WEST COAST SWING
​Intensive Classes & Workshops


​​JULY 2017
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​SUNDAY, JULY 23 ONLY, 2-6 PM!  Half-day workshop!  Let's go deep, rocket forward, be brilliant! 
TECHNIQUE = EASY WCS
​​Instructors: Ken Kreshtool & Paula Wilson
Location: midtown Manhattan (see your emailed Registration follow-up for exact address—not the paypal auto-receipt, but the one that we'll individually email you a day or two later)
Prerequisite:  Open to everyone with some WCS experience.  No partner needed.
There are 2 kinds of WCS "technique."  (1) The particular technique tips that makes a particular pattern work better.  And (2) the global, more useful technique that creates great WCS social dancing with every partner …  glues all of WCS together … and makes every pattern you already know, and every pattern you'll learn in the future, work better.  In this workshop, we'll tackle both, with a strong focus on the 2nd kind. 
• Part 1  (2-4pm)  TECHNIQUE, TECHNIQUE, PLUS SOME TECHNIQUE
Part 1 is a deep go-through and cleaning up of our WCS technique and building blocks, in the context of all the basic (and some not-so-basic) patterns ... that several folks have asked us for.  Let's go deep, become amazing!  This is fundamental technique — not in the sense of being simple, but in the sense that it underlies absolutely everything that good WCS dancers do.  Master this, and you are well on your way to mastering WCS. 
     Along the way, we'll note some of those interesting places where there are 2 or 3 standard "correct" ways to do something. (e.g., Leader step Forward on 2?  Back on 2?  "Stay" on 2?)  And we’ll gently explore the pros and cons and historical roots of each, and why we usually prefer one of them.
     Prerequisite:  Open to everyone with some WCS experience.  No partner needed.
• Part 2  (4:05-6pm)  APPLY IT, IMPROVE IT, MASTER IT:  MAKING WICKED FANCY STUFF EASY, BASED ON PART 1 TECHNIQUES
Technique only matters if it helps us dance better and learn faster.  Let's apply it, improve it, master it!  We will apply our Part 1 technique skills and principles to learning and dancing some wicked fancy moves as examples, focusing on how applying Part 1 makes dancing (and learning) all of WCS about 10 times easier.  We'll add some advanced technique as needed.  As a bonus, we'll pick up a couple of fancy cool moves, variations, and styling along the way.  Join us!
     Prerequisite:  Part 1 (or Paula & Ken's Level 201+301 class).  No exceptions, thanks!  No partner needed.

In both parts, there will be hands-on coaching and dance practice time.

EARLY BIRD PRICE (good until Saturday July 22, 11:59 pm!)
     Whole workshop:  $85
     Part 1 only:  $48
     Part 2 only (without Part 1): available only to our 201+301 alumni. Contact us directly. ($48)
 REGULAR PRICE (after Saturday July 22, 11:59 pm)
     Whole workshop:  $100
     Part 1 only:  $60
     Part 2 only (without Part 1): available only to our 201+301 alumni. Contact us directly. ($60)
AUGUST 2017  -  No classes or workshops.  Happy summering! 
​SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER
NOVEMBER  2017
Our FALL sessions of classes will begin Monday, September 11.  ​
Stay in touch!  You will be the first to know as soon as the schedule details are finalized! ​​
Here's what we know so far.  Details coming soon!
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​WCS LEVEL 101+201 INTENSIVE CLASS
​"Intensively Amazing!  For Absolute Beginner Through Intermediate(+) Dancers."  
Mondays  •  starting Monday September 11
Instructors:  Ken Kreshtool & Paula Wilson.  
Location:  midtown Manhattan (see your emailed Registration receipt for exact address)
See very complete 101+201 description below – scroll down!
​WCS LEVEL 202+301 INTENSIVE CLASS
​"Intensively Onward & Upward!  For Intermediate And Pre-Advanced Dancers."  
Mondays  •  starting Monday September 11
​​​​Instructors:  Paula Wilson & Ken Kreshtool
Location:  midtown Manhattan (see your emailed Registration receipt for exact address)
We'll continue upward and onward with advanced Building Blocks (partnered-movement skills & techniques), and the many terrific patterns and stylings that they let us create effortlessly. Er, almost effortlessly.  This class will include aesthetics and musicality skills for both Followers and Leaders, along with other new material that is different from all previous classes. 
​• Prerequisite:  For Ken & Paula's 101 alumni only.  (Alumni from our previous higher level classes will individually be given special even-higher level material to work on.)
• Students in this class may stay for Level 101+201 for FREE!
Let Me Know Details ASAP!
Every Month:  Private Lessons
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We are available for Private Lessons ($75/hr for one instructor, $130/hr for both instructors, + room rental fees, typically about $15-45/hr).  We are also available for semi-private and small-group lessons, as well as corporate and private events.  Contact us here.
VERY COMPLETE CLASS DESCRIPTION
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WCS LEVEL 101+201 INTENSIVE CLASS:  
"INTENSIVELY AMAZING!  FOR ABSOLUTE BEGINNER THROUGH INTERMEDIATE+ DANCERS."  
Instructors: Ken Kreshtool & Paula Wilson
Location: midtown Manhattan (see your emailed Registration follow-up for exact address—not the paypal auto-receipt, but the one that we'll email you a day or two later)
​​
For Absolute Beginner through Intermediate(+).  
     Also recommended for:
     • people who have other partner-dance experience and want to learn WCS really fast, without having to plow through a standard WCS Beginner class.  
     • people who have taken some WCS classes and want a more technique-focused approach that ties it all together and helps everything work well on the actual social dance floor.  

