Light Connection

Without a doubt, connection is important in all dances.  It’s the medium we use to communicate with our partner.   In West Coast Swing (WCS), connection is absolutely critical.    WCS is mostly danced from the open position so there is no frame to rely on for good connection.   This means we have to rely on just the hand connection to communicate our lead and follow to our partner.

UCWDC World Champions Sam and Denise Miller state that connection and energy transfer creates synergy.   How?

Arm Position and Tone

Arms should remain in position with the elbows never moving behind the body.  This breaks connection and creates a chicken wing appearance.

Tension in arms should be developed using the lateral muscles of the shoulder.  Muscles in the arm should be relaxed.

Constant connection

Strong Connection should be maintained throughout the dance (with a few exceptions such as free spins).  Strong does not mean heavy, but it does mean consistent, solid and understandable by your partner.

Although the connection is constant it is also flexible flowing smoothly from compression to leverage as a bungee cord not like a rope which is either taut or slack. 

Connection should be light.  A heavy connection has a tendency to rely on your partner for balance.  Some instructors disagree with this but the majority of the swing community agrees that a light lead is better.

Summary

Give this a try.  If I were to suggest one thing for anybody to work on, it would have to be their connection.  No connection, no communication.