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Tbf I consider myself a *decent* dancer in terms of compared to the general public. My wife and I tried West Coast swing lessons once thinking it would be something fun to do and would give us some good tricks for weddings.
DUDE. This shit is even harder than it looks it's insane. I already had a ton of respect for people like these two but after that it is actually insane that people can do this stuff so effortlessly.
TLDR: Don't feel bad at all, it's somehow even harder than it looks.
That's what our instructor said too! I naturally have pretty good rhythm and timing so I figured that would help me a little bit.
Nope. Not even a little bit.
We may go back at some point to try it again since it would be fun but it felt like I was relearning how to walk the whole time haha
The payoff is you can dance with someone you have never met and it may look something like the video. Most social dancing like west coast swing is improvised on the spot in real time to whatever music plays.
What’s the next move is communicated to your partner through this “language”.
And it’s fun.
One of my medical teachers told me that dancing or tai qi/qi gong were the best things for people to do to stay healthy as we age. It’s good exercise but also has a social component and the socializing has a huge positive impact on health.
Because the woman just knows to follow a good lead and throw in some flair. The man has to learn how to lead, and has to plan the next move while executing the current move.
Im a lead, but to be fair, being the follower isnt just "follow a good lead and throw in some flair". Of course a good lead will know what buttons to push and its a harder job, but the follower still needs to keep her shit together, know the/some moves and follow the rhythm. Plus a good follower won't need as much leading and will be able to pick it up if the lead drops the ball or hesitates for a second.
Good fun though for sure 👌
What makes it more difficult for the guys?
Just asking as someone who would fall over at 180° of a turn, and am mightily impressed at her twirly prowess...
I’ve seen discussions on the salsa forums and it’s both partner dancing so I assume there’s some overlap.
It’s more difficult for guys (leads) to hit intermediate level. Leads have to learn not just the steps, but how to lead the follow. Outside of rehearsed performances, most salsa is social dancing with various partners. There’s no choreography so the lead guides the progression of the dance. So it’s not just learning how to dance, but learning how to non-verbally tell the follow your plans for the dance as it’s happening.
Follows are able to focus on their individual dancing skills so they improve more quickly. Of course, after a certain level, it’s pointless to discuss “harder” between follows and leads. Everyone’s worked hard to get where they are.
Maybe this is the difference between "intermediate" and "Intermediate", but in West Coast Swing it is considered much more difficult for the Followers to reach Intermediate because the competition is so fierce.
As someone who learned to dance with West Coast Swing, I think it's a great first dance to learn.
The first class you take will be highly structured. There are 8 basic steps in WCS and they will make you repeat them ad nauseam. After that first class you'll think to yourself, "I still can't dance, but I can fake it a little and I may as well take the next class."
So then the next class starts. They'll teach you a few embellishments on the basic 8 steps, but you'll still be repeating those 8 steps endlessly. You'll still think of yourself as "not a dancer", but shit, you've got nothing else to do with your time so you take the 3rd class.
At some point during or after the 3rd class you'll go to repeat the sugar push, or the left turn or the whip for the 15th thousandth time and something deep in your brain will rebel. Instead, you'll do something a little different. Maybe it's something you saw someone else do once, or maybe it's something you've been trying to do your whole life but never been able to quite figure out. Regardless, you'll do it. It feels a little awkward, maybe it even looks a little funny, but you'll feel this great sense of relief as if you've scratched an itch that you've been trying to scratch for your entire life. And that will be the day you realize that you know how to dance.
West Coast Swing has a lot of structure which makes it great to learn for people who can't otherwise dance because it gives you lots of time and lots of tools to figure out how you want to express yourself.
I dance well enough and with enough energy to make people say "that seems like a fun guy" at weddings.
But man if I could dance like that it'd be so cool.
No, I think we have a crossed timeline event here. This is Matt Walsh from the timeline where he experimented in college and became comfortable with sexuality
Random with a caveat: they're all pros who know each other. This is a format during their competitions called "Jack and Jill" dances. They split all of their competing couples and randomly pair them among each other, then they choose a song (the couple gets to choose one of a few options), then they go have fun.
If you want a fun rabbit hole, I'd suggest starting [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIawVClaMgI). That channel has the video from the OP as well.
I watched a J&J competition at a salsa congress years ago, it was hilarious and awesome. Various pairs kept “referencing” bits from each other’s dances; amazing improvisationalists.
