CLASSES
EVERYONE IS WELCOME
We extend a special welcome to everyone no matter their relationship status, sexual orientation, gender identity, race, ethnicity, (dis)ability, weight, faith, or profession.
DROP-IN CLASS POLICIES
While we do welcome drop-ins for some of our monthly class series, there are a few things you should know:
- For classes explicitly marked as “drop-ins” such as our Fifth Tuesday/Thursday classes, there is no need to contact us. Just show up ready to dance!
- Our West Coast Swing Basics class is a drop-in class. No registration or partner is required. If you have no experience with West Coast Swing, we’ll get you to take the Free West Coast Swing Intro lesson on a Saturday night first. After that, you may attend the drop-in on any week you like. The class will cycle through eight (8) different drop-in lessons, and we ask that you take at least six (6) of them before moving on to higher level classes.
- Classes after WCS Basics and classes in Hustle and Country Two-Step are designed to be progressive classes spanning four weeks. Drop-ins may be permitted at the instructor’s discretion, so don’t hesitate to ask.
- Most of our classes have a prerequisite of some sort. If you’ve learned our dances from a different teacher and don’t know if your experience matches our class levels, contact us and we’ll put you in touch with the class’ instructors.
UPCOMING CLASSES
IMPORTANT!
We've officially begun migrating to a new progression system for our WCS syllabus. If you are not sure what some of these classes are, please see the description section below. If you are returning to classes after a hiatus and your last session was under our old numbered WCS syllabus, drop us a line and we'll help you figure out where to jump back in.
For now, our Country Two-Step and Hustle classes will use the old numbered progression system.
Pricing
- Drop-in: $20 (the Saturday WCS Basics class drop-in includes entry to the social dance that night)
- Four-week series: $80
- Saturday Night Intro to WCS Lesson: FREE with admission to the social dance!
Some classes may have specialty pricing or bulk discounts applied. For details go to our registration page linked above.
CLASS DESCRIPTIONS
While you are welcome to register and attend our classes with a partner, it is not required. Classes will rotate partners frequently.
Our WCS Basics class is designed to be fully drop-in, so once you've taken the WCS Intro, you may join in any week thereafter.
Other classes are designed to be progressive. Drop-ins may be accepted at the discretion of the instructors.
If you've been taking lessons for a particular dance under our old syllabi or from a different studio and want to know where you should pick up classes with us, let us know and we'll help you out!
Overview
This is the start of your journey. In these classes, you’ll learn the basic rules and patterns of WCS. If you have no experience with WCS, you’ll start in this tier. If you have learned some WCS elsewhere or through our previous numbered classes, let us know and we’ll work with you to figure out the best place for you to start.
FREE West Coast Swing Intro
Designed for those with no experience with West Coast Swing, this is the first stop on your West Coast Swing journey. Over the course of this one hour crash course, learn enough about the mechanics of West Coast Swing to dance and have fun in our Saturday night socials.
This class is drop-in only and is free!
No previous experience required!
West Coast Swing Basics
This class is the next stop after the Intro. Learn the core 6 and 8 count patterns that make up the foundation of West Coast Swing. This class is fully drop-in, so there is no registration required and you can join in any time after you’ve taken the Free WCS Intro.
This class is fully drop-in.
Patterns: left and right side pass, sugar push and tuck, passing tuck, inside roll, whip, free spin.
Required WCS Intro Class!
West Coast Swing Basics (Accelerated)
This is the same as the WCS Basics class above, but compressed into four weeks instead of eight. Because the content is packed pretty tightly, drop in is only available on the first week.
No prerequisite.
West Coast Swing Connect The Dots
In this capstone followup to WCS Basics, learn aspects of connection and quality of movement to improve your overall dancing and set you up to learn how to unlock the improvisation that makes WCS so magical. This class is a four-week progressive class series and is not drop-in friendly.
Prerequisite: at least 6 different lessons from WCS Basics
Overview
In this second tier, we have four different classes each honing in on an important pillar of West Coast Swing. While these classes will continue teaching new patterns to round out your vocabulary, they will also be more exploratory as a means to discover how even small changes in the moment can completely transform the look and feel of an otherwise familiar pattern.
Classes in this tier are all four-week progressive series, but each session can be taken in any order
ALL CLASSES ON THIS TIER REQUIRE THAT YOU HAVE TAKEN WCS CONNECT THE DOTS
WCS Concepts: Rotation
While rotation includes the technique followers especially need to master turning, it’s so much more. In addition to turn technique, learn how to use angles, over-rotation, and under-rotation as either a leader or as a follower to change the dynamic of your basic patterns.
WCS Concepts: Musicality
When learning a dance, it’s easy to get caught up in executing patterns and forget that every partner dance has an invisible third partner: the music. Learn to tune back to the songs you’re dancing to and give your WCS a more dynamic feel that you can adapt to any style of music.
WCS Concepts: Whips
You’ve learned a basic whip and maybe a variation or two by now, but whips aren’t so much a pattern as an entire archetype of patterns based on the follower passing the leader and being redirected back to where they started. In this class, learn a variety of different ways to move through that definition and create all sorts of fun remixes of this staple WCS pattern.
