How hard is it to convert Lindy to WCS? Ballroom to WCS?

Lindy to WCS is not hard at all. It's mostly the same connection, no bounce, no swivels, a little more upright, and alot more linear stretch. Ballroom WCS to authentic WCS isn't too hard, there's just alot of habits to change: eliminate all hip swiveling, hook steps, and tap steps, and add foot rolling, stretch, frame, and forward pitch. These articles might help: WCS for Salseros  WCS for Lindyhoppers

People have asked me to teach them privately. Should I? 

No. Don't start teaching just because people ask you to. Just because people admire your dancing does not mean you will make a good teacher. Becoming a teacher is a professional trade. You are responsible for the development of other potential dancers, and for the survival of the art form. It takes training and commitment. It's not just a way to make money to afford dance events. If you are prepared to invest in your own professional development, and you are motivated by a desire to help people discover, fall in love with, and succeed at dancing, then go ahead. Keep in mind that if you are a competitor, teaching means giving up your amateur status, which means that if you will have to compete against the highest level of pro dancers. If you are not comfortable with the idea of teaching people privately, refer them to your instructor.

I would like to try attending a dance event. Where should I go?

Check out the Event Directory to find an event in your neck of the woods. There is also a chart that compares the features of some of our favourite events. Feel free to email us for suggestions.

I have seen the Event Directory, but how do I know which event is a good one for dancers from Overseas?

Now that WCS is exploding all over the world, dancers from other continents are so curious and committed that they are looking to travel to North America to train in WCS and experience the truest forms of the dance. Most conventions cater to a regional or national audience, but there are a few that really stand out as international representatives. These major events offer a strong balance of top professional instructors, current music, late-night social dancing, high-level competitions, and positive social atmosphere. You can ask around on the various forums to find out what people are saying, but here are a few to get you started, in no particular order:

Swing Diego, San Diego, CA

MADJam, Eastern USA

Boogie By The Bay, San Francisco 

Grand Nationals, Atlanta, GA

US Open Swing Dance Championships, Los Angeles, CA

Aren’t dance events just for serious competitors?

Heck no! It’s for enthusiasts! It’s like a trade show, or an exhibition – everyone is welcome, regardless of your level of participation. Some people go just for the social dancing, and find that 3 nights of intensive social dancing with dancers fro out of town gives them a huge launch in their WCS development. Some people go to enter into amateur competitions – as a measurement of the progress they have made through lessons. We recommend everyone go to a dance event fro m the moment they discover WCS – it is the truest example of what WCS is, and doesn’t hold a candle to what you can find in your own home town. Read an awesome explanation of dance events on the Events page

I went dancing out of town and WCS looked way different.

Yep - depending on the type of venue you visited, it's most likely you encountered a regional variation. Embrace it and enjoy it - diversity is fun. You can learn some new moves and challenge your brain a little. It's also possible you are from a relatively small dance community and you visited a larger, more established community where the dancers are at a higher level and are dancing more current techniques and style.

Where can I learn without traveling?

There are several websites that have emerged recently, and more in the works! YouTube may seem like an obvious answer, but it is not a good tool for learning, only for inspiration. See our Online page for some great websites.

I feel like I've hit a plateau with my dancing

This is typical of learning any skill. Sometimes you have to step sideways in order to go forward. Try a new class, attend a dance event, work on a different part of your dance. Anything to change your focus. Another possible cause is that you have learned all you can from your instructor and it's time to hear advice in different words. Or maybe it's time to go back to taking lessons again.

I'm bored - how can I expand my repertoire?

You're not going to like the sound of this, but trust us, it's for your own good. If you're bored, it means you need to go back to your basics. WCS is a dance that allows you to constantly invent new patterns. If you can't do that, it means you missed learning something along the way. Go take some private lessons from dancers whose style you admire, or take a beginner class but in the opposite role (leader instead of follower). As a last resort, instructional videos are an excellent way of picking up new material.

Where can I learn without traveling?

There are several websites that have emerged recently, and more in the works! YouTube may seem like an obvious answer, but it is not a good tool for learning, only for inspiration. See our Online page for some great websites.

What is “Blues Dancing”? Isn’t it the same as West Coast Swing to Blues music?

No! Blues Dancing is a completely separate art form, adopted by Lindy Hoppers. It emerged around the same time, and Lindy Hoppers have recently sunk their teeth into it as a fad, more popular now on the West Coast of North America than the East Coast. The irony is, when Lindy Hoppers do “Blues fusion”, a more freestyle, modern version of the vintage style, they are actually doing West Coast Swing without realizing it. And West Coast Swing dancers who take the time to learn Blues dance skills, can exponentially improve their WCS. This convergence is a perfect crossover opportunity. See our Dance Comparison chart for a breakdown.

Inspiration