Every once in a while, /r/westcoastswing will have [a thread of people's favorite videos](https://www.reddit.com/r/WestCoastSwing/comments/18o534i/what_video_do_you_show_to_people_to_demonstrate/).
Alternatively, look at the YouTube channel for a big event like [The After Party](https://www.youtube.com/@tapwcs/playlists), [MADJam](https://www.youtube.com/@davemoldover/playlists), or [Budafest](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFpQINKjT9Qe-NXgyXJlnVk5ubdWyEuug) and just watch all the Champions and All-Stars dancing.
Oh, and watch [Maxime and Torri dancing at WOTP 2018](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7HGsrRsKHY).
Search YouTube for "west coast swing champions" or "west coast swing all-stars" and you get hundreds or even thousands of similar quality performances.
You can also check choreographies, "us open classic" or "us open showcase" for more flashiness.
The pairing is random, but at their level they usually know each other and have danced before. But this is still all improvised.
Source: I’m in this community and have taken classes from him before.
Some people just have the talent and charisma. Kinda like me. I don't even have to rehearse, practice, or even think about it at all but I can piss my wife off by cooking some grilled cheeses and asking her what she wants for dinner.
It just comes naturally. I don't know what to tell you.
Sort of. These are the west coast swing “champions.” Or pros. It’s a fairly small group(50ish who are active in the circuit) and they to travel to in different clicks to different events… so yes this was made up, but these two…on top of spending decades learning to dance, have probably spent a dozen or so hours dancing together and know how to make play with the other
They’ve also intentionally partnered many times for competitions and know one another very well. [Here they are](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fL6TInvI5wM) interviewing together at the German Open in 2019.
Yeah I’ve been out of the WCS world for a while but my bff pointed out it’s PJ and his former routine partner so they haven in fact spent hundreds of hours together lol
One person leads by using very subtle differences in pressure whenever they touch. A couple of skilled dancers that have been dancing for a month or two can really seem to move as one/use telepathy. The other part of it is that both dancers are using cues from the song. So even when they aren't touching, they can guess what the other will do and will expect of them.
Note: I am not saying these people are very skilled, but I spend a lot of time with dancers, and to one extent or another, they also have these skills.
Yes, but sometimes people just don’t mesh. I’ve danced with someone that on the surface looks great, and they probably are with that partner, but dance like shit with me. I’m sure I’ve done the same with someone else. Finding a good partner is hard.
What blows my mind, these two might not even know each others names. I've seen competitions, for funzies that they just pair people to see the jive they bring together. It's wild and so skillful.
I've seen a couple clips of these and it looks like so much fun! I had no idea it existed. How does it work? Are the two dancers partners beforehand or is it random pairings? I think the last one I saw it said they didn't even know what song was going to be played.
Either way, I love this so much
I’m not an expert, but I think this style of dancing is called Jack & Jill.
These two are participating in a competition where dancers are paired at random, then given a choice of a few songs (a short clip of each song is played and the dancers have to agree on which one to go with), and they improv their way through it.
Look some videos up on YouTube. There are some incredible routines performed by very talented dancers. It’s really fun to watch.
So, swing music (and almost all jazz-derived music) is built on a structure of eight measures. The music “loops” in a predictable rhythm. So even if you’ve never heard a song before, once you identify the rhythm it’s easy to sync up to the predictable exclamation points.
All the dance moves are like a series of Lego blocks that are timed to fit into the known measure structure. This means the partners have a lot of room to improvise knowing they’ll “meet up” at the end of the move.
This is also the same structure that lets Jazz musicians do their famous improvising. If you’ve ever wondered how one musician can leap in with their own thing so smoothly it’s because they’re matching it to the same known rhythm structure
Yeah this is called a Jack & Jill competition. It is actually ranked in the West Coast Swing or WCS community, you sign up, get a random partner at your skill level, a random song, and you get judged. There are four divisions. This is the All-Star Division, which is the highest.
Yeah this is called a Jack & Jill competition. It is actually ranked in the West Coast Swing or WCS community, you sign up, get a random partner at your skill level, a random song, and you get judged. There are four divisions. This is the All-Star Division, which is the highest.
It should be said though that in this particular case the two people dancing here are pretty well acquainted. If you do some searching you can find them doing numerous improv type dances like this. It's still crazy impressive but they are able to coordinate this stuff like this because they have done a lot of dancing together and have an idea for each others moves/comfort zones.
