Cross Over Dances

Night Club Two Step

The Night Club Two Step can be used for multiple dance genres and is popular at social dances, country dances, and other social events.

This is a partner dance developed by Buddy Schwimmer in the mid 1960s. He developed this dance for the slow romantic ballads and the music continues to develop and be popular today. The basic step can be counted as one & two - three & four. There are two variations of the basic step – the Original, and the Smooth. All patterns can be done from either basic step. This is danced to slow music at 4/4 timing at a preferred 60-90 bpm.

Music Examples:

Social - Chris de Burgh: Lady in Red – 81 bpm
Country – Lonestar: Amazed – 66 bpm

Tutorials:

Common patterns, music and related dances

How to dance Nightclub Two Step (part 1 of 6)

In-Place Basic ("in place" rock step)

TIP 31 Nightclub Two Step - (Basic Concepts, start 0:00 end 2:52)

In-Place Basic (“in place” rock step)
Crossing Basic (“crossing” rock step)
Turning the Basic left and right

Beginning – Intermediate (Bronze) Nightclub Two-Step DVIDA Syllabus

In-Place Basic (“in place” rock step)
Open and Closed Dance Positions
Turning the Basic Left and Right

Nightclub Two Step – first 5 basic step patterns by Clay & Mary

In-Place Basic (start 1:20 end 2:00)
Basic Step Right Turn (start 5:00 end 6:30)

Nightclub Two Step - Buddy & Laurie Schwimmer

In-Place Basic (start 0:10 end 0:28)

Nightclub Two Step – first 5 basic step patterns by Clay & Mary

Ladies Outside Turn (start 2:00 end 2:52)
Crossover Break with Ladies Outside Turn (start 2:52 end 4:00)
Crossover Break Both Walk Around (start 4:00 end 5:00)

How to dance Nightclub Two Step (part 2 of 6)

Ladies Outside and Inside Turn

Nightclub Two Step - Buddy & Laurie Schwimmer

Cradle or Cuddle (start 0:45 end 1:20)

How to dance Nightclub Two Step (part 3 of 6)

Traveling or Alternative Basic, Side-Cross-Side

TIP 31 Nightclub Two Step - Basic Concepts

Alternative Basic with Couples Right Turn (start 2:55 end 3:25)

Bonus Information:

History of the Nightclub Two Step, an excerpt from an article by Rick Archer at SSQQ Dance Studio, 2 Step 2 Dance Studio, accessed November 3, 2019

Swing

The Swing can be used for multiple dance genres and is popular at social dances, country dances, and other social events.

When you first learn to dance the first dance should be Swing. Swing is the All-American good time dance. It developed in the 1920s in New York with Lindy Hop as the root of all modern swing dances. Today, there are many common swing dances – East Coast, West Coast, Country, Lindy Hop, Jive, Shag, Balboa, Hustle, etc. Swing dances are danced to 4/4 timing with a very wide range of tempo or beats per minute (bpm). Fast swing dances are often referred to as Jitterbug. This term became associated with swing dancers because, like the “jitters” of alcoholics, they were seen to be out of control. The two most useful and well-defined swing dances to learn are East Coast and West Coast Swing.

Here is a video describing these two swing dances.

West Coast versus East Coast Swing

East Coast Swing

The East Coast Swing can be used for multiple dance genres and is popular at social dances, country dances, and other social events.

Sometimes called six count swing, this started in the 1940s as an offshoot from Lindy Hop and Jive. This should be the first swing dance to learn with Triple Time, Double Time, and Single Time Versions. The basic step changes for each of the three versions (Single Time, Double Time, and Triple Time) but the patterns are the same.

Single Time Swing

The Single Time Swing can be used for multiple dance genres and is popular at social dances, country dances, and other social events.

This is the easiest to learn. Single time is usually danced to the faster songs (140-170 bpm) and is often referred to as Jitterbug.

Music Examples:

Ballroom - Elvis Presley: All Shook Up – 152 bpm

Ballroom - Dion: Runaround Sue – 158 bpm
Big Band Swing – Glenn Miller: In the Mood – 165 bpm
Country – Vince Gill: What the Cowgirls Do – 153 bpm
Country - Alan Jackson: Little Bitty – 161 bpm

Tutorials:

Double Time Swing

The Double Time Swing can be used for multiple dance genres and is popular at social dances, country dances, and other social events.

