Who is Mark Traynor?
Mark has been involved with the Dance Industry in every capacity for over 35 years. Since concentrating primarily upon West Coast Swing (WCS) for the past 21 years he has helped establish many techniques now being taught and used throughout the WCS circuit nationwide. Because he has never been a competitor on the circuit it took some time for his Floorplay concepts to spread and take hold across the nationwide West Coast community but now can be seen and are used everywhere by dancers and instructors alike, possibly without ever knowing where they originated.
Mark has suggested for years that because of the ever expanding possibilities, as well as techniques already utilized and accepted by the WSDC, NASDE and the dance community in general, WCS should be re-classified as another dance form completely. Aficionados of the dance will tell you that what we’re doing today, and have been doing for quite some time is not classic WC anymore but a much more advanced, all inclusive form of Swing that has evolved far beyond its original intent and syllabus.
Today, Mark continues to be an innovative force thru his Floorplay Dance Clubs and teaching concepts. Here are several that have helped make today’s WCS a much easier dance to learn, execute and understand as it continues to evolve.
Read Mark’s Articles
Various Steps, Patterns and Movements
The Extended Count
The ‘Play’ Set-Up