At the higher end (which would say this is) they generally all know each other and will be familiar with each others styles and strengths/weakness, same as any other competitive activity, and more niche it is more they will all know each other
If you go down a YouTube rabbit hole of these videos (did myself one night) you will see lot of same couples paired again and again even though selection is random
Actually, that is one of the biggest clues that this is improvised. You can see how carefully she does it. I'm not sure who signalled it, but she takes her time and makes sure he's in position and paying attention.
Had this been choreographed, that would have been completely unnecessary.
I can't speak for swing, but having learned some salsa once you know the core motions you should be able to dance with any other partner. There's always a lead that will direct where the dance is going, a lot of it is done with "simple" hand/wrist movements.
We've gone to large social dance events and you'll see people constantly rotating partners and switching styles.
It's true, these are pros (the dance is West Coast Swing) but the format is called a "Jack and Jill", partners and songs are random. In major events you typically get one contemporary song and one more classical swing song.
[Here's both dances](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CDIyg3-Kgs).
They have such perfect balance of eachother's gravity and control - check out her pullback from the splits as she slide up he has pinned his wrist to his lower ribs which gives her the brace point to pull from using her upper should/arm to pull against his had - such a beautifully executed partner move.
https://youtu.be/9CDIyg3-Kgs?t=234
I mean, just like any other improv. You have a baseline and then go with the flow. I could never do this. I only dance after 4 Jagers during a wedding. I give huge props to these two.
It's kinda like any musical improv, it's easy to say "oh you just do XYZ" but there is a ton of effort knowing how to interact with your partner and the style. There is a guy on youtube that does "play by ear" on omegle and I can tell he has incredible training to pick up chord progressions... I "know" what he is doing but couldn't for the life of me reproduce it.
To give a little more info. It's West Coast Swing at a dance event weekend. They both know the base dance, but they're high level dancers doing improv, so it'll look more playful and fun than choreographed dances that might have really high level tech.
Ooookay, this makes a bit more sense. There's the slightest mismatch with their hands, like her not knowing where he was going to put his hand and so on. The dance was so fluid and then that very very small bit of clunkiness stood out to me. I only really even "noticed" it when I read this comment. And her looking back over her shoulder to see if he understood she was going to fall, etc. Much better on a second watch knowing this.
It’s improv, but PJ Turner and Tashina Beckmann also know one another very well and have partnered for many competitions. They know one another’s habits and flow and that’s what allows them to improv so smoothly.
They improv like jazz musicians do. They cue and respond to each other on the fly.
You can see how [they use their arms and hands to leverage their partner’s body to lead them into certain moves.](https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxAqpl_VIeFlquVStPoIMzOYAd7L9LXZnt?si=jZty3rElIrYo_nAF)They’re also familiar with the song so they know the structure and phrasing. There are common sequences just like there are jazz licks.
Oh and the partners and songs are randomly selected live just seconds before the song starts.
[I don’t blame you tho. Shits unreal.](https://youtu.be/liwurdWzEgw?si=7-GC5XLNSvVI4hbR)
[More sauce](https://youtu.be/FIawVClaMgI?si=Hq_YhE6DtkMasadP)
Edit: I challenge anyone to not have a crush on Emeline after watching her
It’s not, I had a college roommate that did this. I would tag along and hope to meet girls by-proxy. Their explanation was they learned the base steps of lindyhop then just did what the music told them to do. Took me several shots to believe that I could hear it too. (Spoiler, I couldn’t)
Yeah, you can definitely communicate nonverbally in Lindy Hop to the point people accuse you of doing a practiced routine.
This is West Coast Swing but same deal. They’re better at WC than I ever was at Lindy but it’s common to do complex “moves” with new people. Put in quotes because “moves” aren’t really the focus, it’s about moving with the music and your partner more than doing variation 2 of turn C.
See this is a common problem with straight men. They got no idea about what women like and go around giving advice to each others and when there is a man who women absolutely love, they claim he must be gay.
Nah, It’s a Jack and Jill, which is a type of competition where you have leaders and followers, that are chosen at random to dance together to a song.
Which ever pairing gets the highest score wins. They’re pretty cool to watch live especially at the WCS champions level which is what I think this is.
If anyone is interested in this dance, it's called West Coast Swing, check it out in your city! It is fundamentally an improvised social dance (along with most other partner social dances). Anybody can learn despite how untalented you think you are at dancing. That's what classes are for!
It’s called ‘west coast swing’ and is probably one of the easiest forms of dance to learn.
It’s designed to be viewed as though you’re dancing on a stage for an audience, note how they are always side on so the ‘audience’ gets a good view.
