lindy vs. west coast

Lately I have been doing some west coast swing in addition to lindy hop, because it is nice to be able to validly dance both styles. Before, I would claim lindy hop and "fake" west coast swing.

Some of you may be wondering what the difference between the two styles of dance are. I have provided for your convenience a few videos of each dance:

Kevin and Carla--lindy hop
Skye and Frida--lindy hop
Notice with the lindy videos they are dancing to swing/big band music, and they dance in a sort of circular (non-linear) style.

Wayne and Sharlot--West Coast
West Coast Jack and Jill contest--4 couples
With West Coast, the music is usually either more blues-based, or more modern music. I have many times danced west coast to maroon 5, etc b/c it just works. Also, there is typically more spins for the follows in west coast, and the dance is done in a slot, or a line.

Anyway, both are a lot of fun, and I feel like I can almost say "I don't fake west coast--I can actually dance west coast!" I have received lots of positive feedback from teachers, leads etc on my west coast, which is really encouraging. The main thing I am told I need to work on is smiling when dancing, and looking less apprehensive. I could be having the time of my life dancing but nobody would know it because of my expressionless face. Soooo, that is my project now--working on expression, smiling, and of course I will always still be working on technique, musicality, styling, etc. One day I'll be a rock star crossover (lindy and west coast dancer) and you'll be like, "hey, I know her!" Haha, j/k.

Addendum: wow, last night was insane, dance-wise. One really good west coast lead told me I was the only girl in the room that knows how to dance. I was totally blown away by that compliment because I looked around and saw lots of follows who I really thought were better than me! Then another follow showed up who knew how to dance too... and she taught me this really cool slide that you do out of a dip, and she looked at me seriously and said, "you're realllly good." I was like, "wow, thank you." Another super confidence booster. So apparently I am a valid crossover, though I have certainly not achieved rock-star status, at least not on a state, region, or national level.... maybe on a very small-scale local level, and only at certain venues. In all my time dancing, I have never felt my dancing so in demand than now. Two leads will ask me to dance at once and I have to choose--it's insane. I'm just so thrilled! And with the confidence-boosting compliments, I become a more confident dancer. Yay, I'm so happy!!!