Swingin’ Thing

Formation: Solo dance that faces only one wall. It can also be danced in “contra” with two facing lines or concentric circles, and this last can be a mixer.
Music: “Be Bop a Lula”, “Pride and Joy”, or “Steppin’ Out” all by Scooter Lee.
Or try “Be Bop a Lula” on Ocean Records 61.

Download RTF file: Swingin’ Thing

Prompts:
Intro or
29-32   – – – -; Walk forward 3 steps and Kick;
    1-8   – – Back 3 and Touch; – – Walk forward;
  9-12   – – Back 3 and Touch; – – Sleaze to Right;
17-24   – – – -; Quick Side Closes and Clap 2;
25-32   – – – -; Walk forward 3 and Kick;

Description:
    1-8   Beginning with their right foot, dancers walk forward three steps and left low kick or point forward. Beginning with their left foot, dancers backup three steps and touch their right foot beside their left (without weigh change).
  9-16   Repeat beats 1-8.
17-24   Sleaze: Dancers step sideways on their right foot, pause one beat, step beside their right on their left, pause one beat, step sideways on right, pause one beat, touch the floor with their left foot beside their right, pause one beat. This should be done with a hip swivel, shoulder shimmy, or sleazy motion.
25-32   Moving quickly, dancers step sideways on their left foot, step beside their left on their right, repeat the side and close, again step sideways on their left, touch the floor with their right beside their left, and clap twice. The eight beats are: side, close, side, close, side, touch, clap, clap.

Two Facing Lines Variation:
Dancers should be slightly offset so that they can come forward to make a long alternately facing line with hands up and each touching the near hand of the dancers on each side (like an Ocean Wave).

Concentric Circles Variation:
One inner circle of dancers back to the center facing and equal number of dancers in an outer circle. Use the same action as above moving forward to touch hands with the dancers on each side.

Concentric Circles Mixer:
Using the Concentric Circle formation, take larger steps during the Quick Side Closes to pass one dancer and come forward between the next pair.

Choreography by: Rita and Jo Thompson, 9/2002
Source: Printed in CD Journal, February 2009
Usage: This is a simple, peppy dance with several clever variations.
Website: Google “Swingin’ Thing” for a YouTube teach and mixer version dance demonstration from Scooter Lee’s “Starter Series Level 1” DVD.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77UN1cAH-Ao

64-Count Four-Wall Version:
By Dottie Welch for use with “Be Bop a Lula” on Ocean Records 61.

Prompts:
Intro or
29-32   – – – -; Walk forward 3 steps and Kick;
    1-8   – – Back 3 and Touch; – – Walk forward;
  9-12   – – Back 3 and Touch; – – Sleaze to Right;
17-24   – – – -; – – Sleaze to Left;
25-32   – – – -; Quick Side, Close, Side, Touch and Clap;

33-40   – – Both ways; – – – Twice;
41-48   – – – -; – Slow Circle Right 3/4 in 8 steps;
49-56   – – – -; – – – -;
57-64   – – – -; Walk forward 3 and Kick;

This page from http://dances.callerlab.org (CALLERLAB Dance Resource).