We will learn and rapidly improve our WCS by focusing on how really good WCS dancers actually dance.  Is there a secret that makes WCS easy, and makes WCS's huge vocabulary of amazing moves and patterns easy to learn?  Yes!  We will focus on the 6 primary and 4 secondary partnered-movement building blocks of WCS.  Snap these together, and we can magically dance all Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced WCS moves & patterns with the same ease as Advanced dancers.
• Everyone in class receives focused individual attention and hands-on tips. 
• At the end of the course, we will all take a "field trip" together to a local WCS dance (optional).  You will be amazed at how good you are, and how happy everyone will be to dance with you!
​Our teaching is quite different from conventional WCS feet- and pattern-based classes, and therefore offers an excellent acceleration for all WCS dancers. 
​Prerequisite: Ability to count to 6.  We'll teach you the rest.  No partner or prior experience needed.  (If you have any prior dance experience, we will use it to maximize your learning.)
Clothing and Shoes:​ Scroll down to the "CLASS DETAILS" section below. Thanks
SATISFACTION GUARANTEED.​  100% refund available any time before the 2nd lesson, no questions asked.  So you can be sure our teaching style suits your learning style.  Risk free!
•  Absolute Beginners very welcome!  You will learn WCS effortlessly, and will be genuinely good by the end of class.  You will not feel lost at all.
• AdvBeginner and Intermediate+ WCS dancers  very welcome!  You will be amazed at how different our teaching approach is, how well it complements your existing knowledge without repeating it, and how fast you jump upward in skill.  Think of this class as an in-depth exploration of "technique" that your other teachers have touched on.  You'll learn how a small number of "advanced" technique ideas (they are usually reserved for advanced dancers, but we think that's silly) make every move and pattern in WCS much easier. Learn them here, apply them everywhere, in all patterns.
• WCS Dancers who learned WCS in the '90s or '00s?  YES!  We focus on the gentle mysteries of "contemporary WCS" while respecting "classic," so you can dance & enjoy both "classic" and "contemporary" as you choose, all night long.
• Dancers with other dance backgrounds?  YES!  This class will adapt your existing skills and experience to WCS faster than any other class anywhere.  We'll use what you already know to speed your learning.  As it happens, we "speak" many dance "languages," so we can usually translate very quickly!
          • Partner Dance background?  YES!  Ken and Paula have separately taught Lindy, Salsa, Argentine Tango, and Ballroom dance, and love Zouk, Blues, Fusion, Contra, Forró, and a ton of others. So we can almost always say to you, "Ah, this thing is exactly the same!  But this other thing is different, so let's focus on what's different about it and how to make it work beautifully in WCS!"
          • Classical / Performance / Ethnic / Theater dance background?  YES!  Paula is a graduate of the Alvin Ailey School's Professional Division.  She understands.  Like, she really understands.
BIOS, CLASS DETAILS, FAQ
Why our Intensive Classes?  It's all about the teaching!  Our unique "building blocks" teaching approach will get you out on the dance floor fast - having a great time dancing - meeting new people - while continually getting better!  Our classes themselves are friendly, entertaining, highly social, and packed with dancing!  If you want to understand WCS fast — or if you want to supplement your other WCS classes to boost your skills and technique — come join us!