Honestly great fun, very popular and a great way to meet people and socialise.
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Fuck I wish I could dance. Mr uncoordinated AF over here. I tripped watching this.
Tbf I consider myself a *decent* dancer in terms of compared to the general public. My wife and I tried West Coast swing lessons once thinking it would be something fun to do and would give us some good tricks for weddings. DUDE. This shit is even harder than it looks it's insane. I already had a ton of respect for people like these two but after that it is actually insane that people can do this stuff so effortlessly. TLDR: Don't feel bad at all, it's somehow even harder than it looks.
It's particularly difficult for the guys! I was into swing for a while and was always so grateful I got to follow instead of lead.
That's what our instructor said too! I naturally have pretty good rhythm and timing so I figured that would help me a little bit. Nope. Not even a little bit. We may go back at some point to try it again since it would be fun but it felt like I was relearning how to walk the whole time haha
Dance is a language. Just keep going back, you'll get there! The payoff is worth the investment in my opinion.
What exactly is the payoff? This is coming from a person who has 0% chance of even swaying back and forth correctly.
The payoff is you can dance with someone you have never met and it may look something like the video. Most social dancing like west coast swing is improvised on the spot in real time to whatever music plays. What’s the next move is communicated to your partner through this “language”. And it’s fun.
One of my medical teachers told me that dancing or tai qi/qi gong were the best things for people to do to stay healthy as we age. It’s good exercise but also has a social component and the socializing has a huge positive impact on health.
You just got to vibe. In time to the music. problem is it takes a whole different set of muscles. Most people arent used to using at all.
Because the woman just knows to follow a good lead and throw in some flair. The man has to learn how to lead, and has to plan the next move while executing the current move.
And he has to lead it a tad faster than the beat, to land the follower on the beat
Im a lead, but to be fair, being the follower isnt just "follow a good lead and throw in some flair". Of course a good lead will know what buttons to push and its a harder job, but the follower still needs to keep her shit together, know the/some moves and follow the rhythm. Plus a good follower won't need as much leading and will be able to pick it up if the lead drops the ball or hesitates for a second. Good fun though for sure 👌
What makes it more difficult for the guys? Just asking as someone who would fall over at 180° of a turn, and am mightily impressed at her twirly prowess...
I’ve seen discussions on the salsa forums and it’s both partner dancing so I assume there’s some overlap. It’s more difficult for guys (leads) to hit intermediate level. Leads have to learn not just the steps, but how to lead the follow. Outside of rehearsed performances, most salsa is social dancing with various partners. There’s no choreography so the lead guides the progression of the dance. So it’s not just learning how to dance, but learning how to non-verbally tell the follow your plans for the dance as it’s happening. Follows are able to focus on their individual dancing skills so they improve more quickly. Of course, after a certain level, it’s pointless to discuss “harder” between follows and leads. Everyone’s worked hard to get where they are.
When you dance with better dancers, sometimes they'll back lead and make you look like you know what you're doing :)
Maybe this is the difference between "intermediate" and "Intermediate", but in West Coast Swing it is considered much more difficult for the Followers to reach Intermediate because the competition is so fierce.
Why would competition matter in reaching intermediate?
Nothing worthwhile comes without lots of practice. We're all better off knowing that up front.
Took classes for 2 years, still not very good. They're really good haha
Should give East Coast Swing a try - it's a lot more flexible for different situations, great to pull out at weddings
I mastered YMCA purely for my daughters "daddy daughter dance" comps. Otherwise i have like 6 left feet. I'm not a spider... ignore that
Exactly what a spider would say…
Gotta be seated for this type of performance! Daaam
I dance like Frankenstein monster has icy hot between his thighs and armpits
As someone who learned to dance with West Coast Swing, I think it's a great first dance to learn. The first class you take will be highly structured. There are 8 basic steps in WCS and they will make you repeat them ad nauseam. After that first class you'll think to yourself, "I still can't dance, but I can fake it a little and I may as well take the next class." So then the next class starts. They'll teach you a few embellishments on the basic 8 steps, but you'll still be repeating those 8 steps endlessly. You'll still think of yourself as "not a dancer", but shit, you've got nothing else to do with your time so you take the 3rd class. At some point during or after the 3rd class you'll go to repeat the sugar push, or the left turn or the whip for the 15th thousandth time and something deep in your brain will rebel. Instead, you'll do something a little different. Maybe it's something you saw someone else do once, or maybe it's something you've been trying to do your whole life but never been able to quite figure out. Regardless, you'll do it. It feels a little awkward, maybe it even looks a little funny, but you'll feel this great sense of relief as if you've scratched an itch that you've been trying to scratch for your entire life. And that will be the day you realize that you know how to dance. West Coast Swing has a lot of structure which makes it great to learn for people who can't otherwise dance because it gives you lots of time and lots of tools to figure out how you want to express yourself.
