Stretching the anchor step in west coast swing can be difficult. The stretch, of elasticity, of west coast swing is one of the defining characteristics of the dance. Learning how to stretch the &a1 before each pattern is an essential skill to master in order to understand the connection of the dance. TAKE ACTION> Watch … Read more
Great dancers are always in control of their bodies, and that requires knowing the limits of how far they can go for certain movements. Today, we’re going to look at the anchor with an eye towards learning where your body should be at the end of every pattern. The goal of this exercise is to … Read more
How many times have you heard, “Every pattern in West Coast Swing ends in an anchor”? Today, we’re going to flip things around and make every pattern start with an anchor instead. This exercise assumes that you are comfortable with your basic anchor: you can roll through the &a before the new 1, and you … Read more
Have you ever watched the pros danced and been amazed at how much stretch builds during their anchor? Working the anchor adds so much depth to the dance: it adds definition to each move, builds momentum that makes moves look connected, and creates the amazing elastic feel of the dance. With a little practice, you … Read more
If you can consistently create the boing effect by yourself, it’s time to extend that skill to a partnered connection. The Drill: With a partner, practice boinging each other by going into an anchor position. Settle into the anchor, away from the connection, and work on feeling the “boing” when your centers naturally want to … Read more
by Brian B at west coast swing online
Brian & Megan 