This has just a slight variation of the Basic step from Single Time swing. All the patterns are the same. Double Time is usually danced to songs that are about the same speed as Single Time and is also referred to as Jitterbug.

Tutorials:

Triple Time or Traditional East Coast Swing

The Triple Time Swing can be used for multiple dance genres and is popular at social dances, country dances, and other social events.

This has just a slight variation of the basic step from Single or Double Time. Triple Time is usually danced to songs that are slower (120-140 bpm) and because of this is not generally referred to as Jitterbug. If you start with Triple Time and you can’t keep up with the music, then switch to Single or Double Time. Once you learn the Basic footwork then all the patterns are the same as Single time swing.

Music Examples:

Ballroom - Everly Brothers: Cathy’s Clown - 120 bpm
Ballroom - Temptations: The Way You Do the Things You Do - 124 bpm
Ballroom - Bobby Darin: Dream Lover - 132 bpm
Country - Brooks and Dunn: Brand New Man - 128 bpm
Country - Tim McGraw: I Like It, I Love It - 124 bpm
Country - John Michael Montgomery: Life’s a Dance - 135 bpm

Tutorials:

Royston: The Basic Triple Step
i-Lindy: Triple Step Basic Footwork & the Swing Rhythm
Royston: Underarm Turn
Brian B: Basic Step, Rotating Basic, Lady’s Outside and Inside Turns, Man’s Hand on Belly, and Shoulder Check
Brian B: Basic Step in More Detail, Lady’s Inside Turn, Cuddle, and Alternating Inside Turn
Dance X: Basic Step, Rotating Basic, Another Way to Count, Lady’s Outside & Inside Turn, and Many More Patterns
Rob and Melissa: The Basic, Lady’s Inside & Outside Turn
Royston: Underarm Turn with Hand Change and Free Pass
Royston: She-He Turn
Royston: Tuck Turn with a Free Spin
Royston: Wrap-In Wrap-Out
Advanced Moves: Pretzels, Tunnel, Bull Rider, Four Leaf Clover

West Coast Swing

The West Coast Swing can be used for multiple dance genres and is popular at social dances, country dances, and other social events.

This is a partner dance with roots in the Lindy Hop. It was developed in the 1960s.This dance is considerably more complicated than East Coast swing. Modern West Coast Swing is in large part defined by an emphasis on musicality and connection. It is also a fundamentally improvised dance, and thus such defined figures are simply starting points for the skilled dancer. Additionally, West Coast Swing can be said to rely on the leader creating and redirecting the momentum of the follower in order to communicate how he wishes to lead the dance. The follower's step is different from the leader's; partners do not mirror each other. West Coast Swing can be danced to almost any music written in 4/4 time and is best with preferred speeds of 100-130 bpm. It is traditionally danced to slower, blues-style swing music, but many are dancing West Coast Swing to country, hip hop, R&B, and pop music.

Music Examples:

Ballroom (Blues Style) - T-Bear and the Dukes of Rhythm: She Moves Me – 110 bpm
Ballroom (Blues Style) - Keb Mo: She Just Wants to Dance – 112 bpm
Ballroom (Blues Style) – Tracy Chapman: Give Me One Reason – 100 bpm
Country - Toby Keith: A Little Less Talk and a Lot More Action – 125 bpm
Country - Ty Herndon: Steam – 102 bpm

Tutorials:

Brian B: Pushes, Passes, and Whips
Brian B: Beginner Patterns
Brian B: More on Sugar Push, Side Pass, Whip
Brian B: How to do the Sugar Push
Brian B: Sugar Push Details
Brian B: Learn to Connect in Your Sugar Push
Brian B: Improve Your Smoothness, WCS Footwork
Brian B: 7 Patterns Every leader and Follower Should Know
Brian B: Advanced Patterns

Waltz

The Waltz can be used for multiple dance genres and is popular at social dances, country dances, and other social events.

First waltzes were danced in the location of today's Germany and Austria, back in 13th century. The dance is to 3/4 time music and involves couples rotating around the dance floor. The preferred speed of the music is 80 -115 bpm.