West Coast Swing is known for its musical versatility. Unlike many partner dances that are closely associated with one particular style of music, West Coast Swing is danced to an enormous range of genres — from blues, jazz and R&B to soul, funk, pop, rock, hip hop and contemporary music.
That variety is a big part of what makes West Coast Swing so enjoyable. The music influences the character of the dance, giving dancers opportunities to change their movement, timing, energy and expression from one song to the next.
What Music Can You Dance West Coast Swing To?
West Coast Swing has evolved alongside popular music. While its roots are closely connected to swing and blues music, the dance has continued to adapt as musical tastes have changed.
Today, you’ll hear a huge variety of music played at West Coast Swing classes, social dances and events. Pop, blues, R&B, soul, acoustic, funk, hip hop and electronic music can all find their way onto a WCS DJ’s playlist.
Most West Coast Swing music is in 4/4 time, but tempo, rhythm and the feel of a track are just as important as its time signature. Technically being able to dance West Coast Swing to a song doesn’t necessarily make it a great song to dance to.
What Makes a Good West Coast Swing Song?
Good West Coast Swing music usually has a rhythm that dancers can hear clearly while providing enough texture and variation to inspire movement.
For newer dancers, songs with a clear beat and consistent structure can make it easier to practise timing and recognise musical phrases. As dancers become more experienced, changes in instrumentation, vocals, rhythm, dynamics and phrasing provide opportunities for greater musical interpretation.
This is one of the reasons the same West Coast Swing patterns can feel completely different when danced to two different songs.
Straight and Swung Rhythms
Two rhythmic feels are particularly common in West Coast Swing: straight rhythm and swung rhythm.
In straight rhythm, subdivisions of the beat are relatively even. In swung music, those subdivisions have an uneven or rolling quality. Learning to hear and respond to the difference can have a significant effect on the character and rhythm of your dancing.
You don’t need to understand the musical theory before you start West Coast Swing. Developing your ability to hear these differences is something that can grow naturally as you dance to more music.
Finding West Coast Swing Music and Playlists
One of the easiest ways to discover new West Coast Swing songs is to follow DJs and pay attention to the music being played at classes, parties and events.
You’ll also find West Coast Swing playlists on platforms such as Spotify, YouTube and SoundCloud. Because WCS music constantly evolves, following active DJs and event playlists is often a great way to discover what dancers are currently enjoying.
Rather than looking for one definitive style of West Coast Swing music, explore different genres and tempos and discover which songs inspire you to dance.
Learn to Dance West Coast Swing
Want to put the music into practice? Explore our West Coast Swing classes or access our online West Coast Swing content.