Easy Brilliant
WEST COAST SWING
Become amazing! Super fast!
BEGINNER WCS INTENSIVE CRASH COURSE
Sun. March 31, 2-6pm (Part 1) - Finished!
ADV-BEGIN/INTERMED WCS INTENSIVE CRASH COURSE
Sun. April 7, 2-6 pm (Part 2 but open to all)
Finished! Awesome dancing, everyone!
Gently accelerated. Immersive. Intensive. Be amazing fast!
Sun. March 31, 2-6pm (Part 1) - Finished!
ADV-BEGIN/INTERMED WCS INTENSIVE CRASH COURSE
Sun. April 7, 2-6 pm (Part 2 but open to all)
Finished! Awesome dancing, everyone!
Gently accelerated. Immersive. Intensive. Be amazing fast!
FULL DESCRIPTION
BEGINNER WCS INTENSIVE CRASH COURSE
Sun. March 31, 2-6pm (Part 1)- Finished! Thank you!
Be amazing, super fast! A 4 hour accelerated, intensive crash course. We'll focus immediately on the things that empower you to dance WCS all night with everyone, with confidence, comfort and joy!
All the true building blocks, all the basic moves (patterns), powerful partnering skills & technique, and sweet styling. Gently accelerated for fastest & best learning. We'll focus on easy, brilliant partnered movement, to create WCS's cool moves so easily, it's almost magic.
WCS is surprisingly easy and fast to learn … if you start smart. Nearly everything in WCS is a matter of just a few "building blocks" that we mix and match. And a few super helpful "partnered movement" skills to make everything work smoothly. Once we have that, we use it to construct all the basic moves ("patterns" in WCS-speak), and we're ready to add sizzle, styling, fancier variations, and musicality! So much easier and faster this way!
ADV-BEGIN/INTERMED WCS INTENSIVE CRASH COURSE
Sun. April 7, 2-6 pm (Part 2 but open to all)
Quick but deep review, then onward and upward! Advanced Beginner and even some Intermediate technique, vocabulary, & styling. Prerequisite: 4+ hrs prior WCS classes, or any course with Ken. No partner needed.
Potential topics include:
• preps,
• outside turns,
• regular whips and whip variations,
• anchor step detailing,
• some musicality and styling pointers,
• tuck turn family and 'folds' family of moves,
• maybe hammerlock skills,
• maybe even ducks
There is always a trade off between covering lots of material quickly, which tends to be crowd pleasing but instantly forgotten ... versus covering material more slowly, which makes it so people can really do it when 'real world' dancing. We will pace things in class accordingly, with a bias towards actually mastering things and becoming ready for dancing out in the "real world".
• Instructor: KEN KRESHTOOL. "The best instructor I've ever had in ANYTHING!" –Harvard Univ. students' comments, 6 years in a row, while Ken was in a PhD program there. (For videos of Ken dancing with Paula Wilson, scroll down.)
• Location: Studios 353. 353 W 48th St (betw 8th & 9th Ave) - 2nd Floor - Studio #3. (map)
• Class size limited to 18: 9 leaders, 9 followers. Anyone can dance any role. If you are genuinely flexible on role, that's also an option on the Registration form. (NOTE: All our previous courses sold out early. No idea if this one will, but it's worth noting.)
Sun. March 31, 2-6pm (Part 1)- Finished! Thank you!
Be amazing, super fast! A 4 hour accelerated, intensive crash course. We'll focus immediately on the things that empower you to dance WCS all night with everyone, with confidence, comfort and joy!
All the true building blocks, all the basic moves (patterns), powerful partnering skills & technique, and sweet styling. Gently accelerated for fastest & best learning. We'll focus on easy, brilliant partnered movement, to create WCS's cool moves so easily, it's almost magic.
WCS is surprisingly easy and fast to learn … if you start smart. Nearly everything in WCS is a matter of just a few "building blocks" that we mix and match. And a few super helpful "partnered movement" skills to make everything work smoothly. Once we have that, we use it to construct all the basic moves ("patterns" in WCS-speak), and we're ready to add sizzle, styling, fancier variations, and musicality! So much easier and faster this way!
ADV-BEGIN/INTERMED WCS INTENSIVE CRASH COURSE
Sun. April 7, 2-6 pm (Part 2 but open to all)
Quick but deep review, then onward and upward! Advanced Beginner and even some Intermediate technique, vocabulary, & styling. Prerequisite: 4+ hrs prior WCS classes, or any course with Ken. No partner needed.
