Learn Modern Swing dance in Vancouver


Get started with this slick, dynamic, improvised partner dance with an accelerated method that will have you dancing cool, comfortable, and confident in just weeks.

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Quick preview of West Coast Swing

West Coast Swing is the most modern version of all the Swing dances. It is not a Ballroom dance, but rather a direct descendant of Lindy Hop that has infused other dance styles such as Hip Hop, Hustle, Contemporary, and Zouk.

  • WCS is an improvised social dance, not choreographed. There is no memorizing of choreography.
  • It is the most versatile partner dance - you can use it to dance to most of your favourite music.
  • It is the most balanced partner dance - the follower has more freedom, rather than strict leading and following.
  • There is a world wide network of WCS communities, weekend conventions, and competitions.

Here's what Beginners look like after dancing for a few months:

  • You can choose to learn to lead or follow - gender is irrelevant
  • You don't need a partner because everyone rotates in classes and switches partners each song
  • It's never too late - dancers range from high school students to retirees
  • Competition is optional - social dancing is far more common

How to start learning West Coast Swing

For the best possible start, join us for SwingSoul Saturday classes at  Dance Vancouver studio 1627 W. Broadway, Vancouver

Nobody is born knowing how to dance West Coast Swing. It doesn't matter if you have years of classical training or you have two left feet - everyone needs to take lessons in order to learn. No one expects you to know anything about dancing before you start - that's what the lessons are for!

All new West Coast Swing dancers start in a group class called Level 1: Intro to West Coast Swing, where you will learn foundational skills and basic patterns you need to be able to dance competently and confidently.

You can see how the levels progress from there:

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Level 1  (old name: Intro A)

Saturdays 4:00pm @DVS

  • 4-week progressive series starts on the first Saturday of every month
  • No experience or partner necessary.
Register

$80/month or $25 single class

Welcome to your West Coast Swing orientation!

Whether you are a complete beginner or coming from another dance style, this orientation series gives you the foundation you need to feel comfortable, confident, and excited to dance WCS. 

What you'll learn:

In Level 1, you will discover more than a handful of basic steps. Each week builds on the last, helping you:

  • Develop the core skills in a progressive way that make learning faster and more fun
  • Efficiently learn the 2 basic rhythms and 6 basic patterns 
  • Build confidence through progressive practice and patient coaching
  • Experience the joy of improvisation from your very first class

Experienced dancers: Swing Literacy method is different from your typical partner dance class. Even if you have taken some WCS classes elsewhere, most students find that it’s worthwhile to start with Level 1 so you can fill in the gaps and catch up on skills you might be missing.

Best way to learn: First-timers are accepted in Week 1 and Week 2, but beyond that it would be better to wait for the start of the next monthly series starting at the beginning of the month.  

What's next: Once you have completed all 4 weeks of this “orientation” series, you will graduate to Level 2, where you'll expand your skills and start feeling even more comfortable on the social dance floor. 

Got questions? See our FAQ below

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I saw some reels on Facebook and Instagram and thought it looked fun. On a whim I looked for classes, and was thrilled to find out there were some super close to me. I guess I wondered what it would be like learning a dance when I hadn’t really had much in the way of dance classes throughout my life? I was looking for ways to expand and enrich my life. I was looking for hobbies and non-gym ways to get exercise. Hence, when I discovered WCS it seemed perfect. The pricing of the Intro classes was perfect, as well.

When I finally got to my first class I was crazy nervous. I didn’t know anyone there, and signing up to a class like that alone was very intimidating. I’m a bit of a perfectionist, so I was also worried if I was doing everything right haha. Turns out I wasn’t lol, but through meeting some amazing friends who were starting from the same place gave me enough confidence to keep working at it. Now I'm hooked and I can't imagine my life without WCS!

Karly Fulford

Frequently Asked Questions

When do classes start?
There will be a series of classes starting each month. Like our Facebook page to get notified when registration opens up.

Do I need a partner to sign up with?
Nope! There will be a mix of couples and singles. No partner required.

Do I have to switch partners?
WCS is a social dance, meaning everyone dances with everyone for one song at a time, so you switch partners constantly during the class. But if you have illness or injury concerns, it's ok to temporarily stay together if you prefer.

What should I wear?
WCS is pretty casual. Pants are recommended instead of skirts. Choose footwear that is not clunky or grippy/sticky or high heels.

What if I am an experienced dancer but new to WCS?
We are excited to welcome you! Level 2 is the perfect place for you because we'll teach you which skills you can use directly and which ones you'll need to modify and how, without having to start from scratch.

What if I want to learn faster?
If you know you learn better one-to-one or would like to accelerate your progress, contact us to discuss options for customized training programs. swingsoul@swingliteracy.com

How long do I stay in the classes for?
WCS classes are not something you take once and are done. After taking the Level 1 Intro series for 4 weeks, you will have the skills required for Level 2.
Level 2 has 8 weeks of content that is semi-progressive, so it's ok if you miss a week. You would stay in that class until you collect all 8 unique weeks and can consistently do the skills for Level 2 without reminders.
Level 3 follows the same structure as Level 2.  See all the class descriptions here

Register now

Got more questions? Email us: swingsoul@swingliteracy.com

You're in good hands

What makes these classes different?

Swing Soul teachers use the Swing Literacy Development Method, created by Canadian Champions Myles Munroe & Tessa Cunningham Munroe., which helps dancers learn WCS faster, better, and easier than traditional partner dance classes by using a progressive skills-first approach.

This means you will "get it" sooner, have more fun sooner, and really feel like you're dancing and not just marching through patterns & steps. Dancer trained in this method progress faster, are more "fluent" in the dance, and are better able to learn more skills and moves from any source.

 

SwingSoul Teachers

CELINA

dalynne

inna

Gavin

TESSA

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Learn more about WCS

We encourage you to learn more about the big wide world of this fascinating,
kinesthetically satisfying, addictive social dance! 
To help you avoid wasting time going down the rabbit hole,
here are some resources to focus your exploration.

All your questions answered

Whether you are just starting out, or you have been dancing for several months already, you probably have a ton of questions....

You deserve to know the answers! We have ALL of them, compiled into this handy blog article.

This is one of our many blog articles about learning and dancing West Coast Swing. Enjoy exploring the rest!

Got more questions? Email us: swingsoul@swingliteracy.com

Learn even more about WCS

Curious about West Coast Swing's background, history, global reach, and how it compares to other dance styles? Don't spend hours hunting it all down on the interwebs - we've done the work for you! Enjoy this curated, consolidated resource page that has all you need to know... for now.... ;)

About West Coast Swing

Get Connected

Like the SwingSoul Facebook page

SwingSoul is the name of the West Coast Swing side of the DanceVancouver studio. This group is where we post information about upcoming classes, workshops, and social events at SwingSoul.

SwingSoul Facebook group

Lessons are only the beginning!

West Coast Swing is a global and local community, with regular dance parties, social events, weekend conventions, and online groups. It uses Facebook for networking. We encourage you to join these groups to get connected and discover all the resources that are available. Here are two reliable ones:

Vancouver West Coast Swing Community

Vancouver Westies

Find DanceVancouver and explore the neighbourhood

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