Many have asked and finally an answer to the question exactly what is syncopation?
According to reference.com http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/syncopation
syn·co·pa·tion? [sing-kuh-pey-shuhn, sin-] - 1. Music. a shifting of the normal accent, usually by stressing the normally unaccented beats.
There was no dance definition.
So syncopation in dancing is a change to the normal rhythm.
The original rhythm in Lindy Hop, the mother of all swing dances, was the 8-count:
Step 1, Step 2, Step 3 and 4, Step 5, Step 6, Step 7 and 8
The 6-count that today we learn first was a syncopation, a change from the normal 8-count, at the time it came about. Today the 6-count is a basic rhythm, so it is not a syncopation. The 6-count rhythm is.
Step 1, Step 2, Step 3 and 4, Step 5 and 6
So, the fundamental rhythm in swing can be described this way.
Step 1, Step 2, Step 3 and 4, zero or more Step Step, triple step
Anything that conforms to that rhythm would not be a syncopation. Anything that differs is a syncopation, meaning a change to the normal rhythm or emphasis. Here is an example of using syncopations to change the normal 6-count rhythm, with "and" meaning an additional step between the normal count of the music.
and One, Step 2, hold 3, Step 4, Step 5 and 6
There are two syncopations in this sequence. Can you find them?
Why would you do a syncopation?
To dance to the music.
Swing music has an 8-count rhythm that corresponds to the Lindy Hop 8-count pattern described above. The rhythm section of the band plays:
Beat 1, Beat 2, Beat 3 and 4, Beat 5, Beat 6, Beat 7 and 8
When you dance a 6-count pattern, your steps no longer match up with the music.
Beat 1 - Step 1
Beat 2 - Step 2
Beat 3 and 4 - triple step
All good to hear, but now the problem happens. Your next triple step does not match the music. Then you start over on a new 6-count sequence with two steps, while the music is finishing the triple beat rhythm of the last 8-count phrase of music.
Beat 5, Beat 6 - triple step
Beat 7 and Beat 8 - Step 1, Step 2
Beat 1, Beat 2 - triple step
Beat 3 and 4 - triple step
You do not get back in time with the music until the last two beats.
What advanced dances do, some of the time, is use a syncopation to match the music. Here are some syncopations in a 6-count pattern that match the above music and keep you on the correct foot, where "point" means you point your toe without stepping on your foot.
Beat 5, Beat 6 - Step 5, hold 6
Beat 7 and Beat 8 - point and 2
Beat 1, Beat 2 - Step 3, hold 4
Beat 3 and 4 - Step 5 and 6