Potential topics include:
• preps,
• outside turns,
• regular whips and whip variations,
• anchor step detailing,
• some musicality and styling pointers,
• tuck turn family and 'folds' family of moves,
• maybe hammerlock skills,
• maybe even ducks
There is always a trade off between covering lots of material quickly, which tends to be crowd pleasing but instantly forgotten ... versus covering material more slowly, which makes it so people can really do it when 'real world' dancing. We will pace things in class accordingly, with a bias towards actually mastering things and becoming ready for dancing out in the "real world".
• Instructor: KEN KRESHTOOL. "The best instructor I've ever had in ANYTHING!" –Harvard Univ. students' comments, 6 years in a row, while Ken was in a PhD program there. (For videos of Ken dancing with Paula Wilson, scroll down.)
• Location: Studios 353. 353 W 48th St (betw 8th & 9th Ave) - 2nd Floor - Studio #3. (map)
• Class size limited to 18: 9 leaders, 9 followers. Anyone can dance any role. If you are genuinely flexible on role, that's also an option on the Registration form. (NOTE: All our previous courses sold out early. No idea if this one will, but it's worth noting.)
COMBO PRICE - BOTH PARTS - ALL 8 HOURS:
EARLY BIRD (Before MARCH 17 11:59 pm)
• $150, or $280 for 2 people (must dance opposite roles), except...
• $110 per person for all alumni of Ken's previous Crash Courses or classes.
• $75 for all Lindy Hop, Balboa & WCS & yoga teachers and pro dancers, or you work full-time in a dance studio.
REGULAR (MARCH 18 and after)
• $180, or $350 for 2 people (must dance opposite roles), except...
• $120 per person for all alumni of Ken's previous Crash Courses or classes.
• $110 for all Lindy Hop, Balboa & WCS & yoga teachers and pro dancers, or you work full-time in a dance studio.
PRICE FOR EITHER ONE 4-HOUR CRASH COURSE:
EARLY BIRD (Before MARCH 17 11:59 pm)
• $80, or $155 for 2 people (must dance opposite roles), except...
• $60 per person for all alumni of Ken's previous Crash Courses or classes.
• $40 for all Lindy Hop, Balboa & WCS & yoga teachers and pro dancers, or you work full-time in a dance studio.
REGULAR (MARCH 18 and after)
• $100, or $190 for 2 people (must dance opposite roles), except...
• $70 per person for all alumni of Ken's previous Crash Courses or classes.
• $60 for all Lindy Hop, Balboa & WCS & yoga teachers and pro dancers, or you work full-time in a dance studio.
Sorry - no refunds (due to strictly limited class sizes).
EARLY BIRD (Before MARCH 17 11:59 pm)
• $150, or $280 for 2 people (must dance opposite roles), except...
• $110 per person for all alumni of Ken's previous Crash Courses or classes.
• $75 for all Lindy Hop, Balboa & WCS & yoga teachers and pro dancers, or you work full-time in a dance studio.
REGULAR (MARCH 18 and after)
• $180, or $350 for 2 people (must dance opposite roles), except...
• $120 per person for all alumni of Ken's previous Crash Courses or classes.
• $110 for all Lindy Hop, Balboa & WCS & yoga teachers and pro dancers, or you work full-time in a dance studio.
PRICE FOR EITHER ONE 4-HOUR CRASH COURSE:
EARLY BIRD (Before MARCH 17 11:59 pm)
• $80, or $155 for 2 people (must dance opposite roles), except...
• $60 per person for all alumni of Ken's previous Crash Courses or classes.
• $40 for all Lindy Hop, Balboa & WCS & yoga teachers and pro dancers, or you work full-time in a dance studio.
REGULAR (MARCH 18 and after)
• $100, or $190 for 2 people (must dance opposite roles), except...
• $70 per person for all alumni of Ken's previous Crash Courses or classes.
• $60 for all Lindy Hop, Balboa & WCS & yoga teachers and pro dancers, or you work full-time in a dance studio.
Sorry - no refunds (due to strictly limited class sizes).
CLOTHING & SHOES & HYGIENE
• Wear clothing. Preferably comfortable. Bring an extra shirt and change into it as needed.
• Wear comfortable shoes that let you pivot. Suede or hard-leather soles are good. Most dance-sneaker or plastic soles are good. Grippy rubber soles like on running shoes are bad. High heels and Salsa shoes: not good for WCS; flats or low heels are much better. Character shoes: marginal; your feet will probably hurt after 30 minutes.
• NO BLACK SOLED SHOES! Studio requirement — they leave streaks. If that's all you own, wear socks or nylon thingies OVER your shoes. (Exception: Official "dance sneakers" with plastic (nylon) black soles should be OK.)
• RAIN & SNOW: Bring clean, dry shoes and change into them at the door, to protect the nice wood floors.
