Timing

1. The control of the speed of the action (Webster's New American)
2. The dancers ability to transfer weight on the correct beat of music for the dance being done.
3. Timing Syncopations requires the Kicks to be on the beat & the steps to be on the "&" counts.

TEACHING NOTE: If you have ever seen a couple preform a very difficult move and it received luke warm applause, and then saw a couple preform a simple move that hit the music just right so that it made the crowd cheer , then you witnessed precise timing!

This should be taught from day one. The dancer should think in terms of body movement rather than foot placement. The feet can hit the floor on the beat but the body can still be off time if the CPB lands late!

Rhythm

1. Refers to the steady beat of the music to which we dance.
2. Also can refer to a dance rhythm, such as a Cha Cha rhythm or Swing rhythm.

Unit: The smallest increment of dance.

Most music has a Down Beat followed by an Up Beat creating a 2 beat cycle we call a  2  beat Unit!

In Waltz there is a Down Beat followed by 2 Up Beats creating a 3 Beat Unit!

Therefore, All basic dance rhythms are 2 beats or in Waltz 3 beats!

* See rhythm chart for Waltz Units.

Common Rhythms: O = a step, / = a Non Step or as hold

SINGLE	DOUBLE	TRIPLE	DELAYED SINGLE	BLANK
O  /	O  O	O o O	/  O	/  /
1  2	1  2	1 & 2	1  2	1  2

How many beats are in the basic pattern of each dance?

2 Step	O  O	O  /	O  /
Fox Trot	O  /	O  /	O  O
Tango	O  /	O  /	O  O	/  /
Triple Step	O o O		O o O
East Coast Swing	O  O	O o O	O o O
West Coast Swing	O  O	O o O	O o O
8 Count Rhythm	O  O	O o O	O  O	O o O
Salsa	O  O	O  /	O  O	O  /

* What are the similarities? Differences?

Knowing the basic rhythm of a dance will help you keep in time to the music!

Syncopation

1. Rearrangement of the metered beat.
2. For the dancer, it is the rearrangement of the weight changes within the "2 beat" rhythm.

TEACHING NOTE: The understanding of Syncopations has developed significantly in the past few years. In West Coast Swing people have been awe struck over syncopated foot work. With the benefit of the "Universal Unit System" we are able to break down all the interesting variations, that we want so much, and then duplicate them!

The 2 beat rhythm can be broken down into 6 parts to help us define syncopations & body movements – & a 1 & a 2

* see Skippy's update 10/15/94 " Advanced Understanding of the TWO BEAT INCREMENT "

Phrasing

1. A basic mini phrase is 1 "set of 8" beats in 4 beat music.

4 beat music has a heavy measure (4 beats) & a light measure (4 beats ) that equals an 8 count mini phrase
A basic mini phrase is 1 "set of 6" beats in 3 beat music (Waltz ).
Waltz has a heavy measure (3 beats) & a light measure (3 beats) that equals 6 beats .

* Try to hear the heavy measures & light measures .

Teaching or learning to music that has simple phrasing will condition the student to hear the complicated phasing of contemporary music.

2. A Major Phrase is a specific number of "sets of 8" that have been combined to form a chorus or any musical grouping that is a complete musical thought.
3. Most minor phrases are 16 beats ( 8 + 8 ), or in Waltz 4 set of 6 beats = 24.
4. Most major phrases are 32 (4 sets of 8) , or in Waltz it can be 8 sets of 6 = 48

TEACHING NOTE: "Basic Phrasing" can be 32 beats of music. Standard "Blues " Phrasing is 6 "sets of 8" 48 beats! Some songs have other than standard phrasing, but all music phrases to some specific musical skeleton . Discovering how to hear the phrasing in a piece of music allows the dancer more creativity. It is vital information for the Competitor, Teacher & Choreographer!

Remember - Dancing to music is rhythmic movement of the body to the beat of music.

If we can enhance our understanding of the music we can greatly improve our interpretation of it!

* listen to some music & find the mini & major phrases.

Pulsing

1. A regularly recurring accent in the music.
2. To accent all the Up Beats or all the Down Beats in a specific dance.
   
   If a piece of music pulses a specific beat it helps your dance if you can pulse the same way , it will give your dance more "Life"!
   
3. Swing dances on the Down Beat but pulses on the Up Beat. Cha Cha breaks on the 2 but accents the "1" & "5" & pulses the down beat.

* Count your dance 1-2- 3-4- 5-6- 7-8. Then count it &1 &2 &3 &4 &5 &6 &7 &8.

* Finally count it &a1 &a2 - &a3 &a4 - &a5 &a6 &a7 &a8 and you can feel it pulse !

Rhythm Breaks & Extensions

Rhythm Breaks are a 4 beat separate pattern that breaks from the standard rhythm of the dance, either to complete a phrase, add variety or because something on the music dictated a particular feeling.

1. Single Rhythm Breaks - Variation of "Slow -Slow", " step kick-step kick" etc. Count "1-2 3-4"
2. Double Rhythm Breaks - Variations of pivots, grapevines, rock steps etc. Count "1-2 3-4"
3. Triple Rhythm Breaks - Hook triples, Swivel triples, Shuffles etc. Count "1&2 3&4"

Extended Step Patterns will all be extended by 2 beats( a 6 count becomes an 8 count by adding 2 beats)

These are particularly effective for forming Links to hit the break in the music. They are ALWAYS formed in two beat increments (Waltz 3 beat & 6 beat increments to stay in phrase with the music). If you do not you will switch to the Up beat. Please note that both can be Syncopated Rhythms!