Who is Mark Traynor

Mark has been involved with the Dance Industry in every capacity for over 31 years. Since concentrating primarily upon West Coast Swing (WCS) for the past 20 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. Read more ›

I recently was exposed to a ‘West Coast Swing Mixer Dance’ idea by Bobby Caudill of Tampa. This is a concept that hundreds of dancers around the country have probably thought about at sometime but never took the time to develop. Well, the time has come!

After studying his original step pattern for the mixer, I felt that while the concept was long overdue for our West Coast world, it should be a 32 (not 34) beat ‘phrased’ pattern, the ladies should be able to move around the floor and the partner transition should be much smoother than it was. Like any mixer or even line dance, these elements are essential for any potential growth and continued participation by the dancers to stay interested. So, I made a few minor adjustments to hopefully help the concept become the future popular dance that could help attract many new dancers to our ever growing West Coast Swing Community. Read more ›

After intensive study on the ‘Swing Shift” idea, I’ve now designed a new Teaching System I believe will be the best way forward to learn this great Dance form in a group lesson or workshop format.

I’m hoping and expecting that as this method proceeds it will accelera’e the WCS learning process. I had used my previous system for the past 14 years with great success, constantly upgrading as new elements and theories were added over the years. THIS new concept however, I think will be an upgrade over anything currently being used in group lessons or workshops for the following reasons, and I probably haven’t thought of them all : Read more ›

• I found it best to teach the Shift immediately after the Sugar Push. This way, even after just learning a sugar push, students can keep switching partners after a few repetitions, but is always the last step for switching partners
• Instructors may add appropriate level ability variations in each level, teaching proper techniques throughout. Read more ›

I don’t think there has ever been anything written that can truly soften the blow, nor alleviate the pain that friends and family feel when losing a loved one. We can find some comfort in our faith, some joy in our memories and some motivation to treat our own mortality with more respect, but never an answer as to ‘why’ that will satisfy our curiosity. ‘Time’ is an elusive element whose measurement while incremental, can’t be negotiated. We can only hope to share the time we have, with those we love, in such a way as to feel proud and fortunate for the opportunity to have done it together. For those who have known John, we are fortunate to have been a friend and can take some solace in celebrating the life of strong character, respect, compassion and integrity that he lived every day. Our sincere sympathies and thoughts need be with Sarah, with whom John found true love and because of whom, has moved on a contented man. Read more ›

Once again Thanks to all of the WCS community support especially across Florida, our FloorPlay New Years Swing Vacation Event 2008-09 was a terrific success! This was Floorplay’s 9th WCS event overall and although not the largest ever we still had a very smooth, fun filled time attended overall by 515 eager, friendly dancers with 460 (including staff) for New Years Eve alone. I never see reason to have to inflate the numbers (like some events do), nor ‘sugar-coat’ any problems that inevitably occur during the course of any event in order to claim success. Read more ›