the first time? Read First time with us? – or book your class directly.
Frequently asked questions about West Coast Swing
Is West Coast Swing hard to learn?
The basic patterns are easy to learn, and most people can dance a whole song after a few classes. At the same time, the technique and musicality are deep enough to keep you busy for years – which is exactly what makes WCS so addictive.
Do I need a partner to learn West Coast Swing?
You don’t need a regular dance partner to dance West Coast Swing. At socials people change partners all the time, and at our parties everyone dances with everyone. In our classes we rotate partners too, so you are very welcome to come on your own.
What music is West Coast Swing danced to?
Almost any music in 4/4 time: pop, R&B, blues, soul, funk, hip-hop, country and more. Slow and fast songs both work, and DJs often mix genres throughout the night.
What is the difference between West Coast Swing, Lindy Hop and bugg?
All three are social partner dances with swing roots. Lindy Hop is typically danced to swing jazz from the 1930s and 40s, and bugg is a popular social dance in Norway and Sweden. West Coast Swing stands out for its slot, its elastic connection and the fact that it is almost always danced to modern music.
What is the WSDC?
The WSDC (World Swing Dance Council) is the international organisation that sanctions WCS events and keeps the registry of competition points. Levels range from Newcomer and Novice up to All-Star and Champion.
Where can I learn West Coast Swing in Oslo?
ARGO Movement teaches every Wednesday at Sagene samfunnshus and every Thursday at Studio Orient in Oslo, and every Tuesday at Ås menighetshus. See the Oslo schedule or classes in Ås.