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last updated August 30
 
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Ladies Styling Video - FINALLY!

After 7 years of collecting and developing her style as a WCS follower, and as many years of having students beg her for ideas and instruction on it, Tessa has finally decided to create the premiere Ladies WCS Styling video series, titled, "got play? Followers Liberation for WCS". Filmed in Phoenix, there will be Beginner and Intermediate videos available soon, with an Advanced video to follow later this year. Each video is chock full of styling theory, techniques, and practical applications for all the common WCS figures. Pre-orders are available now! See our video page.

 

If you have never been to a dance convention, YOU ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO GO TO ONE! Every dancer will tell you that the West Coast Swing community and the dance itself is soooooooo much better at a dance weekend than it is in your home scene. So if you think you like WCS now, prepare to be blown away! Every good instructor encourages their students to go out and take advantage of every learning opportunity they can get their hands on: lessons, privates, workshops, videos, and dance conventions. A dance convention consists of 3 full days held at a hotel conference centre, and offers workshops by at least a dozen elite international instructors, choreography and improvisation competitions for all levels novice to professional, and social dancing till the wee hours!
BRIDGETOWN SWING (Portland, OR) Sept 19-21.
http://www.portlandswing.org/bts/
SEA TO SKY DANCE CONVENTION (Vancouver, BC) Oct 17-19. http://www.komodosoftware.ca/dff/seatoskydance/index.php
Upcoming Dance Conventions
-Beginners 6:30pm: 4 week series, no drop-ins. Our Beginners learn more and learn it faster, which means more fun, sooner! Free entry to the social dance afterwards.
-Intermediate: 7:30pm: Drop-in or series available. Assessment required. Combination of tricky patterns/skills with the technical essentials to make you succeed at them. Free entry to the dance afterwards.
-Project: JACK & JILL BOOTCAMP 8:30pm: 4 ws, no drop-ins.
Next Lesson Series BEGINS SEPT 4
BRAND NEW YALETOWN APARTMENT!
We are so excited to have upgraded this past weekend to a bigger, better apartment located at the Eastern end of Yaletown. It's a totally different space that is going to be far more appropriate for our needs, and future pets, and ideal for entertaining! We have been crazy busy getting moved in, assemling furniture, and decorating - Ikea here we come! We will be having an open house housewarming party towards the end of the month.
Brand new Yaletown apartment! 
At Toronto Open Swing Dance Championships in July, we along with the Canadian Swing Championships co-sponsored the Crossover Swing Scholarship. It was awarded to the highest placing Lindy Hop dancer (who applied) who competed in the Novice West Coast Swing Jack & Jill!
And the winner was....Martin Roy of Montreal! Martin placed 3rd in the contest. He won $200 and his West Coast teacher, Max Pitruzella also won $200. The scholarship was created to encourage Lindy Hoppers to add WCS to their arsenal, and to improve their skills and try competing with it. If you missed it this year, stay tuned for next year!
Crossover Swing Scholarship Awarded
For students with extensive SWING experience. Project varies each series. September is "JACK & JILL BOOTCAMP" month. With BRIDGETOWN SWING CONVENTION and SEA TO SKY DANCE CONVENTION coming up in the next few months, it's time to start thinking about competing in the amateur improvised dance contests! Whether you are a first time beginner competitor or an experienced Advanced dancer hoping to place, this workshop will remind you what the judges are looking for and how to handle competition. This is an intensive critique session for those who really want honest but caring feedback and serious constructive critiques and suggestions.  Appropriate for Intermediates and up. NO DROP-INS. 8:30-9:30pm at Broadway Ballroom, 1050 W. Broadway at Oak. Free parking underground via alley. Stay after class and get into FUNKNGRUVEN THURSDAYS for free - Contemporary WCS/Blues/Funk social dancing till 11:30pm.
Next Project Class:
Jack & Jill BootCamp
1/2 hour Private Lesson Special
Want to improve your dancing before the next convention, but can't afford a full hour private? For the month of September, you can get a 30 minute private lesson for only $50. You will get an analysis of your dancing, crucial one on one feedback on a few key fundamentals, and a personalized progress plan to improve further, faster! Limited time available. Please contact us to schedule your appointment. 
NEW!
"Frequently Asked Questions" page:
Click here!
 funkngruven thursdays
Starting this month, our FUNKNGRUVEN THURSDAYS dance party at Broadway Ballroom will now offer a mix of both Salsa and Swing! There is so much curiosity and interest in the Salsa community to learn WCS, we are providing a place where dancers can do both, EVERY WEEK!

What's more, starting in October, Myles will be coming back to offer a regular WCS group class specifically aimed at Salsa dancers! At the same time as the Intermediate class, 7:30-8:30pm, he will teach experienced Salsa dancers who to do WCS without having to start from scratch in a beginners class! Myles has had extensive experience teaching and performing Salsa and on Salsa teams, so he knows exactly what Salsa dancers need in order to convert their body movement over to WCS and to be able to take advantage of the awesome technique and styling that WCS offers. We advocate dance diversity, not dance blending, but to see a great example of what's possible when you cross a little Salsa with a little WCS,
see this clip for some inspiration!
NEW SALSA/SWING FORMAT
Salsa Mondays @ Harbour
FUN, champion instructors Myles & Tessa teach Beginner Salsa classes starting up again at Harbour Dance Centre (top floor) Mondays Sept 8-Oct 27 8:45-9:45pm. $91. You will have a blast while learning solid, practical technique and moves for surviving and enjoying Vancouver's social Salsa dance scene! You will learn the 3 fundamental patterns, several variations, partnering, spinning, shines, and dips. No experience necessary: raw beginners welcome. No partner required: all dancers rotate partners throughout the class. Register at www.harbourdance.com