It seems that the swing dance council have created an official definitive set of 14 basic patterns. I don’t have the list yet myself, but they include at least a couple whose only purpose seem to be to train good habits that will be more useful at later stages. Examples include:
The fake whip – reminds the women to move all the way to the end of a slot if the guy doesn’t redirect them in a whip.
Triple rhythm break (aka sailor shuffle) – taught so beginners have a tool they can use to help phrase themselves.
Additionally, there will be a new category of competition (WCS 101 I think it will be called) which is strictly for people with no competition points, which awards points at a novice level. The only patterns allowed in this category will be those 14 foundation patterns. It sounds like a version of Ceroc X or Back-to-Basics, except that it’s only open to real competition novices. The intention is to help avoid the situation where genuine beginners are competing against people who have been social dancing for years (and are actually pretty good) in the Novice division.
Finally, they got to see J&T new competition routine up close and personal. It is, apparently, enthralling. So enthralling that none of them could remember the name of the track. Apparently it’s contemporary though. I guess the rest of us will have to wait until it hits Youtube
