Marchione and her disabled partner, Nick Scott, will compete together for the first time at the upcoming Philadelphia Festival Atlantic Coast Championships in Philadelphia in June and again at the IPC Worlds in November in Germany.
West Coast Swing – Tangential Momentum
April 21, 2010 By 2 Comments
How we apply our lead can have great influence on our partner’s balance. The proper 
application of Tangential Momentum in your lead will increase your partner communication and help her maintain balance.
I recently traveled to Dallas on business and while there, I was able to schedule a lesson with Beata (like the car Miata with a B) Howe. She is a three time US Open Swing Champion and an excellent teacher. Click Here for more information on her website.
Anytime I travel, I look for a West Coast Swing instructor that is considered the best in the area. Each time I do this, I come away humbled by how much I don’t know about this dance. This trip was no exception.
West Coast Swing – Musicality
April 16, 2010 By 1 Comment
What is Musicality?
Webster Defines Musicality as:
- Sensitivity to, knowledge of, or talent for music
- The quality of being musical
For a dancer it means to make the dance fit the music. This in turn means using movement to represent and 
emphasize the tempo, harmony, melody and vocals in a song.
Adding musicality to your dance requires some understanding of the structure of the music itself. It also means you must be connected to the music.
Click Here for suggestions of good West Coast Swing music. Pick out some and see how the information in this article applies to them.
Don’t worry, it’s not as hard as it sounds. Music is not as hard to understand as many believe. In fact, equipped with just a little knowledge we can begin to identify repeating and predictable patterns within music that will allow us to connect to it and make our dance fit the music.
Ballroom Dancer's Horoscope….Seriously?
April 15, 2010 By Leave a Comment
I guess there is something out there for everyone. If you are into Horoscopes and dance, well this site is just for you.
Not for me, but I certainly got a kick out of it. I wonder if you get a free palm reading with the purchase of private lessons???? Might be worth asking.
Ballroom Dancer’s Horoscope For April 14 — 20
With the new moon in impulsive Aries today, Wednesday, April 14, use your common sense and focus your energy…..
West Coast Swing – Intensive Study and Theory by Skippy Blair
April 14, 2010 By 1 Comment
The more I learn about West Coast Swing, the more I find there is to learn. If you want to see how deep the rabbit hole really goes, then read on. The links below are to various writings by Skippy Blair.
Who is Skippy Blair – Click Here?
Although quite technical at times, the information in these articles is some of the most extensive information you will find. You may not have heard of Skippy, but the people you have heard of in the West Coast Swing community consider her the teacher’s teacher.
She is the creator of the Universal Unit system of annotation and has developed concepts such as Rolling Count, Centering Knob, 3-Toe base and Plusing which are fundamental to West Coast Swing today.
What Do Women Want? – On and Off the dance floor
April 9, 2010 By 3 Comments
As men, we often ask ourselves what do women want and it seems to be a mystery to many. ….
Is it possible that what women want in life is the same thing they look for in dance? I hear over and over again from dance instructors the following statement in one form or another. “Guys, this is the one place you are in charge”. Is this really true? I wonder.
We live in a society today that has taken something critical from men. Our Masculinity and Authority. Gone are the days of strong men.
How To Identify Dance Music – Part 2
April 8, 2010 By 1 Comment
In How to Identify Dance Music, Part 1, I covered some timing definitions and how to identify music for smooth dance styles. Now I will finish this series with latin and swing styles.
Tango
Timing: 4/4 Time (usually)
Tempo: approximately 120 beats per minute
Beat Representation: tap tap tap tap drum-roll that leads into repeat pattern
count: sometimes taught vocalizing the steps with the letters T, A, N, G, O
Tango music has a distinctive style and is probably one of the most easily identifiable. It is most often defined by the staccato nature of steps and the unique instrument (bandoneon similar to accordion) played.
How To Identify Dance Music – Part 1
April 3, 2010 By 3 Comments
Is This a Waltz or Foxtrot
While at a dance this week, I was engaged in a discussion about dance styles and music. The lady I was talking with said she never knew what dance she was supposed to do until either the style was announced or she could see what others were doing.
I told her it would take some time to begin to hear the underlying rhythm pattens but it would happen. Looking back, I wish I had put more thought into my answer so I’m going to try to give a better answer to her question here.
2 Ways Your Head Impacts Your Dancing
March 24, 2010 By 6 Comments
Have you ever stopped to consider how much your head weighs? On Average about 12 pounds. That may not sound like much, but when it’s sitting on top of your body it can have an exaggerated impact on your balance and the way your body moves.
Your head can influence your body in two primary ways.
Argentine Tango and West Coast Swing – Opposite Similarities
March 23, 2010 By 4 Comments
Argentine Tango and West Coast Swing have, over the last couple of years become my two favorite dances. On the surface they appear very different.
The dance styles are very unique. Tango has its origins in the brothels and bars of Argentina and is an intimate dance, sometimes slow and sultry, sometimes fast and dramatic.
WCS is a lively,fun, even sexy dance that can be danced to a number of different styles of music.
West Coast Swing
If you were to watch the two side by side, you might say they couldn’t be more different. The truth is, they have more in common with each other than they do with most ballroom, latin or swing dances.
I will explain with a few things they have in common
