Weekly WEST COAST SWING dancing
in New York City
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT!
WESTIE CAFE "soft" re-opening!
••• just wishing, hoping - NOTHING IS HAPPENING YET •••
BEGINNING THURSDAY, MAY or JUNE or JULY, 2021
We are going to try a "soft" re-opening of WESTIE CAFE on Thursday evenings! Because the COVID-19 emergency is still ongoing, we unfortunately need to impose some very strict limits, no exceptions:
• 30 people maximum
• You must be fully vaccinated (both shots + 2 weeks)*
• You must submit photo proof in advance: Both sides of your vaccination card.
• You must pre-register and pre-pay online.
• Absolutely no at-the-door payments / admissions / photo-proof. Everything MUST be done online in advance.
• We will have a prepared name tag waiting for you! No name tag, no admission.
*Landlord requirement. With our apologies to those who do not yet meet this condition — we hope to see you as soon as conditions allow!
We are going to try a "soft" re-opening of WESTIE CAFE on Thursday evenings! Because the COVID-19 emergency is still ongoing, we unfortunately need to impose some very strict limits, no exceptions:
• 30 people maximum
• You must be fully vaccinated (both shots + 2 weeks)*
• You must submit photo proof in advance: Both sides of your vaccination card.
• You must pre-register and pre-pay online.
• Absolutely no at-the-door payments / admissions / photo-proof. Everything MUST be done online in advance.
• We will have a prepared name tag waiting for you! No name tag, no admission.
*Landlord requirement. With our apologies to those who do not yet meet this condition — we hope to see you as soon as conditions allow!
0 PRE-REGISTERED … 30 TICKETS REMAINING
A couple more notes:
• Please do not arrive early! YSBD Studio has less space than before, and now there is literally no waiting area.
• We will be dancing in the same great space as before, with its great sound system and excellent floor!
• Your SuperDancer punch cards are on "pause" (not usable) during our "soft" re-opening period. They do remain valid and you can use them again when everything is back to normal. Sorry about that.
• We needed to bump up the admission price by $1.
• Please do not arrive early! YSBD Studio has less space than before, and now there is literally no waiting area.
• We will be dancing in the same great space as before, with its great sound system and excellent floor!
• Your SuperDancer punch cards are on "pause" (not usable) during our "soft" re-opening period. They do remain valid and you can use them again when everything is back to normal. Sorry about that.
• We needed to bump up the admission price by $1.
Part 2: Pre-pay
Because of the strict requirements, no refunds. You may transfer to another person, but they MUST submit name and photo proof of fully vaccinated, in advance.
NEXT ONE:
Westie Cafe - May 6 only - $15 |
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FUTURE:
Westie Cafe - May 13 only - $15 |
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Westie Cafe - May 20 only - $15 |
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We are your hosts for You Should Be Dancing...! Studio's WESTIE CAFE, New York City's biggest, best, friendliest (and only) weekly West Coast Swing (WCS) dance! Always 2 different DJ's per night, who play a mix of R&B/Blues and Contemporary, with more R&B/Blues flavor during the first half, shifting to much more Contemporary during the later half.*
The crowd is very friendly, non-cliquish, everyone dances with everyone. A surprisingly even spread of all ages from 20s and 30s through 60s. Also a surprisingly even spread of skill levels from absolute beginners through WSDC Intermediate, Advanced, and All Stars. Plus we almost always have a few national and international visitors to NYC, who are always very warmly welcomed.
Excellent sprung hardwood floor, superb sound system, decent A/C, free water and snacks.
$14 (cash only), $10 for age 21 and under (both students and non-students alike).
Current students of the YSBD Studio: $7
*About 4 times per year, we have special DJs, so the mix might be excitingly different those nights.
Come on in! We look forward to seeing you!
The crowd is very friendly, non-cliquish, everyone dances with everyone. A surprisingly even spread of all ages from 20s and 30s through 60s. Also a surprisingly even spread of skill levels from absolute beginners through WSDC Intermediate, Advanced, and All Stars. Plus we almost always have a few national and international visitors to NYC, who are always very warmly welcomed.
Excellent sprung hardwood floor, superb sound system, decent A/C, free water and snacks.
$14 (cash only), $10 for age 21 and under (both students and non-students alike).
Current students of the YSBD Studio: $7
*About 4 times per year, we have special DJs, so the mix might be excitingly different those nights.
Come on in! We look forward to seeing you!
YOUR HOSTS
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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). Also B.A., M.A., A.M., J.D., and formerly taught ballroom, salsa, swing (lindy hop).
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). Also B.A., M.A., A.M., J.D., and formerly taught ballroom, salsa, swing (lindy hop).
FAQ
Is this the world's best weekly WEST COAST SWING social dance (party)?
Yes.
Is there a free WCS lesson before the dance begins?
No, sorry. It's just wonderful social dancing. However, the studio we're in offers regular (paid) 4-week and 8-week WEST COAST SWING group classes. Several dance teachers at the studio, and others elsewhere in the city, offer private lessons. For more information about the studio's group classes:
YouShouldBeDancing.nyc
Yes.
Is there a free WCS lesson before the dance begins?
No, sorry. It's just wonderful social dancing. However, the studio we're in offers regular (paid) 4-week and 8-week WEST COAST SWING group classes. Several dance teachers at the studio, and others elsewhere in the city, offer private lessons. For more information about the studio's group classes:
YouShouldBeDancing.nyc
WHAT IS WEST COAST SWING?
In very short: West Coast Swing (WCS) is Swing and Lindy Hop moves done to contemporary R&B and Pop music. And with a much expanded vocabulary of very cool moves.
More thoroughly: West Coast Swing (WCS) is a partner dance. It is 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 WCS has "borrowed" (stolen) almost every cool move, turn, dip, and styling from Lindy Hop, Salsa, Hip Hop, Country, and even some Ballroom, Zouk, Tango and Blues. West Coast Swing has one of the biggest vocabularies of cool 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!), and yet one of the most challenging to fully master.
More thoroughly: West Coast Swing (WCS) is a partner dance. It is 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 WCS has "borrowed" (stolen) almost every cool move, turn, dip, and styling from Lindy Hop, Salsa, Hip Hop, Country, and even some Ballroom, Zouk, Tango and Blues. West Coast Swing has one of the biggest vocabularies of cool 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!), and yet one of the most challenging to fully master.