West Coast Swing (Richard & Joanna, 2007-05-21)

[HunterstonB]

Swing dance and Swing music is all about controled syncopation.

Syncopation is about holding the beat or shortening the beat to create accent and emphasis.

Although Joanna is superb dancer - she is not syncopating her movements, which rigidly follow the tempo of the music.

[latinac]

very hot and classy at the same time :)

[1888junkteam]

excellent work!

[caroleinmn]

They're not dancing -- they're 'performing'. There's a difference.

[SpiritCrazyHorse]

AWESOME!!! YOU ROCK!!! 5 STARS*****'s

[mefyain]

oh . THANK YOU very much !! :)

[mefyain]

just wanna ask for the title of the music used in this dance . please . i need it . urgent .

thankyou

[PanoramaSplash]

"Buttons" by Pussycat Dolls

"Freak" by Cheri Dennis

[bobjt]

Do any of you actually dance west coast??? This is a routine, this isn't how either of them actually dance socially. They are both all star/ champion dancers (pros). Joanna is one of the people I enjoy dancing with the most. Try taking a few classes and watch yourselfs dance in a mirror or a video and see if you call them students anymore......

[lcsar]

You can tell she was/is a ballet dancer. A good dancer, but in my opinion, he's got the better swing style, even if she's the better technical dancer. She could use a little "pop" in her style, loosen up a few moves. I bet she would be an incredible ballroom dancer though! Fantastic form.

[FroggieMuffin]

Nice!!

[anticongent]

dear google please add an automatic volumen correction to youtube.

[maishaAnne]

its quite nice. its simple but it has class. though that guy is a bit too old for her. base on my observation, she is a very good dancer for a beginner if she is.

[cloven14]

yes but i like her...........

[missindependant95]

pretty good for oldies...:)

[megasmash129]

I think hes abit to short to be doing that last spin with her. Great dance tho :)

Shes fabulous

[lenka320]

Anyone know the name of the second song? Thanks.

[PanoramaSplash]

"Freak" by Cheri Dennis

[lenka320]

Thank you!

[Brynzapoppin]

I had to start another topic 'cause I reached my maximum characters on the last one ;). Anyway, overall I am enamoured with this routine! Great job.

[Brynzapoppin]

Interesting how everyone has a different interpretation on what's not sitting quite right with this video. Mine? I did some quick research on Joanna Meinl because, for the most part, I really love the way she moves. Turns out she's an accomplished dancer of many forms and has only recently begun focusing on WCS. She's done a great job of picking up the look but is lacking a solid anchor. msm2you, the accents you're talking about would be inherent if the "stretch and go" of the anchor were there.

[insterburg10]

I agree. . .

[insterburg10]

There are no 'accents' because there is no physical tension between them. You can see it in the girls arms which are generally kept straight rather than flexed. She's going into the move the instant she is lead rather than taking the slack with a bent arm.

Again contrast with Richard and Ruth video

[insterburg10]

I think the problem here is that she is what might be described as 'soft follow' you can see the contrast if you look at the WCS video of Richard and Ruth, who is clearly a much heavier follow.

In Lindy you would say she needs to be 'better grounded'

Whether you prefer watching and dancing with heavy or soft lead and follow is very much a matter of personal taste.

It's great rountine whatever way you look at it

[teamgoldie]

NOt all WCS dancers or all social dancers for that matter. Watch any routine or Jack and Jill by someone like Jordan Frisbee and Tatiana Mollman or Kyle Redd etc.

[lethbe]

I love the routine. I imagine the fire will come as they grow in the partnership. I was very technical and little passion but the passion will come. That rocked and I know I would be happy if it were me!

[insterburg10]

You're right. You could do a lot more with it, but it would require some abrupt stops and starts.

It's clear from other video's the lead knows what he wants to achieve - its about a technically expert follow who doesn't know how to interpret music.

Glenn Miller's band used to amuse themselves while playing trying to spot the couples who could dance in time to the music - they reckoned it was about 1 in 10.

[kcsmith123]

sexy dance step..great!

[pslptgirl]

Very Nice!

[alfredobrown]

I don't know how to do west coast, but I loved the way these guys put together this. The whole lack of energy other people mentioned may be because they know more about it, but I give Richard and Joanna a 10!!

[sherdestiny]

I agree with dancingqueen1999...very nice routine but the fire isn't there to make it exceptional and sexy.. imagine Benji and Heidi doing this routine!

[dancingqueen1999]

great routine,just not executed very well,low energy