I know what sway is, but not quite sure about pendulum swing.

Is some part of the body supposed to swing back and forth tracing out an arc like a real pendulum? Is this action repeated in every 123 measure?

Is there a video clip that would illustrate what pendulum swing is? I have read several description of it in usenet news, but I still don't get it. An illustration would be more helpful.

What are all the dances (international and US) that use pendulum swing?

Don't have any video examples, but I might be able to clear it up conceptually for you.

First, the difference between swing and sway: Swing is a description of a particular range of motion, whereas sway describes an angle. Or put another way, swing is a movement, while sway is a position.

Here is how I would define swing: "The free release of energy through an arc". For something to be said to be "swinging", it needs to travel through an arc, and it must have a released energy. If you understand that, you can grasp the concept of the various types of swing -- some which result in sway, and some which do not.

Swing can apply to literally any object -- For example, you can swing a bat, a club, or a rope. In dancing, it can apply to any particular body part -- you can swing your arm, leg, or even your head. Or you can swing your body as a whole.

When swing is applied to a specific body part, it is usually labeled as such. For example, we often talk about "leg swing", which is the free release of energy, causing the leg to "swing" through an arc.

Sometimes you'll hear about "rotary swing", "pendular swing", and "metronomic swing". These phrases are used to describe the range of motion, or the plane on which the arc resides. Leg swing, for example, is by nature pendular -- It swings from a fixed point above, like a pendulum. When you go bowling, you also use a pendular swinging action with your arm. Toss a baseball, and the swing of the arm would be described as "metronomic", meaning that it swings from a fixed point below, like a metronome.

Rotary swing is the other common range of motion used in dancing. If you were to swing a baseball bat, that would be taken on the rotary plane. This is a good example of a type of swing, when applied to the body, that does not result in sway on its own (unless you combine it with other ranges of motion). So for example, when you dance a Natural Spin Turn, you are producing a rotary swing, but no sway results.

In ballroom dancing, most of the time we combine these types of swing. For example, on your basic Natural Turn, you have both a rotary swing *and* a pendular swing, causing you to rotate and to sway.

Regards,
Jonathan

Jonathan. I have always intended to ask as did Duncer about sway, and in particular how to explain it to the less experienced. Would you agree to the term Swing and Sway on three. If I was very powerful and was heading full speed in the Quickstep towards the edge of the floor. Would I not need sway on my Spin Turn to stop me flying out the window.I would like to quote from an article I have before me. Body sway can not exist without body swing. For an example we are talking about the second and third step of a Reverse or Natural Turns. For a dance parnership, the angle of sway is dependent on the speed of the motion over the floor. The faster the body is moving through the turn or curve or the greater the amount of change of alignment then the greater the angle of Sway is needed to maintain equlibrium. I will repeat that the bodyline in this type of sway must be that of a straight line from head to toe. Any breaking of line of the waist or hips on this kind of sway should be regarded as an error. End of Quote.
Dance Vision 2000

be carefull not to confuse change of alignment (which does not require sway) with change of direction (which generally does, in swing dance technique)

abcdefg. Believe it or not. A change of direction in the Foxtrot has sway to the left on two. That's step two and not beat two. A big argument could start here over the timing. In the book it has three slows which would have a person stepping out on one two which gives us three four on the first of the Feather. For todays dancer that is a no no, being out of rhythm.My book is Alex Moore page 182.

The change of direction is often danced with more sway than physically necessary, but regardless the figure sees a change of direction of movement, so we would expect to see sway if it were danced with the movements blending (and not one stopping before the other starts, which would look wierd)

Also, you aren't supposed to use the three slows of the change of direction to put yourself off phrase, but instead use it when you are off phrase and want to get back on, or follow it with a brief intentionally off phase group that will put you back on.

Dear adcdefg, you mention phrasing. I am keen to understand foxtrot timing. I have just changed from "counting" to the q and s concept. For the first time I am feeling more style however I would like to be able to work out the q and s pattern myself. My teacher has fixed my wrong interpretation of the q and s and we have discussed some typical q and s dance steps. Does phrasing refer to getting the q and s sequence to fit with the music. I too have been told that the feather is danced on the 3 and 4 however start with a balancing step or use a change of direct step which is s,s,s,q,q would mean the first q is on 7 and 8. I do not want to confuse anyone and I do not presume I am right, hence advice on "timing" and phrasing is appreciated.

Sandra.You appear to be on the right track. It can come as a bit of a shock to have it pointed out that after a couple of years of dancing there is something more that has been missed. In our studio if we were to start with the Feather Step. The teacher will pick up the beat and count 5 6 7 8. The preperation step has one beat and that is on eight. Which gives is 1 2 on the man's right foot. Heres a little brain teaser. In the Modern Waltz nobody should be out of rhythm or if you like out of time in the Waltz. We are talking phrasing now. Count a Change Step .Spin Turn. Reverse Turn . Whisk. and a Progressive Chasse. Don't stop but repeat. At the end of the second group you are out of phrase . If you were to repeat again, not that you would, it gets even worse. You will find yourself going into you Natural Spin Turn on bar seven and not bar one. Somebody will say. "Does it matter". Answer what is the music saying. All of the above is meant as a excercise in counting and phrasing, and how easy it is to get out of click with the music. Just a word about Samba. If you have a sixteen bar routine and you decide to leave a couple of steps out, say two bars that you are not too keen on. You must put back into your routine two bars to take their place. Otherwise you will be left with a fourteen bar routine which will not fit the music.
Happy counting. If you understand all of this you will be way in front of most of your friends.

Don. At a Ballroom Dancers' Federation lecture, at Blackpool, Richard Gleave told those present that an upcoming ballroom couple had lessons
with a well known Dutch coach who kept stopping the couple in the Slow Foxtrot to say that they were out of phase with the music. It became so bad that the gent almost became ill. It
was only when he changed to Richard that this problem was just someone's interpretation of the music and it's not wrong to start a Feather on beats 3 and 4! Quoting the Alex Moore
book (page 183) he then goes on to write: Amalgamations. 'Dance a Reverse Turn and then a Change of Direction and follow with a Feather Step. Was Alex wrong?

Puzzled. No Alex Moore wasn't wrong at that time. But todays top dancers are very aware of being out of rhythm. Phrasing is something different, and that is good music for ballroom, and this includes Latin, will be eight bar phrased. Even Jive is being counted in groups of eights. If anybody thinks that is not too hard they should should try it. Getting back to the Foxtrot. It doesn't look good if you see a couple on the fourth step of a Reverse turn, the man stepping back with the RF on the beats three four, then the Feather Finish into the Three Step on the wrong beats.I think this is why we see some passing steps on the Reverse Turn, omitting the ladies classic Heel Turn. Which could if we have strayed off the correct beat bring us back again. We have to be aware of dancing in rhythm and also in phrase. If you were judging and there was nothing between two couples. Should n't the pair on the correct beat be selected ?