Is west coast swing or regular swing(east coast) easier to learn?

Answer 1

Here's the deal, there's basically 3 major types of swing dance you can learn (not 2).

East Coast Swing:
This is the easiest to learn as a beginner. It's a 6-count basic, and stays in that basic. It's also a standard ballroom dance, and is very easy to find a teacher.
Here's how to dance it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuCqgF90HFs
Here's how it looks:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LG_XCMuePO0

Now, unless you're going into competitive ballroom, there's really no reason to stick with learning ONLY east coast, you'll want to move on to West Coast Swing or Lindy Hop. How do you choose? That depends on what kind of music you like to dance to.

Lindy Hop is the original swing dance that developed out of the Charleston in Harlem. It's almost always danced to what's considered "swing music" by most people's standards. It's and 8 count dance that can have different variations.
Here's how to dance it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVJu2q1cgcg
Here's what it looks like:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myJj0mNNe1Y

West Coast Swing evolved from Lindy Hop after the swing era started to decline. The dance has become much different although it is still very similar to lindy hop especially regarding the basic footwork. It's more normally danced to pop, country, and blues music.
Here's what it looks like:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3ZxiPKmacg

Ofcourse, you can always learn all of them, in addition you can learn other swing type dances like Charleston, Balboa, Collegiate Shag, and Carolina Shag.

I hope that helps!

Answer 2

East coast is a little easier, since you can stay with 6 count patterns, while West Coast has 6, 8 and 10 or more count patterns, left side, right side, etc.
But the difference is not that much, so it should really depend on what type of music you want to dance to!

Answer 3

East Coast swing is easier to learn, and it is more useful to learn, because it is a learning foundation for some other types of swing.
WCS is slightly harder rhythmically. If you're musically challenged like most beginners are, you'll find ECS easier.

Answer 4

Western swing is a little more difficult, but the difference is tiny.

Answer 5

Not really. It's just a different style.