Should it replace the East Coast Swing in the Professional American Rhythm?
My answer has always been unequivocally yes to this question. In fact I still don't understand why it isn't. It's been discussed for I don't know how many years, and a great deal of pro's are throwing in West Coast influenced steps, although not dancing them with the true slick nature of the dance. I had even said to others how exciting it would be to see what the top pro's would do with the dance, because as we all know that is when you really see a change evolve in a dance. It's hard to imagine that Cha-Cha started out like it is now. And, think of the Samba, although it is an International Latin dance, it's a far stretch from what the authentic Samba looked like before the English got a hold of it.
Wait...Maybe it shouldn't replace the East Coast Swing in the Pro Rhythm.
Yep, the more I thought about it the more I began to question the idea of it. When I used to think how great it would be to see what top pro's would do with the dance, I was a much younger version of myself, and still a ballroom snob basically. I didn't really understand the West Coast, at least not like I have come to. And I certainly had no insight into what West Coast Swing competitions were all about. These competitions are brilliant in my opinion. The West Coast community if you will, has separated or showcased the difference between social and exhibition with divisions like Jack and Jill. It is very much like the Argentine Tango in that respect, in my opinion. (Which, by the way, the two dances go very well hand in hand. Granted, your not really dancing Argentine Tango, but rather borrowing from its brilliant design.) I think the ballroom community could learn a lot from the West Coast Swing competition formats. Which of course brings me to the new question...
Would placing the West Coast Swing as the new Swing in Pro Rhythm ruin it?
To be honest I am still torn. I am never one to step on the evolution of a dance. I wholeheartedly believe in dance evolution. But, it's not like West Coast Swing hasn't gone through plenty of evolution over the years. The question is, if your were sitting in on the American Dance Conference, and the topic came up, would you push for this amazing dance to take it's rightful place as one of the defining American Rhythm dances, or would you guide the conversation away in protection of your precious dance that can be danced at amazingly different tempos, to music with limitless different sounds, to remain a dance that has it's own following and standard of competitions?
