Hi. I'm kind of new to east coast swing
and something has been bothering me from the
start and I know it is a simple question.

East coast swing is a (mostly) 6 count dance
danced to 8 count music. What happens to
those 2 extra counts? In triple time the
counts are (for the leader)
1- left foot rocks back
2- right foot steps
3&4- triple step to the left
5&6- triple step to the right

But what happens on 7 & 8? I think I've
been dragging out my triple steps to be
3,4,5 and then 6,7,8 which I think is
wrong. In single time I think I've been
pausing until 1 again.

Thanks in advance!

Thanks for the replies. That makes total
sense to me!

Dear Swinging-in-NYC:

You don't do anything on 7&8. You simply continue with the rock-step. I used to teach swing, and beginners with a good ear for music would always get confused at first. It seems awkward at the beginning, but you will get used to it after a short time.

By the way, you said you start with the rock-step first, then triple-step, triple-step. A lot of people are taught to start with the triple-step first, i.e. triple-step, triple-step, rock-step. They're both the same step. They just start differently.

Hope this helps!

Swingin' in NYC,

Beats 7&8 don't get thrown out... they just become the first two counts of the next basic step.

Each basic step takes up 6 beats, which is 1 & 1/2 measures. This means that the second basic step begins halfway through the measure. Then the third basic will begin on beat 1 again.

Confusing? Only a little... actually, it's more confusing to think about than it is to dance. Just remember, two basic steps take 3 measures total.

Sincerely,
Jonathan Atkinson

I am more of a musician than a dancer, so if you want to look at it in terms of the music than the steps this might help.

In East Coast, dancing 6-count sequences will give 1 and a half bars of 4/4.
If you dance, then, 2 basic steps in EC you get a total of 12 counts (or 3 bars of 4/4). It then is resolved at the end of a bar.

If you are thinking in terms of staying even with other 8-count dances (eg Lindy Hop):
Three sequences of LH are 6 bars of 4/4.
Four sequences of EC are also 6 bars of 4/4.

So in reality the dance will not get ahead of the music (although it sometimes feels that way)it actually falls behind, and just takes one extra sequence to catch up. East Coast is syncopated to an extent if you look at it that way, but that can add to the enjoyment of the dance.

And...... the count would 1&2, 3&4, 5,6.

No 7, 8 counts. Hence the 6 counts to music.

You've got a good ear if you can tell that the basic count is not phrased with the music. ECS is not considered a "phrased" dance, due to the 6-count basic danced to 4/4 time music.
However...
Once and a while when you are really grooving to the music, you could try adding 2 extra counts in your dancing (e.g. swivel, swivel or a double rock-step, kick-kick, etc.), then keep going to time it with the start of a new "1" count. Advanced dancers often play with the music and add 2 extra counts here and there to bring it back on phrase temporarily to accent the music.