Patterns: right side whip, basket whip, same side whip, open whip and behind the back whip
WCS Concepts: Physics
WCS makes heavy use of momentum, constantly creating, diffusing, and redirecting it. Learn important aspects of how to manage and moreover shape this momentum to create exciting breakout moments within a dance.
Patterns: repeaters, hustle check, scrolls and slingshots.
WCS Connect The Dots PLUS
Much like the previous Connect The Dots class, this class is a capstone on the material from the WCS Concepts Tier. The goal is to start mixing and matching patterns, rhythms, and techniques from previous classes to help you start finding your groove as a dancer.
Prerequisite: At least three other classes from the WCS Concepts Tier
Overview
By now, you’ve been dancing for a while and you’re really ready to take your dancing to the next level. In this tier of classes, we revisit each of the topics from the previous tier, but turn up the heat with more challenging variations, more intricate technique, and even more experimentation and exploration.
Classes in this tier are all four-week progressive series. They are also designed to be taken in any order and you may start on these classes once you have taken at least three of the four classes in the WCS Concepts Tier or have instruction permission. Before taking a class at the Concepts Plus Tier, it’s strongly recommended that you take the class with the same name in the previous tier. If you’ve taken Rotation, Musicality, and Whips but not Physics, we do not recommend taking Physics Plus as that class will build on the material from the previous tier.
ALL CLASSES ON THIS TIER REQUIRE THAT YOU HAVE TAKEN WCS CONNECT THE DOTS PLUS
WCS Concepts: Rotation
Description coming soon.
WCS Concepts: Musicality
By now you’ve probably seen some Youtube videos of high-level WCS, and the moments that always stand out most are the “hits” or “breaks” where dancers line up their movements with big changes in the music. Begin learning how to land those hits yourself, at first using simple patterns and stylings, and work your way up to bigger movements starting early to land the hit at exactly the right moment.
WCS Concepts: Whips
Description coming soon.
WCS Concepts: Physics
Description coming soon.
Overview
This isn’t so much a class as a playground. Intended for the seasoned dancer with plenty of experience under their belt, this semi-directed class will provide prompts for exploration, and an emphasis on collaboration with peers to tap into your collective creativity and technical prowess to create the best dances possible.
This class is by invitation only. For targets to reach, we expect at a bare minimum that you have taken all of the classes in the Concepts+ tier and have been social dancing regularly throughout your journey. Experience with competition and performance are a plus, but are not required.
Hustle 1
Start your journey with the syncopated three-count basic and some of the key patterns that make up Hustle.
No prior experience necessary!
Hustle 2
Build on the concepts from Hustle 1 while learning new patterns, techniques, and variations.
Prerequisite: Hustle 1 or equivalent
Hustle 3
Using the concepts and techniques from Hustle 1 and Hustle 2, explore the many variations of wraps, a staple Hustle pattern.
Prerequisite: Hustle 2 or equivalent.
HUSTLE 4
Deepen your understanding of Hustle with turn variations and start exploring ways to change the “spoke” you and your partner share.
Prerequisite: Hustle 3 or equivalent.
Hustle Next Steps
Progress your Hustle through challenging new patterns, techniques and drills to improve your core basics.
This class will run with variable topics and teachers and will be tailored to the needs and capabilities of the students. Most classes will be accessible to drop-ins, but some may be offered as a series. Speak with an instructor for more information.
Prerequisite: Generally, this class will require at least Hustle 3 or instructor permission, but prerequisite may vary depending on the topic.
Country Two-Step 1
Start your journey into Country Two-Step by learning the basic frame, patterns and transitions that will get you whirling and twirling around the floor.
No prior experience necessary!
Country Two-Step 2
Build on the concepts from Country Two-Step 1 with new patterns, positions, transitions, and timings to bring your Country Two-Step to the next level.
Prerequisite: Country Two-Step 1 or equivalent.
Country Two-Step 3
Learn more advanced pattern archetypes and transitions, including weaves, multiple turns, and timing changes.
Prerequisite: Country Two-Step 2 or equivalent.
Country Two-Step 4
In this capstone course, learn more complex pattern bases and get practice chaining various moves together without having to return to a basic.
Prerequisite: Country Two-Step 3 or equivalent.
PROMOTIONS
- Students registering for a class they’ve already taken with us are eligible for a 50% discount! Contact us directly for access to that offer.
LOCATION
Currently, all of our classes and dance parties are held at 1574 Walkley Rd, Ottawa.
The studio is on the second floor, with parking and building entrance located at the back of the building.
West Coast Swing
A linear dance with a smooth, elastic aesthetic and an emphasis on improvisational movement.
Country Two-Step
A dance done to country music with a strong focus on travel and turning for both partners.
Hustle
A fun and stylish partner dance modelled after the dances of the disco era in the USA in the 1970s.
Line Dance
A solo, choreographed dance with repetitive movements focusing on footwork and timing.