What's the deal with West Coast swing dancers and instructors?

Question

I've been a social ballroom, latin, swing, and hustle dancer for years now. I've taken many private, group lessons etc. and have even done a few shows. Lately, I've become more interested in the West Coast swing, but haven't found a good venue for it. I have taken lessons in it at general dance studios without trouble

It seems people very involved with this dance are very "different" than with the other common social dances. In my city, it's dominated by just a few instructors and the nights and lessons are almost like a gang. The people are rude and very antisocial. They seem to be very arrogant about their dancing, yet most are visibly lousy at dancing in general. They have ridiculous requirements on even new students coming in on the scene and I'm finding new dancers unlucky enough to attend these WC nights are becoming quicking discouraged with dancing in general. I try to tell them it's not really like that elswere. What gives? Is this just in my city/state? I'm in jax, fl. TIA

Answer 1

I noticed a little bit of this attitude as well in CA, but really, it is nothing more than an attitude. Only some people have it, but fortunatelly not all. They don't know any more than they know about dancing as you already noticed.

I find that it is better to dance WCS with people who also dance other styles like American Ballroom - they don't treasure WCS any higher than the rest of the dances, they don't think that they're different or better than other people. Don't go to places and teachers with attitude. Find normal people. I have to admit, this is what averted me from learning WCS properly at the time when I was developing my taste for dance so I just kind of don't dance it. I never found anyone who can teach it in efficient way.

While we are on the subject, here is some inspiration: I say, unless they can dance like this, their attitude is unimportant to me :-)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_C0GzFJGxno

Answer 2

As a west coast dancer myself, I do see some elitism in my own community when it comes to those who have been dancing awhile. It isn't everyone here, but there is a core group (mostly guys) who will dance with no one besides intermediate dancers, those who have been dancing for a good 6 months, or attractive new dancers (saying they can teach the new person is a big pick up line usually). I have even been known to be arrogant every now and then, but I make an effort to dance with all but the most challenged people.

I think that the largest problem is that WCS is not an easy dance to learn. It takes awhile to pick up and even longer to master. This isn't only with the steps but the improvisation and feeling the music. Most of the more bourgeoisie dancers just don't want to deal with partners who can't do more than the basics. Even worse are the ones who believe that there is only one way to dance WCS and berate people who do not do it the way they know it. It becomes a pride thing where outsiders are seen as not worthy to learn the dance unless they are able to pick it up immediately and even if they can pick it up, they are berated it they don't conform to the image the more advanced dancer holds ot it.

The second largest problem is that WCS is much closer to ballroom than it is to ECS, lindy, etc. I see an attitude similar to many of the dancers who do the classic ballroom dances i.e. Waltz, Foxtrot, etc. I am not saying that all of them turn up their noses, but it is more prevalent in those styles than in Latin, for instance. It all goes back to that exclusiveness and desire to elevate oneself above everyone else.

The ones who can't dance well and try the pompous thing are usually the types who aren't comparing themselves to their peers but the average population that can't do more than tap their feet to a beat. Even if they are stacking themselves up against each other, most intermediate and advanced dancers can compensate for a bad lead/follow. You see it all the time at national conventions where the all-star and champion dancers can even make the most horrible dancer look good.

Like I said earlier, not all WCS people are so prideful and snotty. For every one person who is that way, there are three or four who just want to have fun. Many of our intermediate and advanced dancers make a point of it to dance with newer people as long as they have some concept of the basic structure of the dance. Some of my favorite and most fun dances are with lindyhoppers who are brand new to the dance because the two dances are just different enough to cause loads of problems. It makes the dance hilarious at times which always causes the arrogant purists to cringe, but as long as my partner is having fun, I am having fun.

Answer 3

I've seen less of this with WCS than with salsa specialists or, in one or two places, a little competitive attitude between American and International ballroom "gangs." Maybe it's just local.