West Coast Swing Canada

There is a whole world of dance events out there you probably never new existed!

A dance event (aka convention) is a combination of workshops and dances and shows. It's usually held over a weekend at a hotel in a major city, like a conference. Dance events come in different sizes. Small dance events or workshops usually attract 50-500 dancers. Larger events (conventions) attract 500-1500 dancers. There's a whole circuit of conventions all across the country, and at least 2 or 3 going on somewhere in North America on any given weekend. Conventions are amazing. They attract hundreds of dance addicts from across the country who show up partly for the workshops, but also partly for the party atmosphere! For many, it's a huge social network. Because many convention-goers are experienced dancers, the level of dancing you will find at a convention is guaranteed to be higher than the level at your local studio. This is a great opportunity to watch and dance and learn with a concentrated group of dancers who are your level and above. Attending a dance event will exponentially elevate your dancing, accelerate your learning, increase your confidence, and expand your social network. It can also change your life! It changed Myles & Tessa's!

Offered during the day each day, there can be anywhere from one to 5 workshops going on at the same time, depending on the number of workshop rooms the event has booked at the venue. Workshops are taught by invited dance professionals from the local area or high-ranked profressionals and Champion dancers from all over the country. Workshops are highly recommended for the beginner/intermediate dancer.

There are 2 types of competition at events: Choreographed and Improvised.

Choreographed routines are usually done by professionals or very advanced dancers. There are 3 divisions: Classic (90%min Swing, no lifts allowed), Showcase (60%min Swing, lifts allowed), and Cabaret (10%max. Swing, anything goes). Myles and Tessa compete in Showcase. These competitions are kind of the "Grand Prix" of the circuit. Events sanctioned by the National Association of Swing Dance Events (NASDE) send their results in to keep track of Strictly Swing and choreography competitors points

Improvised (aka Social Dance Competitions): These are for all levels of dancers. If the event is recognized by the World Swing Dance Council, its contest divisions are based on qualifications by accumulation of points earned from competiitons. The WDSC maintains an international competition registry which keeps track of each dancer's points and qualification level. Events offer contest divisions for brand-new Novice dancers all the way up to the Professionals, so you are sure to be dancing with someone at the same level as you. Everyone enters at the Novice Level. An studio dancer may have completed all of the classes at their home studio and may be considered an "advanced" dancer in their home town, but on the international circuit, they still may be in the "Novice" division.

The focus of this type of competition is improvisation, just like you do at dances. They draw a song for you and you just make it up on the fly. There are 3 types: Jack & Jill (random partner, random song), Strictly Swing (pre-chosen partner, random song), and Pro-Am (your instructor is your partner, random song). Because West Coast Swing is primarily and improvised dance, the Jack & Jill competition is held in almost as high regard as the Choreography competitions.

Shows: These are sometimes linked to the Competitions. The Professional competitions are so entertaining that they serve as the show itself! Sometimes there will be a "dinner show" or organized non-competitive performances. These are always in the evenings.

Social Dancing: Some would argue that this is the best part of the whole weekend! The social dancing part of the weekend is a major focus, since that is the whole reason we got involved in dancing, isn't it? There is open social dancing all evening long 6pm-6am, and is only interrupted by competitions/shows. Dancers keep late hours at conventions. The majority of dancers will stay up till 2am and many until 4 or 5am. The event arranges it with the hotel so the ballroom doesn't close till the wee hours of the morning, if at all. Then everyone sleeps in because the workshops don't start till 11:00am. You will be having so much fun you will want to stay up that late. Dancing is a physical skill. Like swimming, you only get better by doing it. So jump in!

Professional Development: Most dance instructors and competitors take advantage of having access to many top dancers in one place by taking private lessons. This is where they can get elite coaching, get a "checkup" on their dancing, and pick up some new moves or tricks. Targetted workshops are also occasionally available, such as judging clinics, dance instructor clinics, and critique sessions.

Workshop weekends are an excellent way to supplement your learning. A local studio brings in a top professional to coach them and their students in an intensive group class setting. Usually a full day or two days of classes are offered, and usually along a certain theme. Instructors who take responsibility for their own professional development and for bringing their students the most current, accurate, and highest quality information always offer at least one or two workshops per year. Be sure not to miss it!

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Find a dance event near you

View our Sources page to find a dance event near you

Event Name

Location

Date

Size

Dance

Styles

NASDE

Late Nite

Social

Dancing

Wkshps

Included

in

Ticket $

Buffet/

Hosptiality

Hosted

Parties

Close to

shopping/

eats

Shuttle

from

airport

Notes

New Years Dance Camp

Palm Springs

New Years

Large

WCS, Salsa

No

Yes

No

Yes

Masquerade Ball

@ New Years Eve

Swing Diego

San Diego

Late Jan.

Large

WCS

Yes

No

Yes

No

Outdoor Hotel

BC Dance

Challenge

Vancouver

Early Feb.

Small

WCS, Country

No

Yes

Capital Swing

Sacramento

Valentines

Large

WCS

Yes

No

Outdoor Hotel

Calgary Dance

Stampede

Calgary

Early April

Small

WCS, Salsa,

Lindy

No

Yes

No

Reno Dance

Sensation

Reno

Early April

Medium

WCS, Salsa,

Lindy

No

Yes

No

Yes

Casino in hotel

Show Theatre

Seattle Easter

Swing

Seattle

Easter

Medium

WCS

Yes

No

Yes

No

Fresno Classic

Fresno

Late May

Medium

WCS, Country

No

Yes

No

Get into the

themes.

Party Hard.

Liberty Swing

New Jersey

Mid June

Meduim

WCS

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

Waterfront hotel

facing Manhattan

Phoenix 4th

Phoenix

Early July

Large

WCS

No

Yes

No

Yes

Decadent resort,

pool parties.

Portland Dance

Festival

Portland

Early July

Small

WCS, Country

No

Yes

No

Yes

Summer

Dance Camp

Palm Springs

Mid August

Medium

WCS, Salsa

No

Yes

No

Yes

Crossover

encouraged

Swingtime in the

Rockies

Denver

Mid August

Medium

WCS

Yes

No

Yes

No

Downtown

hotel

Summer

Hummer

Boston

Late August

Medium

WCS

Yes

No

Yes

No

Pool Party

Dallas Dance

Dallas

Early Sept

Large

WCS

Yes

No

Yes

Smoking in

Ballroom

Bridgetown

Portland

Mid Sept

Medium

WCS

No

Yes

No

Yes

Young

demographic

Boogie By

the Bay

San Francisco

Early Oct

Large

WCS, Lindy

Yes

No

Yes

US Open

Los Angeles

Late Nov

Large

WCS, Lindy

Yes

No

Yes

Across from

Disneyland,

lots of spectating

This table is designed to give you an idea of which WDSC event offers which features. It will help you decide which events to attend, based on your needs and preferences. It is assumed that all events offer Workshops and WSDC Jack & Jill Contests. Event size is based on attendance: Small = 500 or less, Medium = 500-1000, Large=1000 or more

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