Easy Brilliant
WEST COAST SWING
Become amazing! Super fast!
WCS INTENSIVE CRASH COURSE - 3 hours
Saturday, February 10, 2024, 1:00-4:00 pm
WCS for ADVANCED LINDY HOPPERS ONLY, Part 2 - Advanced Techniques, Amazing Moves
Saturday, February 10, 2024, 4:00-6:00 pm
(Postponed to a future date) ADVANCED CONNECTION SKILLS for EVERYONE
Saturday, February 10, 2024, 1:00-4:00 pm
WCS for ADVANCED LINDY HOPPERS ONLY, Part 2 - Advanced Techniques, Amazing Moves
Saturday, February 10, 2024, 4:00-6:00 pm
(Postponed to a future date) ADVANCED CONNECTION SKILLS for EVERYONE
Scroll down for full description & multi-tier pricing, including Early Bird prices!
FULL DESCRIPTIONS:
WCS INTENSIVE CRASH COURSE - 3 hours
Saturday, February 10, 2024, 1:00-4:00 pm
Be amazing, super fast! A 3 hour 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! For this accelerated Crash Course, you MUST have some prior dance or athletic experience (any amount, any genre). No partner needed. Bring a water bottle.
WCS is surprisingly 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 3 super-helpful "partner dancer" 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, variations, and musicality! So much easier and faster this way!
Special note for Lindy Hoppers: You will also strongly improve all your Lindy Hop lead-follow dancing — all variations on your Swingouts, Pass-by's, Tucks and Sugar Pushes, both leaders & followers.
• Instructor: Ken Kreshtool. "The best instructor I've ever had in ANYTHING!" –Harvard University students' comments, 6 years in a row. (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
• Class size limited to 16: 8 leaders, 8 followers. Anyone can dance any role. If you are genuinely flexible on role, that's also an option on the Registration form. Limited due to room size – we want ample space for everyone. (NOTE: All our previous similar courses sold out early. No idea if this one will, but it's worth noting.)
• Prerequisite: For this accelerated Crash Course, you MUST have some prior dance or athletic experience (any amount, any genre). No partner needed.
PRICE: Based on ability to pay, with our "more ability to pay" participants helping to subsidize:
EARLY BIRD (Before FEBRUARY 1)
• $45, or $85 for 2 people, except...
• $150 ($50/hr) per person if your household income is $300K or higher, or if you are feeling generous.
• $25 for all Lindy Hop, Balboa & WCS & yoga teachers, full-time students and pro dancers, or you work full-time in a dance studio.
REGULAR: (FEBRUARY 2 and after)
• $60, or $115 for 2 people, except...
• $210 per person if your household income is $300K or higher, or if you are feeling generous.
• $30 for all Lindy Hop, Balboa & WCS & yoga teachers, full-time students and pro dancers, or you work full-time in a dance studio.
Saturday, February 10, 2024, 1:00-4:00 pm
Be amazing, super fast! A 3 hour 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! For this accelerated Crash Course, you MUST have some prior dance or athletic experience (any amount, any genre). No partner needed. Bring a water bottle.
WCS is surprisingly 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 3 super-helpful "partner dancer" 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, variations, and musicality! So much easier and faster this way!
Special note for Lindy Hoppers: You will also strongly improve all your Lindy Hop lead-follow dancing — all variations on your Swingouts, Pass-by's, Tucks and Sugar Pushes, both leaders & followers.
• Instructor: Ken Kreshtool. "The best instructor I've ever had in ANYTHING!" –Harvard University students' comments, 6 years in a row. (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
• Class size limited to 16: 8 leaders, 8 followers. Anyone can dance any role. If you are genuinely flexible on role, that's also an option on the Registration form. Limited due to room size – we want ample space for everyone. (NOTE: All our previous similar courses sold out early. No idea if this one will, but it's worth noting.)
• Prerequisite: For this accelerated Crash Course, you MUST have some prior dance or athletic experience (any amount, any genre). No partner needed.
PRICE: Based on ability to pay, with our "more ability to pay" participants helping to subsidize:
EARLY BIRD (Before FEBRUARY 1)
• $45, or $85 for 2 people, except...
• $150 ($50/hr) per person if your household income is $300K or higher, or if you are feeling generous.
• $25 for all Lindy Hop, Balboa & WCS & yoga teachers, full-time students and pro dancers, or you work full-time in a dance studio.
REGULAR: (FEBRUARY 2 and after)
• $60, or $115 for 2 people, except...
• $210 per person if your household income is $300K or higher, or if you are feeling generous.
• $30 for all Lindy Hop, Balboa & WCS & yoga teachers, full-time students and pro dancers, or you work full-time in a dance studio.
WCS for ADVANCED LINDY HOPPERS ONLY, Part 2 - Advanced Techniques, Amazing Moves
An Accelerated Intensive Workshop
Saturday, February 10, 2024, 4:00-6:00 pm
We'll start with an accelerated reprise of WCS for Adv.Lindy Hoppers, Part 1, several months ago, if you weren't there: the "building blocks" approach to mastering WCS infinitely faster than the standard step-patterns approach, plus quickie Lindy-to-WCS conversion tips. Then we'll immerse ourselves in advanced technique elements & skills and use them to construct gorgeous WCS moves ("patterns") — skills that also allow lots of room for individual expression & musicality INSIDE the lead-follow flow. We'll apply our new insights in the context of a very cool family of infinitely variable Intermed/Adv WCS moves ... that also can work natively in Lindy Hop. If we have time, you will "build a bear": in small groups, you'll create a new move from the building blocks. Why not, eh? You'll become a genuinely good WCS dancer, dancing WCS with confidence, skill, and (hopefully) joy. And ready to steal cool WCS skills & moves back into your Lindy Hop.
