WCS designated as State dance

Date: 06 Mar 2003 23:48:56 GMT
Newsgroups: rec.arts.dance
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This is from Sonny Watson's official state dance page
http://www.streetswing.com/statednc.htm. I had no idea he made it happen. Thank
you, Sonny. I find particularly interesting the section that states "West Coast
Swing, also known as..........."
Below is a copy of the "Original Senate Bill" adopted by California that made
West Coast Swing
the Official State Dance Of California
( U.S. Swing Dance Council and [Yes], I Had alot to do with the passing of this
bill.. )
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STATE DANCE
1987-1988 Regular Session --- -- ---- ---- ---- ----- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
CH 1645
STATE DANCES-DESIGNATION OF OFFICIAL STATE DANCE AND FOLK DANCE
CHAPTER 1645
SENATE BILL (S.B). NO. 2460
AN ACT to add Section 421.5 to the Government Code, relating to state dances.
( Became law without Governor's signature. Filed October 1, 1988 )
S.B. 2460, KOPP. Official state dances.
Existing law designates an official state flower and an official state tree,
among other things.
This bill would designate the West Coast Swing Dance as the official state
dance.
This bill would designate Square Dance as the official state folk dance.
The People do enact as follows:
SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares, as follows:
(a) West Coast Swing, also known as Swing, Whip, or Jitterbug, came into being
in the early 1930's in response to new musical forms then sweeping the land. It
was created at the grassroots level of our people. Devotees of this art come
from every conceivable ethnic, religious, racial, and economic background. Age
is no factor, nor is gender. Among the ranks of swing dancers, one can find
Judges, School teachers, Lawyers, Waitresses, Salesmen, Doctors, Students, and
so on.
West Coast Swing dancing is an intricate dance, requiring a great deal of
coordination, good timing, and intelligent application. It is healthy and a
joyful activity that belongs to all our people. They created it, they nurtured
it, and they kept it alive.
West Coast Swing is an American dance which is done to American music. It
originated in California and is danced in competition nationally and
internationally.
(b) Square Dancing is an American folk dance which is called, cued, or prompted
to the dancers, and includes Squares, Rounds, Clogging, Contra, Line, and
heritage dances.
The Square Dance has a long and proud history. It is an exciting art form that
is truly an original of our country, and has been danced continuously in
California since the "Gold Rush Days."
As our state's population has grown, so has the Square Dance activity.
California leads the nation with more than 200,000 residents square dancing
weekly. It conforms to our ever changing lifestyles and appeals to people of
all ages.
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