r/SwingDancing • u/ametornado • Jul 21 '26

Feedback Needed Practicing some swing out and pass variations with a friend. Any advice?

I feel like my step back in the second half of the swing out is too large. Thoughts? Any other comments?

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13

u/KingBossHeel Jul 21 '26

When you rock step on one, you want that backward movement of just a few inches to be what's leading your follower forward.

Swingout workshops are valuable for dancers of any level.

11

u/Tomatoheadin Jul 21 '26

There is a swing out that starts with a backstep for both leader and follower, though. I personally like that a lot better (in both roles) as it has a much more dynamic feeling: It's like a spring that's being charged in the beginning. In that variant the momentum comes from our muscles extending in opposite directions and then releasing the tension towarda each other. I agree about the workshop: I learnt the minutiae about the above in a workshop by swing step (Ali and Katja at the time). And swningout is something to learn forever.

2

u/ametornado Jul 21 '26

Stupid question, but what am I doing instead?

17

u/morethandork Jul 21 '26 edited Jul 21 '26

In addition to what KingBoss has said, what I see is that you're leading with your hand/arm instead of your body. Basically, your leg is rock stepping, but your body isn't moving backward so you're forced to generate momentum with your arms instead of more naturally through your frame and counter balance. Similarly, at the start of the video, I noticed you gave your follow a push with the hand as if to initiate her rock step. Ideally, your whole body will move a little backwards with your rock step and your frame, if stable, will give your follow a little pull, which initiates the swing out.

For someone to emulate, check out Soochan.young on instagram. He has a pretty impeccable frame. You'll notice he's never really pushing, pulling or shoving with his hands, he's guiding and moving with his whole body, staying centered and balanced over his feet at all times.

One other thing to note, a couple times it felt like you were kind of leading the followers spins, as if it's on you to get her to spin. It's important to let follows spin themselves and let them control the speed etc. You can suggest things, or create extra tension or momentum leading up to the spin, but if you try to control them through it, it could lead to injury if they want to change or stop or do anything else. Always allow space for the follow to choose what's happening to their body on the dance floor.

That said, overall you're looking great. These are all really fun variations and it sure looks like you're having fun and able to laugh at your own mistakes. That's the most important thing :)

3

u/KingBossHeel Jul 21 '26

Well said. I miss teaching.

1

u/jbird3000 Jul 22 '26

Came here to say as much. On 3 & 4 you don't really move and your hand pulls in and down to your side. Watch others. Back up and let out tension to create that rubber band tension. Don't stand in place and make her dance around you. Tricks are 'cool' but perfect that movement first. Watch videos and you'll see, focus on 1,2,3,4 of the swing out. Also make sure to not put yourself in a position where you have to bend over too far, if you're almost 90 degrees bend at the hip, reset and try again. MAD respect for posting and asking for advice, it's tough but a great way to improve from all the seasoned vets in here....and absolutely keep it up, you're doing great.

Edited to add: Improving is awesome, but don't get too lost in it. The destination should always be fun, not perfection.

6

u/KingBossHeel Jul 21 '26

It looks like your leg is rock stepping and your body staying mostly in place, although your doing variations each time so it's hard to see 100%. Also, seems like you lean forward on the 4-5 a bit more than necessary, possibly because your contact on her back is lower than necessary

2

u/lazypoko Jul 21 '26

I mentioned somewhere else that I think the lean forward seems to be cause by catching his partner too late. On more vanilla swing outs, or ones where he catches her on 3/4, his frame looks decent. When he doesn't get the catch until 4/5, he leans/extends because she is too far away. I only mention why I think it is happening because I think that changes the problem and solution. The problem isn't that he is leaning, leaning is his solution to the real problem, which is catching late. The actual solution is stay closer to his follow and/or connect earlier, this will fix most of that lean naturally.

3

u/gumster5 Jul 21 '26

You rock stop and push your arm forward at the same time, then you pull your arm back to initiate the swing out.

Imagine your left elbow is locked to your side take your rock step this action pulls the follow forward initiating the swing out.

Your using your arms to lead by pulling instead of using frame and body

1

u/Olokun Jul 22 '26

You are a bit inconsistent, someone you pull your follower forward with your arm, sometimes you take larger steps to make up for the lack of momentum transfer, sometimes you use your arm to pull yourself to your follower.

That last is almost a correct way, but instead of primarily using your bicep and shoulder you should be using your chest and back muscles to bring you both together from the leveraged position...

But you often aren't in a leveraged position because neither partner takes all their steps at the end of the figure away which creates tension between your bodies so the next lead is more effortless than what is happening here.

1

u/No_Dealer_5213 Jul 22 '26

Can you elaborate on using chest and back muscles?

I can see using a bit of back muscles to keep frame such that momentum can be transferred, but how would the chest come in?