FAQ

West Coast Swing is a partner dance evolved from the traditional swing dances. It's characterised by its elastic look created by a distinctive 'slot' or line along which the partners move. What makes WCS unique is its highly improvisational nature and ability to be danced to a wide variety of music, from blues and country, contemporary pop, R&B and more.

No, you don't need a partner to join our classes. We rotate partners throughout the class to enhance learning and ensure everyone gets to dance with different people. Partner rotation is an essential part of learning WCS, as it allows you to develop adaptability and improve your leading/following skills.

If you do not wish to rotate in class, instead stay with your partner, please let the teachers know before class starts.

Comfortable, casual clothing is recommended. Most dancers wear jeans or pants with a top that allows for movement. For footwear, suede-soled dance shoes or dance sneakers that allow you to pivot easily are ideal. Avoid tap shoes or any footwear that has metal on the soles as they can damage the wooden floor. Many beginners start with casual shoes or boots before investing in dance shoes.

Absolutely! Our 4-week Beginner Bootcamp classes are specifically designed for people with no dance experience. We start with the basics and progress at a comfortable pace. West Coast Swing is a welcoming dance community, and everyone remembers what it was like to be a beginner.

Our 4-week Beginner Bootcamp is a progressive course, which is why we do not offer single entries.

If you cannot commit to the 4-week course but still want to give West Coast Swing a go, we recommend booking private lessons or the Intro Class before one of our monthly socials!

Alternatively, we encourage you to check out Our West Coast Swing Friends around Melbourne offering casual beginner classes on other nights of the week.

Consistency is key in learning any dance. We recommend attending at least one class per week, plus social dancing when possible. However, the more you practice, the faster you'll progress. Many dedicated students take multiple classes per week across different levels and studios to accelerate their learning.

Yes, we offer private lessons. These can be scheduled directly with the instructor of your choice or through our email and socials. Rates and availability may vary.

Absolutely! In fact, we offer FREE entry to all short-term visitors from interstate or overseas to our regular Monday nights and monthly socials. Simply drop us a line on our socials or email to let us know that you're coming.

We offer several payment options: Book online via our website or Humanitix, pay by credit/debit card or tap or cash at the door.

Yes! Social dancing is always included in your entry fee at the end of our Monday weekly classes. We also host monthly social parties where you can put what you've learned in class into practice. These are usually held on Saturday evenings and are open to students of all levels. Social dancing is a crucial component of improving your West Coast Swing skills and a great way to connect with the dance community.

Group classes follow a structured curriculum where all students learn the same material simultaneously. They're great for building community and practicing with different partners.

Private lessons can be scheduled outside of regular class times. They are one-on-one or small group sessions with one or two instructors focused entirely on your specific needs, challenges, and goals.

Many students benefit from combining both approaches.

Our regular classes are open to all ages. For those under 18, we require parental/guardian consent and supervision.

West Coast Swing has skills and techniques that are unique to this dance style. The basics are not re-taught in our Level 2 and 3 classes, so we require all new students to complete our Beginner Bootcamp or equivalent before attending upper level classes.