West Coast Swing Class Series
Do drop-in classes with different students, teachers, and topics every week not quite scratch your learning itch? Are you newer to WCS and eager to dive in head first? Or have you been dancing for a while but feel like you’re missing some key concepts? Our progressive class series may be just the ticket for you!
You and twenty nine of your best friends sign up to learn together every Wednesday for four weeks! Series classes are held at the VFW or a short walk away at Unity Somerville. We’ll rotate instructors from month to month, but each series will have the same instructor for all four weeks. Series classes are leveled to ensure maximum learning fun. Students can move up a level by auditioning, completing all classes in the previous level, or use WSDC competitive points.
WCS 200 (VFW)
Wednesdays, 7:15pm-8:15pm at the VFW
WCS 200 classes are for newer dancers who are confident in WCS 101 material (or experienced dancers going back to polish up their basics) We’ll refine your push, pass, and tuck, introduce more complex movements, and practice the higher-level concepts behind how to feel good and have fun while dancing. Each section is 4 weeks long for a total of 12 weeks of instruction. The sections can be taken in any order; no need to wait for 201 to roll around again to get started.
Prerequisites: 1+ WSDC Newcomer/Novice point OR audition (in-person or video)
WCS 201: Start It Up (starter step & closed position)
WCS 202: Turn It Around (turns)
WCS 203: Whip It Good (whips)
WCS 300 (Unity Somerville)
Wednesdays, 7:45pm-9:00pm at Unity Somerville
WCS 300 classes are for the more experienced dancer looking to take their technical training to the next level. Deep dive into lead-follow theory, movement mechanics, and more to become your best social dancing self! The sections can be taken in any order; no need to wait for 301 to roll around again to get started.
Prerequisites: Complete all three WCS 200-level classes (any order, no time limit, no more than 1 absence per series) OR 10+ WSDC Novice points OR audition (in-person or video)
WCS 301: Lower Body Mechanics
WCS 302: Frame & Connection
WCS 303: Musicality
WCS 304: Special Topics (aka instructor’s choice!)
Want to learn west coast swing as both a leader and a follower? Wonderful! When looking at class prerequisites, we consider each role separately rather than mushing them together. Dancers progress through the class levels in each role separately, so completing prerequisites in one role does not automatically mean a dancer can take a higher-level class in the opposite role.
Class Prerequisites
Auditions
In-person auditions include two opportunities for you to show your stuff: a brief one-on-one audition with an instructor plus an observation of your social dancing (we try to be subtle, promise!). This allows us to both feel your connection and see what you dance like when you’re relaxed and having fun. For video auditions, an instructor will review your video and get back to you within 5 business days. Sign up for an audition or submit your video audition here!
Once you qualify for a level as a leader or follower, you don’t have to audition for that level in that role ever again. If you want to take the class in the other role, please audition in that role. Here's a detailed breakdown of the skills we look for.
WSDC Points
The World Swing Dance Council (WSDC) is the governing body for several types of west coast swing competitions. Competitions are held at weekend-long events and certain types of competitions award “points” that determine a dancer’s competitive division. If you’ve never been to a west coast swing competition, chances are you don’t have any competitive points to your name yet. Please audition with one of our instructors if that’s the case.
Competitive dancers may sign up for classes based on the number of points they have in a given role. For example, a dancer who has 1 novice point as a leader and 3 intermediate points as a follower can sign up for WCS 200 as a leader and WCS 300 as a follower.
Completing Another Class Series
Been taking WCS 200 classes for a few months and feel like you’re ready for more of a challenge? Awesome. Dancers who have completed WCS 201, WCS 202, and WCS 203 are eligible to move up to WCS 300 classes. Please note that “completing” a class means that the dancer was in attendance for at least three out of the four weeks of each month. Being absent more than once in a month means missing half (or more!) of the class material, so we ask that you repeat the class before moving up if that’s the case. We do our best to keep track of attendance and to email dancers who have completed all three classes according to our records, but if you’re ever unsure, just ask.
The Details
WCS 200 classes meet every Wednesday from 7:15pm-8:15pm at the George Dilboy VFW Post in Somerville, MA
WCS 300 class meets every Wednesday from 7:45pm-9:00pm at the Unity Church in Somerville, MA
Class begins on the first Wednesday of each month
Prior registration is required
Maximum of 15 leaders and 15 followers per class
A minimum of 5 leaders and 5 followers is required for the class to run that month
Registration closes 48 hours before the first class of the month (Monday at 7:15pm)
Pricing
WCS 200 classes: $60 per 4-week series ($35 current college students with the discount code UNI200)
WCS 300 classes: $65 per 4-week series ($35 current college students with the discount code UNI300)
Price includes the 8:15pm drop-in classes and social dancing
Online payments will incur a processing fee. If you would prefer to pay at the door to avoid this, use the discount code DOOR and check off the “Pay at Door Acknowledgement” during checkout
