Best Practices in Physical Education
Swing Dance Progressions
July 11, 2002
UW-Stevens Point


Swing Basic Step:
 Rhythm Pattern: 1 - 2 - Rock - Step or "Slow, Slow, Quick, Quick"
 Lead Start Left Foot, Follow Start Right Foot,
 Lead Rock Step on Left Foot, Follow Rock Step on Right Foot,
 Hip Width Step/Stride Length, Avoid Over Stepping, Ball Change on the Rock Step
 Closed Position, Relaxed, Hips Partially Open
 Two Hand Closed, Arm/Upper Body Swing on 1-2 Count, Arms Extend on Rock Step
 Revolving-Rotate Clockwise, 1/4 turn or 90 degrees Each Measure
 Rule of Two: 2 Basics Between Each Pattern
 Mark Time While Your Partner is Executing a Pattern
 “C” Grip with Partners Hands, Allow Hands to Slide in the Grasp.

Swing Cluster #1:
 Woman's Right Turn
 Man's Left Turn
  •Left to Right Hand Exchange, or Over the Shoulder/Head Turn, Woman's Left Turn
  •Done Immediately Following the Rock Step after the Man’s Left Turn

Swing Cluster #2:
 Right Cradle with Exit Variations;
  •Woman’s Left Turn without Releasing into the Cradle Position
  •Back Out, or;
  •4 Count Walk and Unravel

 Hammerlock:
  •Woman's Right Turn with "Hammerlock" Grip Behind the Back,
  •Man Keeps Left Arm Up High, Spins the Woman 1-1/2 Times to Back Out with Knotted          Arms,
  •Couple can Regrasp or Trade Places to Unknot.

Swing Cluster #3:
 Pretzel:
  •Man's Left Turn Under to a Right Arm "Hammerlock" Behind the Back,
  •Woman 1/2 Turn to Right, Partners are Now Side by Side, at Left Hips,
  •Partners Now Trade Places, by "See-Sawing" Arms so that Right Hips are Side to Side,
  •Repeat Two More Times, with Woman on Man's Right Hip,
  •Man Raises Right Arm and Turns Left to Exit the Pattern.
 Left Cradle Spin Out:
  •Man Leads a Left Cradle Back Out into a Knotted Hold,
  •Man turns "Around the World" Left, Partner Stays "Home" and Unknots,
  •Woman Turns "Around the World" Right, Partner stays "Home" to Knot Up,
  •Repeat "Around the World" Two more Times, Once for Each Partner,
  •Partners Raise Knotted Arms to Ceiling, Slide Back to Back, Lower Arms (Parallel to Floor),
  •Man Releases his Right Hand Grasp with Partners Left Hand,
  •Man Leads a Woman’s Right Spin, 1-1/2 Turns, with a Sharp Pull of his Left Hand,
  •Man Catches Partner with a Left to Right Hand Grasp

Swing Cluster #4:
 Double Right Spin (from Right to Right Hand Hold):
  •Closed Basic, Right to Right Behind the Back, Unravel into a "Rock Step",
  •Step Front to Back, Right to Right Hand Hold with Man's Left Hand on Left Shoulder
   of partner,
  •Man "Pushes" with Left Hand & "Pulls" with Right Hand to Lead a 1-1/2 Right Spin,
  •Meanwhile, Man Spins Right One Full Turn to Catch with a Left to Right Hand Hold.

 Trust Drop (from Right to Right Anchor "Grip/Hold"):
  •Woman Steps Across with Her Right Foot to a 1/2 Right Turn, both Partners are
   Side by Side Facing Same Direction,
  •Partners Join Left Hands in "Anchor Grip/Hold", Rock Step,
  •Woman Steps with Right Foot 3/4 Left Turn in Front of Partner, Shoulders & Hips
   are now Perpendicular in Front of One Another, Woman's Right Heel Must be Even with the Right Toe of Partner,
  •Woman Sits Back and Down, Kicking Left Toe/Foot Up in the Air as She Drops
   Toward the Floor, with Hips Extended,
  •Man Supports Weight of Partners Downward Momentum with a Strong Straddle Foot Position and Extended Arm and Anchor Hand Hold,
  •Man Quickly Pulls Partner Upright to a Standing Position and Finishes with a Woman's Left Turn Ending in a Rock Step.

Swing Aerial:
 Back Hip Pullover:
  •Man Leads Partner into a Right Cradle, Omit the Rock Step,
  •Man Brings Right Arm from Behind, to the Front Waist of the Woman,
  •Woman's Feet are in a Stride Position with the Right Foot Back, Both Arms are
   Relaxed on the Right Arm of the Man,
  •On a Prearranged Count (ie. 1-2-3), Woman Kicks Right Leg Up and Extends Her Hips
   Upward,
  •Man Supports Waist of Partner with His Right Arm and Lifts Her Left Knee with His     Left Hand to Rotate Her Body Around His Right Arm,
  •Man “Sets/Dismounts” Woman onto both Feet and she Finishes with a Left Turn.
  SPOTTING:
   •On a Matted Surface,
   •Instructor Stands on Right Side of Woman in the Cradle Position,
   •Instructor Holds Right Upper Arm of Woman,
   •On the Kick Up, Instructor Supports the Right Arm/Shoulder Through the Backward Rotation,
   •Gradually Fade the Assisted Spot as the Couple Gains Confidence in the Stunt,
   •Fade the Matted Surface when the Couple can Masters the Stunt without an Assisted Spot.


Updated: 7/9/02
Author/Publisher: Terry Fargen
email: tfargen@madison.k12.wi.us