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Beginners

Beginners

What is West Coast Swing?

West Coast Swing is a fun, modern partner dance that originated from Lindy Hop in the 1960s, and is characterized by its smooth, relaxed style and improvisational nature. It's the dance of your life!

Why should you learn West Coast Swing?

Music

Unlike other partner dances, West Coast Swing can be danced to almost any music genre. Whether you prefer Blues, Rock & Roll or Soul, or you have more modern tastes like Hip Hop, RnB, chances are, this dance will have music you'll love to dance too.

Freedom

In West Coast Swing, there is a lot of freedom to express yourself. There is a technical foundation of footwork, timing, and connection, but beyond that, there are so many possibilities to add rhythm, musicality and your own personality to the dance. The freedom to experiment and draw inspiration from other dance styles has allowed this dance to evolve over time, and make it a favourite for so many around the world.

Partnership

West Coast Swing is a conversation. Like other social dances, one partner leads the movement and the other follows, but in West Coast Swing, there is a lot of space for both the lead and the follow to add their own improvised movements. This collaboration allows partners to build off each other's ideas and create some truly magical moments.

How can you start ?

Group classes

This is the best way to start learning a dance and it is the preffered way for most people, as it assumes you have no or limited prior dancing experience.


The main benefit is that you learn by dancing with different peers, each with their own unique way of moving and dancing. This helps you develop a better understanding of leading and following, making you a better dancer.


And last but not least, this group setting creates the feeling of belonging. It's a great asset to have your own people whom you feel safe to dance with when you're first starting up, and who you can continue to grow with.

This is the best way to start learning a dance and it is the preffered way for most people, as it assumes you have no or limited prior dancing experience. 


The main benefit is that you learn by dancing with different peers, each with their own unique way of moving and dancing. This helps you develop a better understanding of leading and following, making you a better dancer.


And last but not least, this group setting creates the feeling of belonging. It's a great asset to have your own people whom you feel safe to dance with when you're first starting up, and who you can continue to grow with.

Fast-Track classes

Fast-Tracks can take place in multiple ways, and their purpose can be to either get an equivalent training of the beginners curriculum or just get a deeper introduction to West Coast Swing than a simple taster.


These classes are aimed at dancers with couple dancing experience (ideally more than 1 year) who can pick up the main concepts of this dance fairly easily.


The teaching rhythm is fast-paced and assumes a general understanding of couple dancing dynamics.

Fast-Tracks can take place in multiple ways, and their purpose can be to either get an equivalent training of the beginners curriculum or just get a deeper introduction to West Coast Swing than a simple taster.


These classes are aimed at dancers with couple dancing experience (ideally more than 1 year) who can pick up the main concepts of this dance fairly easily.


The teaching rhythm is fast-paced and assumes a general understanding of couple dancing dynamics.

Private classes

Do you want a more personal approach to learning West Coast Swing? We can help with that and guide you step-by-step. You will get our full attention, along with tips that will help you improve faster from the get-go.

As with the other types of classes, we encourage you to join social dancing events so you can develop your skills in leading or following, regardless of the partner.


Privates can be arranged with one or both teachers and can be done by yourself or with a partner.

Do you want a more personal approach to learning West Coast Swing? We can help with that and guide you step-by-step. You will get our full attention, along with tips that will help you improve faster from the get-go.

As with the other types of classes, we encourage you to join social dancing events so you can develop your skills in leading or following, regardless of the partner.


Privates can be arranged with one or both teachers and can be done by yourself or with a partner.

Need more inspiration?

Example of improvising and just having fun at a dance social

Example of an improvised dance on a song I think you know ;)

Dancing starts at 1:30

For our westie nerds,

the history of West Coast Swing