Ceroc & West Coast Swing - The Low Down

11/04/2023

Ceroc is a partner dance derived from many different dance styles including salsa, jive, tango, ballroom, and West Coast Swing. It’s a style of teaching moves simply and effectively, guaranteeing you’ll be dancing away on your first night!

West Coast Swing is a partner dance evolved as a smoother, bluesier version of Lindy hop. The original Lindy hop started in New York in the 1920s and West Coast Swing was allegedly strongly influenced by Dean Collins when he arrived in California in the 1930s.

So, what similarities do WCS and Ceroc share? Well first there’s the music. Both are adaptable dances and can be danced to a vast range of different genres from Blues, Country, Pop and Soul to RnB, Trance, and House! From the 60s to current chart favourites.

They are both social dances and much of the ‘freestyle’ dancing is improvised… even in the competitions! These improvised dances are both danced in linear slots following basic patterns, but these are interchangeable and adjustable.

Both dance classes are perfect for couples and singles alike as you rotate partners during the classes and freestyles afterwards. They also both offer classes for abilities ranging from ‘never stepped foot in a dance class’ to ‘dance floor masters!’

What differentiates these seemingly similar dance styles? Well, that would be the sequencing mainly. In Ceroc, the follower is led back onto their right foot, while the leader creates subtle hand movements and simplistic footwork for the follow to… well, follow! The moves are taught in 3 or 4 move sequences with a range of beats in each. In West Coast Swing typically, the follower is led forward into new patterns of 6 or 8 beats, traveling forward on counts "1" and "2" of each basic pattern. Elasticity is the key to creating speed contrast (light and shade) and a stretchy look. The dancers settle into the end of each pattern with an anchor.

Here at Club Dance, we offer holidays to suit a range of dance styles including… you guessed it… West Coast Swing and Ceroc. We have back-to-back holidays in the stunning 4* Puerto Antilla Grand Hotel in Huelva, starting with the West Coast holiday on the 14^th May for 7 nights, straight into our Ceroc Blaze holiday on the 21^st of May for another 7 nights of dancing and memories!

Alternatively, later in the year we have our infamous Ceroc Medfest holiday, 7 nights starting on the 17^th September in Calpe and West Coast Swing in Paphos for 7 nights starting on the 29^th of October.

Get in touch with one of our team to secure your spot on one of our unforgettable holidays!