Congratulations to all of the competitors whether you placed or not. It’s not an easy thing to perform in front of large crowds and there were many newcomers who’ took the leap’. Never one to hold back an opinion however, I think most everyone played it too safe. When competing – EXPRESS YOURSELVES!

Congratulations to our new 2008 Florida State Swing Dance Champions: Christopher Lo & Dawn Sgarlata

• 2nd – Andrew Makowski & Brianne Cline
• 3rd – Jimmy Formelio & Cynthia Meyer
• 4th – Demery Strickland & Sharon Huang
• 5th – Blaise Tamo & Jennifer Lasseter Read more ›

I’ve known Ron for at least 14 years and he is well known all over the country and in the WCS community in particular. Ron’s passing will be a great loss to the community, and even more so for his family and friends, especially at this time of year.  Our condolences go out to those closest to him, and we wish them peace and strength to help them through their, and our, tragic loss.  We have all been ‘connected’ to him in some way.  If you’ve ever danced at our event in the past (Floorplay New Years Swing Vacation), as well as this year’s to come, or at many of the events around the country, you are dancing on his floor.  I’m sure he will rest well knowing he is still serving the dance community he loved so much. Read more ›

Once again Thanks to all of the WCS community support especially across Florida, our Floorplay New Years Swing Vacation Event was a terrific success! This was Floorplays 10th WCS Event overall and although not the largest and having to overcome the change of venues, we still had a very smooth, fun filled time attended by about 470 eager, friendly dancers. 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 ›

Congratulations to all contestents!

Florida State Swing Dance Champions

• 1st – John Harris & Mary Jane Harper
• 2nd – Rick Weston & Dawn Sgarlata
• 3rd – Jimmy Formelio & Cynthia Meyer
• 4th – John Grassia & Dori Eden
• 5th – Tommy Gibbs & Renee Lipman Read more ›

Renowned WCS Instructor of Instructors, Skippy Blair, who is known to have actually named WCS around 1958  and credited with inventing the ‘anchor step’ sometime ago, is a wealth of knowledge and information on WCS whom I admire and respect tremendously. However, none of us know everything and over the past 20 years many WCS dancers and instructors are credited with new innovations. Skippy’s anchor step in 3rd position was brilliant in that it required the ladies to remain in place on the ‘& ah ’ before being led forward on the 1. This helped combat a long abused problem of the ladies improperly executing a coaster step and moving toward the man on 6. Read more ›

There seems to always have been a ‘disconnect’ between what is taught and what is actually used and generally accepted as proper lead technique. This is as true in whip as many other steps. While whip has been taught primarily as a ‘center’ or body lead by the man stepping off to his left and slightly back before leaning back forward and angling toward the lady on the 2 (or more advanced at 2&), Mark found early on that a side and slightly forward step for the man and a full ¼ turn right with feet slightly split gives the man a much better balanced position as well as a better indicator to the lady a whip is coming. This requires an arm lead to bring the lady forward on 1 and again to open her up on the 2&….The argument against this technique has always been that it is an arm lead. Marks argument back is…”so what”. Once you get beyond a few of the basics and into the many extensions, patterns, turns and play etc., a majority of what is led becomes through the hands, wrists and arms. Many may try to claim otherwise but just watch them. Most is quite obvious. Read more ›

4/10  I am happy to announce that the ‘Play set-up’  is no longer a component of WCS standard elements. Ladies ‘play’ should be implemented during side passes, open tuck turn and push break steps only. It is not necessary to ‘open the slot’ for ladies to add enhanced styling or movements to extend timing for phrasing. This can and should be accomplished through basic steps. It is STILL considered ‘bad form’ for the lady to ‘hijack’ the mans lead. The following description however, though outdated, can still be used in social circles as a way to ‘dress-up’ a ladies part if she desires the opportunity.

Mark T

 Still today, many leaders step onto their ‘rail’ on 1, raise the left hand with a slight resistance and use this action as the indication they are inviting the follower to ‘play’ across the slot. Well, yes they have.

The problems with this are, the follower has already committed to the 1, is suddenly surprised for a now expected ‘play’, and has used a portion of her play ‘space’ before she can put a play into action. A skilled dancer very much in touch with the music can quickly adapt and spontaneously add an appropriate and/or attractive play of some sort. Much like extending a common side pass with a musicality styled interpretation, which is the follower’s prerogative at any time…known as an ‘Adderuption’. (see below) Read more ›