Essential Moves for Intermediate Dancers
You've mastered the basic steps of Swing—the triple steps, rock steps, and simple turns. Now you're ready to take your dancing to the next level! The intermediate stage is where Swing truly becomes magical, as you begin to play with rhythm, connection, and more complex patterns.
This guide will walk you through essential moves that will expand your vocabulary, improve your musicality, and make your social dancing more dynamic and fun.
Foundational Concepts for Intermediate Swing
Before diving into new moves, let's reinforce the principles that will make your intermediate dancing shine:
- Connection is Key: The conversation between lead and follow becomes more nuanced at this level.
- Musicality Matters: Start dancing to the accents, breaks, and phrasing in the music.
- Pulse and Bounce: Maintain that characteristic Swing pulse even during more complex patterns.
- Clear Communication: As moves get more complicated, your leading and following signals need to be precise but gentle.
Essential Intermediate Moves
The Tuck Turn
This elegant turn adds flair to your basic and works beautifully with musical accents. The follower turns under the lead's arm while maintaining connection.
Pro Tip: Initiate the turn on count 3 of your swingout to create a smooth, flowing motion.
Texas Tommy
A classic Lindy Hop move that involves a release and recapture. It's one of the first "air steps" many dancers learn and looks impressive on the social floor.
Pro Tip: Keep the release brief and reconnect smoothly—it's about the surprise, not the separation.
Swivels for Followers
Swivels add texture and style to a follower's basic. When done well, they create beautiful visual effects and enhance musical expression.
Pro Tip: Initiate swivels from your hips, not your knees, to protect your joints and create smoother movement.
The Swingout Variations
The swingout is the heart of Lindy Hop. At the intermediate level, you'll learn to vary it with different hand connections, turns, and rhythmic patterns.
Pro Tip: Practice swingouts with both open and closed position to expand your versatility.
Charleston Variations
From side-by-side to hand-to-hand and tandem Charleston, these variations add energy and playfulness to your dancing.
Pro Tip: Use Charleston to change dynamics on the social floor—it's perfect for faster songs or musical breaks.
Simple Aerials (For Performance)
While not for crowded social floors, learning basic aerials like the pancake or pop turns builds trust and connection with your partner.
Safety First: Only practice aerials with spotters in a controlled environment, never on a social dance floor.
Practice Tips for Intermediate Dancers
- Film yourself dancing to identify areas for improvement
- Practice with different partners to adapt to various connections
- Take workshops focused on specific skills rather than just learning new moves
- Listen to Swing music regularly to internalize the rhythms
- Focus on one or two moves at a time until they feel natural
Putting It All Together
The transition from beginner to intermediate is about moving beyond memorized sequences and starting to truly improvise. Don't just string moves together—listen to the music, connect with your partner, and let the dance unfold naturally.
Remember, even the most advanced dancers continue working on fundamentals. The journey of improvement never ends, and that's what makes Swing dancing so endlessly rewarding.