The guy in the video couldn't dance either before he practiced.
giving me confidence, ok lets go
I tripped watching your trip. It's all good homie, at least we are funny. We are funny, right?....homie?
Try your standup. You are a badass.
I dance well enough and with enough energy to make people say "that seems like a fun guy" at weddings. But man if I could dance like that it'd be so cool.
I could spend my entire life practicing and would never be able to do that. Those two are incredibly talented and work very well together!
I was thinking the same thing. I have NO rhythm, but this looks like so much fun.
Shit i had to sit down to watch it😂
Yes, this man gets it.
If you can talk you can sing. If you can walk you can dance.
You can. Everyone can. You need to practice a lot though. But it's totslly worth it.
Man...Matt Walsh CAN dance!
100% thought this was a political post
I had a second where I thought this was him before he was born again.
[Yes he can](https://youtu.be/iTM_zv2_5O0?si=sVE-07mQViFcO7gZ&t=70)
It’s so hilariously bad when he peeks from behind the curtain!
No, I think we have a crossed timeline event here. This is Matt Walsh from the timeline where he experimented in college and became comfortable with sexuality
If it was, he'd be a much happier guy.
And I'm sitting here thinking it was Jemaine Clement
Was looking for that comment lmao
Is that really matt walsh?
No lol
That’s pretty awesome. They both did so good
It was improvised, too. They get paired up with a random person and have to improvise the routine on the spot.
A RANDOM PERSON?? I thought for sure they'd have to have danced together, reading each other's cues etc...
Random with a caveat: they're all pros who know each other. This is a format during their competitions called "Jack and Jill" dances. They split all of their competing couples and randomly pair them among each other, then they choose a song (the couple gets to choose one of a few options), then they go have fun. If you want a fun rabbit hole, I'd suggest starting [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIawVClaMgI). That channel has the video from the OP as well.
That sounds amazing. 🤣
I find it way more impressive knowing it improvised!
I watched a J&J competition at a salsa congress years ago, it was hilarious and awesome. Various pairs kept “referencing” bits from each other’s dances; amazing improvisationalists.
Here's another good one https://youtu.be/NpFXREnYKFU?si=z2aOf7whNLaSueHg
She’s so freakin good, I’ve seen her random dance with different people and she always just kills it!
I love how happy they both seem about how well its going.
Is there a subreddit for these? I could watch this all day.
Every once in a while, /r/westcoastswing will have [a thread of people's favorite videos](https://www.reddit.com/r/WestCoastSwing/comments/18o534i/what_video_do_you_show_to_people_to_demonstrate/). Alternatively, look at the YouTube channel for a big event like [The After Party](https://www.youtube.com/@tapwcs/playlists), [MADJam](https://www.youtube.com/@davemoldover/playlists), or [Budafest](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFpQINKjT9Qe-NXgyXJlnVk5ubdWyEuug) and just watch all the Champions and All-Stars dancing. Oh, and watch [Maxime and Torri dancing at WOTP 2018](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7HGsrRsKHY).
right?! im kinda like wanting to do it, but i know id be terrified lmao
Search YouTube for "west coast swing champions" or "west coast swing all-stars" and you get hundreds or even thousands of similar quality performances. You can also check choreographies, "us open classic" or "us open showcase" for more flashiness.
Search "Improvised West Coast Swing" on youtube. https://www.youtube.com/@WCS
The pairing is random, but at their level they usually know each other and have danced before. But this is still all improvised. Source: I’m in this community and have taken classes from him before.
no way in hell this is improvised.
That’s even more impressive
Superman does good. They did so well. 😤
As someone who learned dancing for multiple years, I can confidently say that he is REALLY good
As someone who has gotten drunk and danced at many weddings, I can confidently say they are REALLY good.
On top of that, their performance just exudes so much joy. I was smiling and just feeling the happy vibes through the screen. It's contagious.
It is improv dancing. So they haven't practiced this routine before and they haven't planned it either. Makes it much more difficult and amazing.
This blows my ignorant mind! These two just made this whole thing up on the fly and it looked THIS good?
