|
|
Sugar Push
by Tim Eum
West Coast Swing is a form of jive/swing that developed in California
in the 1930’s and 1940’s. It is characterized by the lady dancing
forward and back in a “slot” with the man moving out of and then back
into the slot to let her pass.
One of the most basic and characteristic of West Coast Swing figures is
the “Sugar Push”. The Sugar Push begins with partners facing, lead
hands joined, lead foot free (man’s left foot and lady’s right foot are
free). The timing of the Sugar Push is 12345&6. On the first two
steps, the man simply steps back twice while the lady steps forward
twice coming close enough to get into a “compressed” BFLY. The couple
can turn their upper bodies so that the man’s right shoulder is back
(lady’s left shoulder forward) to almost a BFLY-BJO.
The next two steps are the “Sugar” and the “Push”. On the third beat,
simply tap your free foot (the lead foot). The man taps his left foot
in front of him. If the man and lady have turned their upper bodies
right face to the BFLY-BJO, the lady taps her right foot behind her
trail foot. It is on this “tap” step that you can give your partner a
wink or a kiss (i.e., the “sugar”). On the fourth beat, the man steps
forward almost on the same spot that he just tapped with his left foot.
The lady recovers by stepping side and back on her right foot. Although
there should be a slight “lead” to have the lady move back, the man
should not overdo this with a muscled “push”. He should simply give
“firm” resistance. The couple will now be in the slot facing each other
slightly apart with only lead hands joined and trail foot free (man’s
right and lady’s left).
The final steps are a small rock back/recover, rock back (the 5&6
timing). This tiny back rock 3 in place is called an “Anchor Step” and
many West Coast Swing figures finish with it. Note that you started
with lead foot free and ended with lead foot free. This is
characteristic of practically all West Coast Swing figures. Remember
that the first step of most West Coast Swing figures is back for the
man and forward for the lady -- not apart (as is typical in Jive). If
you move your steps with a smooth “slinky-ness” and are playful with
your partner – you will capture the feeling of West Coast Swing.
Tim
Eum has
prepared many Round Dance Tips for Calls 'n' Cues,
WASCA, for his weekly Rocket Rounds email reports, and for
other
publications. This article was prepared for the RAL Virtual Convention,
2021. DRDC is
grateful for permission to collect and reprint. A Tim Eum archive.
|