"That was the best partner-dance class I've ever had of any kind, ever!" —an experienced dancer at a recent WCS class
"You guys are the gold standard for partner dance teaching. Wow." —another experienced dancer at a recent class

YOUR TEACHERS
​Paula Wilson:  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. ​

​Ken Kreshtool:  Internationally ranked West Coast Swing competition dancer.  "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).

WHAT IS WEST COAST SWING?

West Coast Swing (WCS) is a partner dance, a smoother and highly sophisticated form of Jitterbug or Lindy Hop-style Swing dance.  It kept evolving in California during the post-WW II decades when Jitterbug itself (aka Lindy Hop) 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) 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, and both partners have more freedom for musical expression, 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!), but perhaps the most challenging to fully master.  It's hugely popular on the West Coast and in Europe and South America.  Come get in on the fun as it sweeps the East Coast!
CLASS DETAILS
WHERE:  midtown Manhattan, near 34th & Lexington (see your emailed Registration receipt for exact address)

CLOTHING:  Wear anything that is comfortable.  Jeans or slacks, t-shirts are fine.  Bring an extra shirt. 
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SHOES:  
          Good footwear:  Any clean dance footwear that lets you spin comfortably is fine — dance shoes, dance sneakers, Toms, even socks.  Clean suede soles are best.  Pulling large, thin socks/footies over your shoes or sneakers works surprisingly well.   Low heels or flats are best for WCS.
           Bad footwear:  Grippy rubber soles are bad — your knees will die.  NO SPIKES OR HIGH HEELS, PLEASE!  Salsa heels, Tango heels, even character shoes, do NOT work well for WCS. 
          NOTE: Please change into your clean dance footwear in the lobby area after arriving, to preserve the nice wood floor.  If it rains or snows, definitely change into clean, dry footwear after arriving.  Thanks. 

WHAT ELSE TO BRING:  (a) All you friends!  (b) Water.  Maybe a snack.  (c) An extra shirt.  (d) Carry your dance footwear and change into it/them after you arrive.  (e) Gum. Toothbrush. Deodorant. Please.  (f) A smile! 

GENDER NOTE:  Our classes are non-gender biased.  Dance whatever role(s) you like.  We'll probably all try both roles at some point, as part of learning faster and better.

Registration

FAQ:  World's best WCS group classes? Drop-ins? Late registrations? 


​ARE THESE THE WORLD'S BEST WEST COAST SWING GROUP CLASSES?
​ARE THESE NEW YORK CITY'S BEST WEST COAST SWING GROUP CLASSES?
​Yes.
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DROP-INS PERMITTED?  Yes for our Sunday workshops.  But for our Monday classes ... no.  Our multi-week Level 101, 201, 301, and 401 classes on Monday nights are cumulative — each lesson builds on all previous lessons. 
     • However, if you are visiting from out of town and want to attend one lesson, to see what the World's Best WCS (West Coast Swing) Classes look like <insert modest cough here>, please contact us and we will almost always say yes.  We may ask you to sit on the side if we think that day's topics require preparation that you don't have yet, but we will refund you if we do that.

LATE REGISTRATIONS AFTER THE FIRST WEEK?  (For multi-week classes.)
We are extremely reluctant.  We want you (and all your partners in class) to be happy!  Not frustrated!  Our class is intensively cumulative, which is how we learn so much so quickly and easily.  We lay nearly all the groundwork in the first class.  Please come to the first lesson!  Thanks for understanding.
     • Start at 2nd lesson?  Probably not.  If you absolutely cannot attend the 1st lesson, contact us about starting at the 2nd lesson.  However, note that — just like when going to the movies — there's no discount for starting late.  Also note that we cover so much fundamental stuff in the first lesson, which we build on in all subsequent lessons, that we have never had anyone catch up after missing the first lesson.  If you absolutely must miss the 1st lesson, and absolutely cannot wait until our next full session, you are welcome to schedule a private lesson with one of us before the second lesson.
     • ​Start at 3rd lesson?  No, sorry.  We cover so much ground in the first two lessons, that we have never had anyone successfully start during lesson 3.  So we ask you to wait until our next class series starts.