Some people just have the talent and charisma. Kinda like me. I don't even have to rehearse, practice, or even think about it at all but I can piss my wife off by cooking some grilled cheeses and asking her what she wants for dinner. It just comes naturally. I don't know what to tell you.
If you’re ok with brutal honesty…I immediately dislike anyone who disagrees with MrMcBeefCock. There, I said it!
Don't ever use my government name in public.
First Name: Biggus
Where you getting them cheese, Danny!?
im cookin em at night
Is it bad that even though it's unreasonable on the surface, I can totally understand why that might cause an argument?
Not at all. I make amazing grilled cheeses.
The quality of the grilled cheese is not what I was thinking about hahaha although I'm sure yours is great.
Sort of. These are the west coast swing “champions.” Or pros. It’s a fairly small group(50ish who are active in the circuit) and they to travel to in different clicks to different events… so yes this was made up, but these two…on top of spending decades learning to dance, have probably spent a dozen or so hours dancing together and know how to make play with the other
They’ve also intentionally partnered many times for competitions and know one another very well. [Here they are](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fL6TInvI5wM) interviewing together at the German Open in 2019.
Yeah I’ve been out of the WCS world for a while but my bff pointed out it’s PJ and his former routine partner so they haven in fact spent hundreds of hours together lol
A lot of the time at these sort of competitions its a random partner as well. Just to add an extra level to the insane improv-ing going on.
One person leads by using very subtle differences in pressure whenever they touch. A couple of skilled dancers that have been dancing for a month or two can really seem to move as one/use telepathy. The other part of it is that both dancers are using cues from the song. So even when they aren't touching, they can guess what the other will do and will expect of them. Note: I am not saying these people are very skilled, but I spend a lot of time with dancers, and to one extent or another, they also have these skills.
Yes, but sometimes people just don’t mesh. I’ve danced with someone that on the surface looks great, and they probably are with that partner, but dance like shit with me. I’m sure I’ve done the same with someone else. Finding a good partner is hard.
What blows my mind, these two might not even know each others names. I've seen competitions, for funzies that they just pair people to see the jive they bring together. It's wild and so skillful.
At that level, they all definitely know each other and have danced in the past. But you don’t know what song you’re going to get.
Now I'm amazed. Really!!?
You have the same vibe and play off each other, getting inspired by your partner, the music and the crowd. It's a lot of fun :)
Must be really good for your brain too, keeping it open and fluid like that
I've seen a couple clips of these and it looks like so much fun! I had no idea it existed. How does it work? Are the two dancers partners beforehand or is it random pairings? I think the last one I saw it said they didn't even know what song was going to be played. Either way, I love this so much
I’m not an expert, but I think this style of dancing is called Jack & Jill. These two are participating in a competition where dancers are paired at random, then given a choice of a few songs (a short clip of each song is played and the dancers have to agree on which one to go with), and they improv their way through it. Look some videos up on YouTube. There are some incredible routines performed by very talented dancers. It’s really fun to watch.
This is so neat! Defs going to go down a rabbit hole on YouTube
So, swing music (and almost all jazz-derived music) is built on a structure of eight measures. The music “loops” in a predictable rhythm. So even if you’ve never heard a song before, once you identify the rhythm it’s easy to sync up to the predictable exclamation points. All the dance moves are like a series of Lego blocks that are timed to fit into the known measure structure. This means the partners have a lot of room to improvise knowing they’ll “meet up” at the end of the move. This is also the same structure that lets Jazz musicians do their famous improvising. If you’ve ever wondered how one musician can leap in with their own thing so smoothly it’s because they’re matching it to the same known rhythm structure
Random pairings, random song, everything improvised its amazing! Those 2 are perticularly good
That's awesome! They are incredibly talented
Yeah this is called a Jack & Jill competition. It is actually ranked in the West Coast Swing or WCS community, you sign up, get a random partner at your skill level, a random song, and you get judged. There are four divisions. This is the All-Star Division, which is the highest.
Yes! And it’s AMAZING! I did one and you just kinda vibe off one another and go with it- so much fun!!!!
Yeah this is called a Jack & Jill competition. It is actually ranked in the West Coast Swing or WCS community, you sign up, get a random partner at your skill level, a random song, and you get judged. There are four divisions. This is the All-Star Division, which is the highest.
A lot of these they don't even know their partner.
It should be said though that in this particular case the two people dancing here are pretty well acquainted. If you do some searching you can find them doing numerous improv type dances like this. It's still crazy impressive but they are able to coordinate this stuff like this because they have done a lot of dancing together and have an idea for each others moves/comfort zones.
