West Coast Swing UK

Welcome

WCS dancers stand out from the crowd… It could be YOU!

If you’re looking for the very best in West Coast Swing in the UK, you’ve come to the right place! West Coast Swing UK is without doubt the country’s leading force in WCS today.

We are a friendly, well-established community, introducing WCS tuition and social dance opportunities to dancers of all levels—from complete novices to seasoned veterans. We offer weekly classes, courses, monthly specialist workshops, freestyles, fun competitions, and party nights. Everyone is welcome, and we are delighted to offer membership incentives through our SwingClubCard® loyalty scheme.

Not only do we provide the highest level of tuition and produce some of the most skilled social dancers, but we also boast a remarkable track record of competitive success—both nationally and internationally.

We are proud to have hosted some of the world’s top International WCS Pros, including:
Jordan Frisbee & Tatiana Mollman, Kyle Redd & Sarah Vann Drake, Robert & Nicola Royston, Jake Haning & Taletha Jouzdani, Robert Cordoba & Deborah Szekely, Christopher Hussey & Katrina Branson, Myles Munroe & Tessa Cunningham-Munroe, John Lindo, Heidi Burns (Groskreutz), Chuck Brown, Ben McHenry, John Kirkconnell, Patti Jobst, Maxence Martin, Maxime Zzaoui & Virginie Grondin, Erica Berg, Michael Kielbasa & Brandy Richey, Michael Kiehm & Sue Fries, Olivier & Virginie Massart, Henriette Koefoed, Torri Zzaoui (Smith), Markus Smith & Trendlyon Veal, and Brandi Guild (Tobias).

Dancers travel from far and wide to join us, including from the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, across Europe, Russia, and even Iceland!

We were especially honoured to welcome the late Jason Colacino in May 2009. His immeasurable talent and kind spirit left a lasting impact on our community. His tragic and untimely passing sent shockwaves throughout the international dance world, and he will be sorely missed.

We always value your feedback, so please let us know if there’s anything we can do to enhance your West Coast Swing experience with us!

WCS dancers stand out from the crowd… It could be YOU!

FAQs

West Coast Swing is a fun, fluid, expressive partner dance recognisable by its slotted shape and focus on connection between partners. It is best danced smooth and grounded but allows full freedom of creativity and musical interpretation. It can be danced to a varied range of music from Blues to Country Swing, from Soul to Pop, making it probably the most versatile of couples dance forms. Elasticity is the key, creating speed contrast and the stretchy look that most WCS dancers aspire to create.

West Coast Swing is the perfect progression not only for the more experienced dancer wishing to take their partner dancing to a new level, but also for the novice dancer interested in learning some sexy, sassy moves along with vital technique which can be applied to a range of couples dances.

WCS dancers stand out from the crowd… it could be YOU!

Yes! We offer FUNdamentals tuition for everyone at each of our venues every week, followed by FUNdamentals review classes with a member of our teaching team in a separate area, running simultaneously with our main Improver/Intermediate-level classes. Our monthly workshop packages are specially designed to accommodate all experience levels, from complete beginners upwards.

No! West Coast Swing is a highly sociable dance, and we encourage partners to rotate during our classes and workshops. Our weekly classes are open to everyone, with no need for pre-booking. Our workshops and events are gender-balanced, but you’re welcome to book alone or with same-sex friends—our promoter will take care of the rest!

West Coast Swing is a trendy street dance, so informal attire is best for social dancing. Comfort and style are key, and jeans are perfectly acceptable.

Gentlemen, if you tend to sweat while dancing, please bring plenty of spare T-shirts and deodorant. Breath mints or gum, along with a small towel to freshen up, will be greatly appreciated by your dance partners!

We also sell a selection of stylish T-shirts, Grandad tops, vests, and slouches for both men and women, specially designed for West Coast Swing UK and our London SwingVitational event. Please ask for details!

For competitions, men are generally expected to wear shirts and dress trousers. Ladies, skirts and dresses are uncommon as they can be restrictive for this dance. Smart trousers paired with dressy tops are the norm. Avoid jeans and T-shirts for competitions!

Ladies, avoid high heels, as West Coast Swing involves a lot of walking forward with a heel lead. A comfortable shoe with a suede or leather sole and a short heel is advisable.

For footwear, Supadance offers the most widely worn dance sandals, while International Dance Shoes provides a recommended closed-toe practice shoe.

Gents, a Cuban heel is commonly worn among WCS dancers, as it enhances leg lines and assists with body pitch for compression and stretch. However, any comfortable shoe with a suede or leather sole—without a protruding edge—will work just fine.

Check out International Dance Shoes or Freed of London for a recommended swing shoe.

Currently, the trend for both men and women is to wear fashionable Toms sneakers, which are particularly comfortable for long hours of social dancing. An added bonus is that with every purchase, Toms helps a person in need—“One for One”! A win-win!

For ladies, the latest trend is the SwayD “Magic” dance boot, designed by dancers, for dancers. West Coast Swing UK is the exclusive distributor for SwayD UK, so be sure to check with us for details on colours, styles, and prices—including the limited-edition purple “SwingV” boot!

West Coast Swing can be danced to a varied range of music from Blues to Country Swing, from Soul to Pop, making it probably the most versatile of couples dance forms.

West Coast Swing can be danced to a wide range of music, from Blues to Country Swing, and from Soul to Pop, making it one of the most versatile partner dance styles.

For an up-to-date list of WCS-friendly music, regularly shared by top international WCS DJs, visit www.globalswingdjs.com.

You can also tune in to www.radiowcs.com to listen to the hottest WCS tracks live—or download the app!