• Deodorant & fresh breath required. Bring a clean shirt and change into it as needed.
• Please do NOT wear perfume!
• Please do NOT use hand moisturizing lotion immediately before class (ick slippery).
COVID: We will be consistent with whatever the COVID situation is.
NOTE: Full refund available if you test positive or show any symptoms before class of cold, flu, allergies, COVID.
• Wear comfortable shoes that let you pivot. Suede or hard-leather soles are good. Most dance-sneaker or plastic soles are good. Grippy rubber soles like on running shoes are bad. High heels and Salsa shoes: not good for WCS; flats or low heels are much better. Character shoes: marginal; your feet will probably hurt after 30 minutes.
• NO BLACK SOLED SHOES! Studio requirement — they leave streaks. If that's all you own, wear socks or nylon thingies OVER your shoes. (Exception: Official "dance sneakers" with plastic (nylon) black soles should be OK.)
• RAIN & SNOW: Bring clean, dry shoes and change into them at the door, to protect the nice wood floors.
• Deodorant & fresh breath required. Bring a clean shirt and change into it as needed.
• Please do NOT wear perfume!
• Please do NOT use hand moisturizing lotion immediately before class (ick slippery).
COVID: We will be consistent with whatever the COVID situation is.
NOTE: Full refund available if you test positive or show any symptoms before class of cold, flu, allergies, COVID.
YOUR TEACHERS
Ken Kreshtool: Internationally ranked West Coast Swing competition dancer. International West Coast Swing instructor. "The best instructor I've ever had in ANYTHING!" — Harvard University students' comments, 6 years in a row, for his on-campus dance classes (while working on a PhD there). Also has advanced degrees in law, psychology, and education policy, and formerly taught ballroom, salsa, swing & lindy hop. Ken is compressing what he has learned from over 200 dance teachers into the best classes you'll find anywhere.
Paula Wilson [not teaching this session]: Internationally ranked West Coast Swing competition dancer. Graduate of the Alvin Ailey School's Professional Division. Professional modern dancer and internationally traveling Argentine Tango teacher for 12 years. Award-winning former early childhood education teacher.
Some videos of us. These are pure improvisational lead-follow dancing — we are making it up as we go along. Not choreographed, not rehearsed. Typically for a demo like this, we hand the DJ a playlist of songs and say "you choose - play any one of them."
Paula Wilson [not teaching this session]: Internationally ranked West Coast Swing competition dancer. Graduate of the Alvin Ailey School's Professional Division. Professional modern dancer and internationally traveling Argentine Tango teacher for 12 years. Award-winning former early childhood education teacher.
Some videos of us. These are pure improvisational lead-follow dancing — we are making it up as we go along. Not choreographed, not rehearsed. Typically for a demo like this, we hand the DJ a playlist of songs and say "you choose - play any one of them."
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WHAT IS WEST COAST SWING?
In very short: West Coast Swing (WCS) is Swing and Lindy Hop moves done to R&B and contemporary Pop music.
Here is a really good introductory video — a compilation of short clips of various top Champions each dancing to a different genre of music, put together by a fellow in Barcelona.
Here is a really good introductory video — a compilation of short clips of various top Champions each dancing to a different genre of music, put together by a fellow in Barcelona.
More thoroughly: West Coast Swing (WCS) is a partner dance, a smoother and highly sophisticated form of Jitterbug or Lindy Hop-style Swing dance. It spun off from Lindy Hop in California during the post-WW II decades when Lindy Hop itself went dead or dormant for 50 years. It has continued evolving dramatically even today, adapting to new music and new dancers. Over the years, it has "borrowed" (stolen and adapted) almost every cool move, turn, dip, and styling from Lindy Hop, Salsa, Hip Hop, Country, and booty-shakin', and even some Ballroom, Zouk, Tango and Blues. West Coast Swing has one of the biggest vocabularies of moves and combinations of any partner dance — and the widest range of music styles. At the same time, WCS Followers have more freedom for improvisation than in any other partner dance. WCS is the easiest of the Swing dances to learn (if you have the right teachers — that's us!), while remaining one of the most fun and challenging to fully master. Come get in on the fun!
FAQ: World's best WCS group classes?
Are these NEW YORK CITY'S best WCS group classes?
Yes. We teach completely differently, focusing on the simple core *partnered* movement elements that we mix & match to create 95% of WCS's moves & patterns. Because this is how good WCS is actually danced. WCS is so much simpler than the standard way of teaching makes it out to be. Our students are out dancing with joy and confidence all night immediately.
Are these the WORLD'S best WCS group classes?
Quite possibly.