EC SWING CHANGE OF PLACES PATTERN
(Intermediate) See Video

Man's Footwork - This Intermediate pattern begins from a basic East Coast Swing triple step, in an open hand hold position. Our count is "1 & 2, 3 & 4." On the rock step of the basic triple step the gentleman begins by making a quarter turn to his right, facing the wall to his right.

He then lets go of his partners hand, triple steps to the left, rocks back with his right foot, then triple steps to his right, rocks back with his left He repeats the triple step to the left, rocking back right. Then for the last time triples to the right, rocking back left and then leads the underarm turn.

Lady's Footwork - The lady begins with a basic step, the count of "1& 2, 3 & 4", rocking back with her right foot. She does a quarter turn on her rock step, to face the wall to her left, triple stepping to her right, rocking back on her left foot. She then triple steps to the left, rocking back right. The pair of triple steps is then repeated, tripling to the the right, rocking back left and for the last triple, going to the left, rocking back right. Then gentleman then leads her in an underarm turn.

The Lead for East Coast Swing Change of Places
The lead to the Change of Places pattern is "all in the wrist." On the rock back of the basic triple step (the gentleman is rocking back on his left foot) he uses a wrist action, with his left hand, like he is turning a door knob (in this case turning the door knob to the right,) swinging his arm in front of him. This lead indicates to the lady that she is to move in front of him as they both triple to the side. As she moves in front of him, the gentleman lets go of her hand and brings his hands out to his sides as the couple does the triple step in parallel with the lady in front, both facing front (he is tripling to the left, she to the right.)

The gentleman then catches the lady's hand with his right hand as he does his rock back. The gentleman uses the wrist action again (this time turning the door knob to the left,) and again swing his arm in front of him, so the lady will again pass in front as they both triple step to the side.
The man repeats this lead again for another pair of cross and back triple steps. On the completion of the last triple he catches her hand again and leads an inside underarm turn. Then goes back into the basic step.

The key to the Change of Places pattern is to keep it simple. The turning-the-door-knob wrist action should be a "wrist only" action. It should not involve the whole arm. The partners should remain parallel to each other, both facing the same direction during the change of places, not looking at each other. See Video on Change of Places Pattern - East Coast Swing.

See Video How to Do
East Coast Basic Step