Note #1: Workshop will run ELEF, or choose-a-role, or a mix, as participants prefer.
Note #2: We'll be trying to squeeze about 6 hours of workshop into 2 hours. Bring water.
• Instructor: Ken Kreshtool. "The best instructor I've ever had in ANYTHING!" –Harvard University students' comments, 6 years in a row. (For videos of Ken dancing WCS with Paula Wilson, scroll down.)
• Location: Studios 353. 353 W 48th St (betw 8th & 9th Ave) - 2nd Floor - Studio #3
• Class size limited to 14, due to room size - we want lots of room. Anyone can dance any role, or both roles.
• PREREQUISITE: Advanced Lindy Hoppers only. Seriously. You are a better Lindy Hop dancer than Ken. You have probably taught Lindy Hop or Swing classes. You do NOT need to have attended Part 1.
PRICE: Based on ability to pay, with our "more ability to pay" participants helping to subsidize:
EARLY BIRD (Before FEBRUARY 1)
• $25, or $45 for 2 people, except...
• $75 ($50/hr) per person if your household income is $300K or higher, or if you are feeling generous.
• $15 for all Lindy Hop, Balboa & WCS & yoga teachers, full-time students and pro dancers, or you work full-time in a dance studio.
REGULAR: (FEBRUARY 2 and after):
• $30, or $55 for 2 people, except...
• $100 per person if your household income is $300K or higher, or if you are feeling generous.
• $15 for all Lindy Hop, Balboa & WCS & yoga teachers, full-time students and pro dancers, or you work full-time in a dance studio.
Ken dances WCS and some Lindy Hop, and teaches WCS. Ken sez, "I'm assuming your Lindy Hop is better than mine, and I am grateful that you are willing to join me for this. If I bungle anything I say about Lindy Hop, please jump in and correct me! I look forward to a mutually respectful and joyful workshop with all of you!"
An Accelerated Intensive Workshop
Saturday, February 10, 2024, 4:00-6:00 pm
We'll start with an accelerated reprise of WCS for Adv.Lindy Hoppers, Part 1, several months ago, if you weren't there: the "building blocks" approach to mastering WCS infinitely faster than the standard step-patterns approach, plus quickie Lindy-to-WCS conversion tips. Then we'll immerse ourselves in advanced technique elements & skills and use them to construct gorgeous WCS moves ("patterns") — skills that also allow lots of room for individual expression & musicality INSIDE the lead-follow flow. We'll apply our new insights in the context of a very cool family of infinitely variable Intermed/Adv WCS moves ... that also can work natively in Lindy Hop. If we have time, you will "build a bear": in small groups, you'll create a new move from the building blocks. Why not, eh? You'll become a genuinely good WCS dancer, dancing WCS with confidence, skill, and (hopefully) joy. And ready to steal cool WCS skills & moves back into your Lindy Hop.
Note #1: Workshop will run ELEF, or choose-a-role, or a mix, as participants prefer.
Note #2: We'll be trying to squeeze about 6 hours of workshop into 2 hours. Bring water.
• Instructor: Ken Kreshtool. "The best instructor I've ever had in ANYTHING!" –Harvard University students' comments, 6 years in a row. (For videos of Ken dancing WCS with Paula Wilson, scroll down.)
• Location: Studios 353. 353 W 48th St (betw 8th & 9th Ave) - 2nd Floor - Studio #3
• Class size limited to 14, due to room size - we want lots of room. Anyone can dance any role, or both roles.
• PREREQUISITE: Advanced Lindy Hoppers only. Seriously. You are a better Lindy Hop dancer than Ken. You have probably taught Lindy Hop or Swing classes. You do NOT need to have attended Part 1.
PRICE: Based on ability to pay, with our "more ability to pay" participants helping to subsidize:
EARLY BIRD (Before FEBRUARY 1)
• $25, or $45 for 2 people, except...
• $75 ($50/hr) per person if your household income is $300K or higher, or if you are feeling generous.
• $15 for all Lindy Hop, Balboa & WCS & yoga teachers, full-time students and pro dancers, or you work full-time in a dance studio.
REGULAR: (FEBRUARY 2 and after):
• $30, or $55 for 2 people, except...
• $100 per person if your household income is $300K or higher, or if you are feeling generous.
• $15 for all Lindy Hop, Balboa & WCS & yoga teachers, full-time students and pro dancers, or you work full-time in a dance studio.
Ken dances WCS and some Lindy Hop, and teaches WCS. Ken sez, "I'm assuming your Lindy Hop is better than mine, and I am grateful that you are willing to join me for this. If I bungle anything I say about Lindy Hop, please jump in and correct me! I look forward to a mutually respectful and joyful workshop with all of you!"
MAKE ME AWESOME FAST! - COMBO PRICE - SAVE $10/person
CLOTHING & SHOES & HYGIENE: scroll down
COVID & Other Plagues: TBD as situation evolves.
COVID & Other Plagues: TBD as situation evolves.
(Postponed to a future date) ADVANCED CONNECTION SKILLS for EVERYONE
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.)
• 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.)
• 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. Our students are out dancing with joy and confidence all night immediately.
Are these the WORLD'S best WCS group classes?
Quite possibly.