Frequently Asked Questions
WHAT IS WEST COAST SWING (WCS)?
WCS is a flexible, slow swing dance that is danced to a wide variety of music: modern and old-school pop, blues, Latin, funk, hip hop, R&B, and beyond. It evolved from Lindy Hop, originally an African American dance with a rich cultural history. However, it is a more sultry and fluid style of swing dancing than Lindy Hop and has been stylized to fit a large range of classic and modern music. At its heart, WCS is a lead/follow social dance, which means that the moves you see on the floor are NOT choreographed!
Fun fact: WCS is the official state dance of California!
Do you have beginner classes?
Yes, we offer a drop-in beginner class from 8pm-9pm at all of our dances unless otherwise noted. No pre-registration or partner is required (but we can check you in faster if you pay online). Bring your friends, bring your boo, or just bring you- we’ll get you out on the dance floor in one hour flat!
WHO CAN DANCE WCS?
Anyone: all bodies, ages, abilities, genders, and levels of dance experience can have fun dancing! At our dances, the crowd is typically a mix of college students all the way up to retirees. While traditional gender roles dictate that leaders are male-identified people and followers are female-identified people, we welcome dancers of all gender identities and expressions to dance the role or roles that feel most joyful for them.
DO I NEED A PARTNER?
Nope; the "social" part of social dancing means that you can dance with anybody! There are no rules about who is allowed to do the asking except to do so politely. Dancers are welcome to dance with the same partner multiple times throughout the evening; sometimes partners will dance several songs in a row together, but this is less common. During classes, dancers rotate frequently between partners to try out the material with different people.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO LEARN TO SWING DANCE?
WCS or 6-count swing basics can be learned in a couple of hours. But, like playing an instrument such as piano, the sky’s the limit! Few people have sat down at a piano for the first time and started playing Mozart. The same holds true for swing dancing. Learning WCS can take time and patience. Don’t be discouraged; take as many lessons as you can from a wide variety of teachers, enjoy the journey, and social dance a lot.
WHAT DO I WEAR? WHAT ABOUT PERSONAL HYGIENE?
Shoes that stay securely on your feet and that can slide on a wooden floor are a must for comfortable social dancing. Clothes should be easy to move in but there is no specific dress code.
Human beings all sweat, so please be sure to wear unscented deodorant/antiperspirant. Bring a towel or change of clothes if you know you sweat a lot. Partners are within arms length of each other and sometimes closer, so avoid strong-smelling food or brush your teeth before dancing.
Please avoid using scented or perfumed products immediately before and during Dirty Water WCS events. Dancers with fragrance allergies can experience debilitating symptoms if exposed to fragrances. Keeping our events fragrance-free allows everyone to spend more time dancing together!
HOW DO I KEEP MYSELF AND MY PARTNER SAFE ON A CROWDED DANCE FLOOR?
Floorcraft is an art form that both leaders and followers can practice to prevent themselves and their partner from running into other dancers on the floor. Be aware of who is around you and how close they are. Think ahead: do I have enough space to lead that pattern or do that styling? If something is suddenly uncomfortable or unsafe, it's OK to abort mission and start again. If you step on or injure someone, stop to apologize and check on them. If the injury is more serious, it's polite to escort them off the floor, seek help, and check on them again later on.
HOW DO I GET TO THE VENUE?
Directions to the venue via car and public transit as well as information on free parking can be found here.
OH NO- THE STOVE IN THE KITCHEN at APPEARS TO BE LIT!
(Applicable only to the Masonic Hall, which we use for very large events) Thanks for letting us know! Those are pilot lights and should not be turned off. The folks who own the hall will be unhappy if they can’t turn their stove on the next morning, so please, don’t touch.