Practicing 101
So, you've taken a class or signed up for a series and want to get the most out of your time. Well, you came to the right place. Whether you have five minutes once a week or one hour per day, this page will help you get the most out of your time. But first, congratulations on improving yourself!
practice tip #1
- The foundation of of everything we do as Swing dancers is: rhythm. Before you focus on fancy moves or stylish variations, make sure you have can comfortably create and move rhythm.
- If you're unfamiliar or uncertain about what we mean by rhythm, visit our Counting to Music 101 Lesson and follow it up with our Dancing to Music 101 Lesson.
- Always incoporate a rhythm warm-up into you practice. If you've just started Swing dancing, make the rhythm warm-up your entire practice!
Rhythm Warm-up #1
- Choose a song (there are playlists below, many of which are separated by BPM).
- Start by tapping the beat of the song. Your goal at first is to tap every beat.
- Next, find the "1" of the music and start counting 1-8. (Remember, musicians often think in counts of 4 while dancers think in counts of 8; for more check out Counting to Music 101.)
- Once you can find the beat and count it out, do the "pulsing scale" on each foot:
- Pulsing is the "heartbeat" of our dance. Regardless of what foot we're stepping on or what action we're taking, our bodies are always representing the beat of the music through the body's pulse.
- Pulsing Scale: 8 counts on left foot, 8 counts on right foot, 4 counts on left foot, 4 counts on right foot, 2 counts on left foot, 2 counts on right foots, 2 counts on left foot, 2 counts on right foot.
- Now, do the "rhythms scale" twice, starting once with each foot.
- For a detailed explanation of the rhythms and to see a video reminder of what they are, visit our Dancing to Music 101 Lesson.
- Rhythms Scale:
- 8 counts per rhythm - up and down the scale.
- Zero, Single, Double, Triple, Triple, Double, Single, Zero
- Next practice just the Triple Rhythm (commonly just called a triple step) on their own.
- 8 counts in place
- 8 counts moving forward
- 8 counts moving back
- 8 counts circle to left
- 8 counts circle to right
- 8 counts in place
- Start over, beginning with the opposite foot
- Finally, practice a rhythmic pattern, like the 8-count Lindy Hop basic or the 6-count Collegiate Shag basic
- For Lindy Hop, practice on both feet a rhythmic pattern that repeats: Double-Triple-Double-Triple.
- Once comfortable with the pattern, begin moving it forward and back and around in circles.
- Remember, the rhythmic pattern is the most important, so if you find yourself off time or rhythm, stop, reset, find a good place to start, and begin again.
- For Lindy Hop, practice on both feet a rhythmic pattern that repeats: Double-Triple-Double-Triple.