Basic Swing Dance Steps

• Closed Postion: The lead on the left, the follow on the right. The lead has his right hand on her back, about in the middle or towards her shoulder blade. His left hand, palm down, has her left hand palm up resting in it. They are both facing out in a "V" shape.
   
• Open Position: Both lead and floow are facing each other follow's hands (palms down) resting in leads hands (palms up).
   
• Outside Turn : From either open or closed dance position, leader raises left hand and follower turns under to the leader's left.

• Inside Turn : From either open or closed dance position, leader raises left hand and follower turns under to the leader's right.
   
• He Goes: From either open or closed dance position, leader raises left hand and leader spins under is own hand.
   
• She Goes: From either open or closed dance position, leader raises left hand and follower spins under to the leader's left.
   
• She Goes, He Goes: From either open or closed dance position, leader raises left hand and follower spins under, then leader spins under.
   
• Tuck Turn (version 1) (also known as American Spin): Both leader and follower's hand are waist level, left hand to left hand. . The leader gives a small nudge, waist level with his left hand to the follower's left and the follow spins to her right.
   
• Tuck Turn (version 2) (also known as American Spin): Both leader and follower's hands are waist level, left hand to right hand. (This is also known as a handshake hold). The leader gives a small nudge, waist level with his left hand to the follower's right and the follow spins to her right.
   
• Throw Out: In closed position, leader gives small nudge, and follower goes to her right to open position.
   
• Return to Close: In open position, the leader gives a small pull while moving his body in closer to the follow. The follow comes back into closed position.

Swing Dance Footwork

• Single Step: Step, step, rock step (per beat- slow, slow, quick, quick).
   
• Triple Step: Triple step, triple step, rock stop (per beat- quick quick quick, quick quick quick, quick quick).
  

Some reasons for using different footwork:

• Dance Tempo or Speed: Faster music may not allow for the ability to comfortably do multiple steps in a single beat.
   
• Style: Lindy Hop uses a triple step, as well as what is referred to as "ballroom" swing.
   
• Musicality or Dancing the Music: This is a lifetime process of improvement and refinement. This involves hearing different aspects of the music being played and dancing what you hear. Having different footwork is very useful for expressing this.
   
• Variety - A way to do something varied in the dance so it remains interesting and fun.