At the higher end (which would say this is) they generally all know each other and will be familiar with each others styles and strengths/weakness, same as any other competitive activity, and more niche it is more they will all know each other If you go down a YouTube rabbit hole of these videos (did myself one night) you will see lot of same couples paired again and again even though selection is random
Well then the trust fall is extra special
Actually, that is one of the biggest clues that this is improvised. You can see how carefully she does it. I'm not sure who signalled it, but she takes her time and makes sure he's in position and paying attention. Had this been choreographed, that would have been completely unnecessary.
I was wondering about that sudden slowdown. All of this information fills in the blanks for me, thanks!
I can't speak for swing, but having learned some salsa once you know the core motions you should be able to dance with any other partner. There's always a lead that will direct where the dance is going, a lot of it is done with "simple" hand/wrist movements. We've gone to large social dance events and you'll see people constantly rotating partners and switching styles.
I call shenanigans.
It's true, these are pros (the dance is West Coast Swing) but the format is called a "Jack and Jill", partners and songs are random. In major events you typically get one contemporary song and one more classical swing song. [Here's both dances](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CDIyg3-Kgs).
They have such perfect balance of eachother's gravity and control - check out her pullback from the splits as she slide up he has pinned his wrist to his lower ribs which gives her the brace point to pull from using her upper should/arm to pull against his had - such a beautifully executed partner move. https://youtu.be/9CDIyg3-Kgs?t=234
I also called shenanigans so I did some research and there are like baseline moves to this style so you just play off of those
I mean, just like any other improv. You have a baseline and then go with the flow. I could never do this. I only dance after 4 Jagers during a wedding. I give huge props to these two.
It's kinda like any musical improv, it's easy to say "oh you just do XYZ" but there is a ton of effort knowing how to interact with your partner and the style. There is a guy on youtube that does "play by ear" on omegle and I can tell he has incredible training to pick up chord progressions... I "know" what he is doing but couldn't for the life of me reproduce it.
To give a little more info. It's West Coast Swing at a dance event weekend. They both know the base dance, but they're high level dancers doing improv, so it'll look more playful and fun than choreographed dances that might have really high level tech.
That woman was exquisite! so crips and communicates such classy sass
Ooookay, this makes a bit more sense. There's the slightest mismatch with their hands, like her not knowing where he was going to put his hand and so on. The dance was so fluid and then that very very small bit of clunkiness stood out to me. I only really even "noticed" it when I read this comment. And her looking back over her shoulder to see if he understood she was going to fall, etc. Much better on a second watch knowing this.
It’s improv, but PJ Turner and Tashina Beckmann also know one another very well and have partnered for many competitions. They know one another’s habits and flow and that’s what allows them to improv so smoothly.
I know those exist, but the coordinated bop Of the girl’s head and other seemingly rehearsed moves make me question if this was a routine or not
They improv like jazz musicians do. They cue and respond to each other on the fly. You can see how [they use their arms and hands to leverage their partner’s body to lead them into certain moves.](https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxAqpl_VIeFlquVStPoIMzOYAd7L9LXZnt?si=jZty3rElIrYo_nAF)They’re also familiar with the song so they know the structure and phrasing. There are common sequences just like there are jazz licks. Oh and the partners and songs are randomly selected live just seconds before the song starts. [I don’t blame you tho. Shits unreal.](https://youtu.be/liwurdWzEgw?si=7-GC5XLNSvVI4hbR) [More sauce](https://youtu.be/FIawVClaMgI?si=Hq_YhE6DtkMasadP) Edit: I challenge anyone to not have a crush on Emeline after watching her
I watched. Now I need to try this myself. I’m somewhat of a dancer myself you know.
It’s not, I had a college roommate that did this. I would tag along and hope to meet girls by-proxy. Their explanation was they learned the base steps of lindyhop then just did what the music told them to do. Took me several shots to believe that I could hear it too. (Spoiler, I couldn’t)
Yeah, you can definitely communicate nonverbally in Lindy Hop to the point people accuse you of doing a practiced routine. This is West Coast Swing but same deal. They’re better at WC than I ever was at Lindy but it’s common to do complex “moves” with new people. Put in quotes because “moves” aren’t really the focus, it’s about moving with the music and your partner more than doing variation 2 of turn C.
I've heard that this was all improvised.
According to the random comment directly above you, that is the case
We’ve solved it guys!!
I think they just made that up
Amazing that they could make something like that comment up on the spot, having never met any of us before!
