What Are Swing Dancing Basic Steps?

Like any other type of dance, all types of swing dance are performed with using a few basic steps. Whether you are dancing a single time swing dance like the jitter bug or a double time swing dance like the rock and roll, all dances are centered around some very basic steps. Therefore, it is important to pay close attention to these basic steps when first learning how to swing as they will provide the foundation for all of your more complicated swing steps and dances.

Males and females will have different steps to pay attention to as the male’s basic steps differ from that of the females.

As in most dances, the male will always lead in a swing dance. To do this successfully he must learn the steps to lead her. 

Turning

The first step he will learn is how to turn the female.

• To turn to the left, the male will want to lead by turning his shoulders to the left and then carry the female around him as if he were a point for her to pivot around.
• To perform a turn in the opposite direction, the male will want to lead by turning his shoulders to the right and move around his female partner as if she were the pivot point.

The male will also need to learn how to perform two underarm turns.

• The first is the outside underarm turn. To perform this step, the male will bring his left arm up over top of the woman’s head while turning her in the direction away from his body.
• To perform the inside underarm turn, the male partner will bring his left arm over top of the woman’s head and turn her to the right. This will bring her into him rather than away from him.

The final basic step of swing dancing that the male must learn is the male turn.

• To perform this step, the male partner will place his right hand over his partner’s right hand for the first three beats of the music they are dancing to.
• The male will then turn to his left and going all the way around. In the process of the turn, the partners will switch hands behind their back.

Females and Swing Dancing Basic Steps

Females will need to learn other basic steps to swing dancing in order for their male partners to lead them and have the dance performed successfully.

Turning

The first step or turn you will learn to perform is the left turn.

• To perform this step, the female partner will want to lead with the right foot for two beats of the music and move forward around the man.
• On beats three and four of the music she will move to the side with her left foot and then do a stationary rock step for beats five and six.
• The rock step is performed by simply picking up your heel, rocking forward on your toe, and then lowering the heel back into place.

The right turn is another of the basic swing dancing steps females need to learn.

• To perform a right turn, the female remains stationary for the first two beats of the music while her male partner circles her.
• She will then move back to the side with her left foot on beats three and four of the music and perform a rock step for beats five and six. 

The underarm turns also must be learned.

• To perform the outside underarm turn, the female will put her hand over the center of her head and follow the direction of her elbow as the man leads her arm away. She should remain in one spot and then perform a rock step at the end of the turn.

• To perform the inside underarm turn, the female will turn to her left while the man’s hand is in front of her starting with her right foot. Once the female has completed the turn she will then perform a rock step and continue the dance.

The male turn.

• Finally, to perform the male’s turn successfully all the female partner has to do is allow the male to lead and mark the time according to the beats in the music.

Now you know the basic swing dancing steps for both males and females.