West Coast Swing Reno this is a Great Turn Exercise


West Coast Swing in Reno and Sparks with a Great Turn Exercise.

I posted this video on my Youtube channel Better West Coast Swing Reno and people have told me how much they liked the exercise to work on turns so I thought I would put it here for you.  But let me go over some lingo and some differences on what an inside turn is versus what an outside turn is and how they are different.  


Inside turns in WCS

Inside turns might mean different things to different styles of dancers but in the context that I am using it for west coast swing in my lessons here in Reno, a partner lead turn is an inside turn when the follower's arm comes across the body with a lead.  Most WCS dancers are familiar with the inside turn or also known as an "inside roll" on the leader's left side pass or even on the right side and the follower is turning to the left because the follower's right arm is being led across the chest causing them to turn to the left. 

What I have discovered is that most dancers are not aware that it is also an inside turn or "roll" if I use their left hand and take it across the body causing them to turn right.  It is considered an "inside" turn because the arm is coming across the body no matter what hand is being used for the turn.  

When you dance an inside turn you want to be sure you turn your chest towards and into the latissimus dorsi muscle (your lats) this will allow you to control the rotation and it causes the turn to happen with the chest leading the turn all the way through.  Be sure you always slightly under-turn your turns so you can finish in a body opposition (contra body position) instead of pulling your shoulders around and not having any control thus looking like a ball of yarn unraveling as it's being played with by a cat.

Outside turns in WCS

The "outside turn" is a type of turn that creates a lot of speed.  Just watch a good Ballroom Latin style dancer whip those hips around and you will say, "Holy crap that was fast!"  When I danced Latin I had decent speed on my turns but did not realize why until I started dancing west coast swing in Reno.   

Outside turns are called that in partner dancing because the arm is being moved away from the body thus going to the outside of the turn.  Again if you know this to be different because you are dancing ballet or any other solo dance style that is why it might be called differently.  In partner dancing, it is because of how the arm moves across or away from the chest.  

When an outside turn is led on either side using either arm the chest rotates first and the hips follow and rotate on the back portion of the turn.  You will see me discussing that in the video.  The video is more for the outside turn practice because it is a bit more challenging for most to do correctly.  

Hope you enjoy it and it helps your turns.  There are plenty of other videos out there on turns so look them up and practice because turns are what practice you put into them.  




People say the best west coast swing classes near me are at Ballroom of Reno. This full lesson is from our West Coast Swing Reno intermediate and beyond class.
I would just put the transcript in here but that is silly. Just watch the video and enjoy the lesson. Oh, and get off your butt and do it with us.

Join us every Monday and Tuesday for our FREE beginner class and beyond basics, then on Tuesdays for our intermediate/advanced class. See you there https://www.theballroomofreno.org/calendar


Cheers,
J
Jeffrey has taught all over the United States but makes his home at The Ballroom of Reno School of Dance.  He can teach anywhere but The Ballroom of Reno is a non-profit that touches the community through free group classes and other outreach dance programs, the 7000 square feet of the dance floor, combined with the wonderful people and no sales pressure attitude makes it the best ballroom dance studio in Reno Nv.  

The dances the pros teach at The Ballroom of Reno school of dance are Waltz, Foxtrot, Tango, Argentine Tango, Bolero, Rumba, Cha-Cha, East Coast Swing, West Coast Swing, Samba, Salsa, Mambo, Merengue, Viennese Waltz, night Club two-step, Country two-step Salsa on two, Bachata dance, Cumbia dance, Bolero, your First Wedding Dance, and many other social partner dances, club dances so you can go ballroom dancing or club dancing in Reno and Sparks NV!

https://sites.google.com/view/westcoastswingdancelessonsreno/home

https://sites.google.com/view/ballroomdancelessonsreno/home

The Ballroom of Reno YouTube channel

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCc90uXjVRZTzOvOhDGef0sA

Better West Coast Swing YouTube Channel 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRLLLPj_ZQU5mRUJogVj40w


Join us every week for class whenever you are in the Reno area at
The Ballroom of Reno 2540 Sutro Street #3, Reno, NV, (775) 624-3551 Go to theballroomofreno.org for class schedule

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