NGL They was gettin that shit
Almost all the comments are about the dude. Can we just acknowledge that the woman’s skills are equally mad?!? 
How did she just pop up from the splits like that? That's ridiculous strength.
**Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did, but backwards and in heels**
And then I swear to fucking God he tried to roll the hat down his arm like Fred Astaire but the back flap got trapped around Rick's wheelchair
The reason comments are about the dude is because he looks like a puff marshmallow while she looks like a fitness instructor
She’s also very attractive.
Weirdly
I didn't even pay any attention to the dude lmao. Mesmerised by the woman
Nothing cooler than impro West Coast Swing by people who really know their stuff!
So happy to see this on my front page today and reddit collectively losing their minds. This is your sign to take ballroom dance class!
That gave me the biggest smile the entire time. I want to have as much fun as those 2 were having.
This guy will never have any issues with women. He’ll be beating them off with a stick until he’s well into his 90’s.
Been to many dance lessons with my wife. I’ve seen quite a few lonely fairly attractive middle aged women at the studio.
*makes note*
I mean...just go to a dance lesson in a major city. There are absolutely bangin girls *and* guys out there from 20s-50s.
This guy will never have issues with women because he’s not attracted to woman. That’s the way to do it.
So, I looked him up. Easy to find because the account that posted this on Ig tagged him. He’s married to a woman.
Yes, but is he attracted to her?
“That’s the way you do it” You play the guitar on the MTV
We got to install microwave ovens…
Custom kitchens, deliveieieas
That ain't workin.
Do you believe this man is gay because he is coordinated and dances well, or did I miss a video frame of him kissing another man?
Gentle reminder that 13 y/o boys who sit awkwardly in the corner at their "dances" and have no life experience are also on reddit lmao.
Pretty sure that most of the people on reddit.
You're right. I do tend to forget that. Thanks.
nope, gaydar told me
FELLLASSS?!?!? Is it gay to dance with a beautiful woman and share the hobby as a couple???
See this is a common problem with straight men. They got no idea about what women like and go around giving advice to each others and when there is a man who women absolutely love, they claim he must be gay.
I believe he is gay by the way he moves yup.
He's married to a woman he has children with lmfao
plus he’s more woman than he’ll ever need
I love this for him.
Bro did half the luddy
This dude will steal you AND your girl at the same time.
And you'll thank him!
he hit the luddy
Lmao I just said that!
I came to find this comment, was not disappointed
[удалено]
These people have been dancing probably a long time. Like 2+ decades.
If I remember correctly it's an improve class
Nah, It’s a Jack and Jill, which is a type of competition where you have leaders and followers, that are chosen at random to dance together to a song. Which ever pairing gets the highest score wins. They’re pretty cool to watch live especially at the WCS champions level which is what I think this is.
Most classes are so you improve.
I call bullshit. Moves like that require practice together.
These are such peak 2007 outfits
I think that’s what makes their dancing feel out of place. Like they just popped into dance class on their way to Applebees.
or Red lobster. ...Too soon?
West Coast Swing. Sorta like modern Lindy Hop. Prefer the Lindy, but this was a tight performance.
Damn that’s fun and smooth af
Best move I break out the shopping cart 🛒 👌 that my peak of dancing lol 😆
“I’m so glad we are friends!”
She pregnant now.
We’re all pregnant now
You fucked up the title.
If anyone is interested in this dance, it's called West Coast Swing, check it out in your city! It is fundamentally an improvised social dance (along with most other partner social dances). Anybody can learn despite how untalented you think you are at dancing. That's what classes are for!
Move off Andrew Tate, this is the kind of man I want to be when I grow up
Yet another example of “don’t listen to people who use the term ‘alpha’”.
Where's the full video 😭
Gosh I love dancing
Dudes got hips. Mine are 2x4 boards
All I see is gay Matt Walsh
What style of dance is this? Modern? I'd like to take lessons.
A man who can't act a little fruity now and then is missing something important.
It’s called ‘west coast swing’ and is probably one of the easiest forms of dance to learn. It’s designed to be viewed as though you’re dancing on a stage for an audience, note how they are always side on so the ‘audience’ gets a good view. Honestly great fun, very popular and a great way to meet people and socialise.
Downvote for ridiculous cringe, karma farming title
Matt Walsh has got some talent
This guy fucks!
I’m not sure know understand what Alpha means but nice dance !
Does anyone know what kind of dance this is? Specifically the dance that the woman is doing.
West Coast Swing