Place your right hand on your partner's upper back, just below their shoulder blade. Then, keep your right arm under their left arm, and hold your partner's left hand in your right hand. In dance, there's typically one partner who sets the pace, called the leader. In traditional male-female pairs, the male is usually the lead, but that doesn't always have to be the case! If your partner is the one who's leading, place your right hand on your partner's shoulder and rest your left arm on their right arm. Clasp your partner's right hand with your left, bend your elbow slightly, and hold your hands up at about chest height. No matter which position you're dancing in, try to avoid having a stiff posture while you're swing dancing. Walking in place while facing your partner is a simple way to dance East Coast Swing. You can also walk together from side to side, or forward and backwards. Make sure that your partner steps at the same time using the opposite feet as you do. For example, if you take a step with your right foot, then they should take a step with their left foot, and vice versa. This is called a rock-step. While facing your partner, take a step back and put all of your weight on that back foot. Your partner should also step back and rock back as you do, but using the opposite foot. For example, if you step back with your left foot, then your partner should step back with their right foot.
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One-sentence summary -- Place one hand on your partner's back if you're leading. Hold your partner's shoulder and opposite hand if you're following. Take 2 slow steps in place while mirroring your partner. Step back and shift your weight to your back foot, then step forward again.

This may sound obvious, but it's easiest to learn anything when you actually have an interest in the thing you're learning. Whether it's a musical instrument, a chapter from your school textbook, or something you're required to learn for work, finding ways to become interested in that subject matter will help you dedicate yourself to learning and developing new skills. Try finding ways to relate the subject matter to something you are interested in. If you're learning about something for school, for example, try to find ways to relate that subject to a subject that you're actually interested in. Even looking for connections may make the subject more interesting to you. If you can find ways to explore the subject on your own terms, you may find yourself more engaged and interested over time. While you may feel like you can multitask and divide your attention equally, the reality is that this isn't always effective when learning something new. Whether it's a new language, new skill, or new piece of information, dedicating your time and attention exclusively to the new thing you're learning will help you learn faster and with greater retention. Learning new information can be difficult, especially if the information is vast and complex. Studies have shown, though, that breaking information down into more manageable components, called "chunking," can make it much easier to learn new information rather quickly. You already practice chunking on a smaller scale, though you may not be aware of it as such. For example, when you memorize a phone number, you usually memorize the area code, first three digits, and final four digits, rather than as a single number. Try splitting information into its logical sections and components. For example, if you're trying to learn 20th Century world history, you might break it down into major wars/conflicts, notable people in politics, etc. As you practice chunking, try to remain cognizant of the relationship between each component as it relates to the larger subject. It's best to learn something new when you're not falling asleep or struggling to wake up. Whether you consider yourself a morning person or a night owl, some studies have shown that you're most attentive and alert during the afternoon. For this reason, it may be best to devote study/practice time in the afternoon whenever possible. Any new skill, subject, or talent you want to develop is going to take time and effort. The more time you devote to learning that new subject matter, the quicker you'll learn how to become proficient in that subject. Some studies suggest that daily practice helps you retain at least 54% of the material you review, but after two weeks of not practicing you'll have lost more than half of the information you were previously reviewing. Set a schedule for yourself and stick to it consistently. If you can't make time to practice/learn every single day, schedule time for it as frequently as you can manage. When you learn something new in school, you have a teacher there to correct you when you're mistaken. Likewise when you're studying how to play a new instrument in music class or performing drills with a sports team. This immediate feedback helps you sharpen your skills and find ways to improve. Being told when you're doing something incorrectly (and when you're doing it correctly) can help you identify what needs to change so that you don't waste time learning things incorrectly. Try practicing your new skill/study material/etc. with someone who's familiar with that concept. If you don't know anyone who's an expert, a trusted friend whose input you value will still be helpful. Sleep is important for your sense of wellbeing, but sleep can also affect your ability to retain information over long periods of time. If you approach a study/practice session well-rested and follow it up with a good night's sleep at the end of the day, you're far more likely to retain more of that information. Most teenagers need 8 to 10 hours of sleep each night, though some may need even more sleep. Adults generally need seven to nine hours of sleep each night, though some adults may need more than nine hours of sleep.
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One-sentence summary --
Take an active interest in what you're learning. Focus solely on what you're learning. Break information down into manageable chunks. Learn new things in the afternoon. Spend time learning everyday. Seek out immediate feedback. Make sure you get enough sleep each night.