Workshops

Workshops with Nelson Clarke
November 24, 2024

Schedule

• Workshop 1 with Nelson Clarke – 10:15-11:45am – All Levels
• Workshop 2 with Nelson Clarke – 12:00-1:30pm – All Levels
• WCS Intro Class with Jess – 1:30-2:15pm
• Social dance – 2:15-4:30pm

Cost

$40 per workshop, $70 for both before November 18th
$45 per workshop, $80 for both after November 18th
Includes social dance and Intro class. Requires registration.

Social dance with Intro class is $15 (or $10 if travelling more than 40 km). Pay at the door.

Workshop Description

These workshops will focus on cool stuff.

Nelson Clarke was introduced to Line Dancing by his grandmother in Cornwall, Ontario, when he was just 11 years old and took to it like a fish to water. He discovered West Coast Swing while on tour with a Line Team that performed across North America and never looked back. Known for his exceptional musicality and his success in competition as both a lead and follow in the All Star division, Nelson currently teaches private lessons and workshops and specializes in choreographing routines.

Steven James Advanced Workshop
October 20, 2024

Schedule

• Advanced Workshop with Steven James – 10:45-12:15am – Kick it, Duck it, Drop it
• Intermediate lesson – 12:30-1:30pm
• Beginner lesson – 1:30-2:15pm
• Social dance – 2:15-4:30pm

Cost

Advanced Workshop and dance is $45 before October 11 ($55 after October 11). Includes social dance and lessons. Requires registration.
Social dance with intermediate and/or beginner lesson is $15 (or $10 if travelling more than 40 km). Pay at the door.

Workshop Description

This workshop will focus on advanced techniques to competently and safely lead and follow advanced patterns that require leverage and awareness of shared balance points through physical connection (rides, ducks, dips). Registration is limited to students who meet the following requirements:

• You can confidently and competently lead/follow foundational patterns (pushes, passes,
  whips).
• You have been dancing West Coast Swing for at least 2 years
• You have completed Foundations, Foundations 2, and at least two sessions of Repertoire with WCS London (or commensurate training in another community)
• You have strong understanding of connection technique in West Coast Swing and a working understanding of countering.

If you are unsure about whether this workshop is suitable for you, please contact us and provide a brief description of your WCS experience: swinglondon.wcs@gmail.com

To ensure lead/follow ratio, we encourage you to sign up with a partner. We will have a limited number of spots available for single dancers and will rotate partners during the workshop. 

As a professional dance instructor for 15 years, Steven James is certified in American Ballroom Smooth and Rhythm and is well known and sought after as a teacher in West Coast Swing and Hustle. Steven teaches a range of dance classes at the Joy of Dance Centre in downtown Toronto, including intermediate and introductory West Coast Swing drop-in classes on Wednesday evenings. Steven is known for the technical precision, sense of play, and generosity he brings to his dance, both as a teacher and on the social floor. An active competitor and performer in West Coast Swing and Hustle in Canada and the U.S., Steven performed in the Rising Star competition at the 2018 U.S. Open Swing Dance Championships with Shelley Saxena in Burbank, California. His exciting Hustle performances with Annie Lebedeva have been recognized with the prestigious 2023 Disco America Hall of Fame Award.

Sugar with Spice Workshop
August 12, 2024

The sugar push (or push break) is the most complex of all of the 6-beat foundational patterns in West Coast Swing. In this workshop, Claudia Amaral and Jess Polzer will explore the connective and energetic dynamics of the sugar push in 2-beat increments. Then we will provide you with examples and tools for how to think about spicing up your sugar push so that you can add variety and texture to your dance, become more musical, and inspire your partner. Instruction will be focused on both leads and follows.

Due to the studio space, we are limiting this workshop to 16 participants. Please bring dance shoes with soles that are suitable and safe for turning. Heels should not be higher than 1.25 inches (standard WCS sandal). You are welcome to dance in socks.

Cost: $25

Time and Date: Monday August 12, 6:30-8pm

Location: 430 Waterloo St, London, ON, right side rear entrance

Registration: Save your spot by sending an e-transfer to Jessica Polzer at jpolzer@uwo.ca with a note that says “sugar with spice workshop” and include your email so we can confirm receipt of payment.

Due to limited space, we cannot provide refunds if you cancel but we will send you the recap videos and are happy to answer any questions you have at a later date.

Claudia Amaral’s love of dancing comes from 10 years of Ballroom, Latin, Bellydance and West Coast Swing training. Currently, she teaches Bellydance at a local studio and helps teach West Coast Swing in London, Ontario. She competes in the intermediate World Swing Dance Council division as a follow.

Jessica (Jess) Polzer has been dancing and learning the art and science of West Coast Swing for the past 9 years and leads West Coast Swing classes in London, Ontario. She competes in the intermediate World Swing Dance Council division (as a lead and follow) and trains regularly with top All Star and Champion level WCS dancers.

Turning Technique Workshop
July 8, 2024

*WORKSHOP IS FULL*  Please email Jess at jpolzer@uwo.ca if you’d like to be put on a waiting list.

In this workshop, Shaii Woods and Jess Polzer will provide you with the fundamental concepts and techniques to execute turns and spins in your dancing with greater skill, precision, and confidence. The workshop is of value to both followers and leaders and will focus primarily on individual movement. Using drills, we will help you:

• gain a greater awareness of your body position and central axis of rotation;
• understand how to generate power for turning and spins;
• understand how to maintain your balance through turns and spins;
• understand how to control and complete your turns.

The first half of the workshop will be led by Shaii Woods and will focus on the foundations of turning technique. The second half will be led by Jess Polzer and will focus on implementing these principles in the context of West Coast Swing partner dancing.

Due to the studio space, we are limiting this workshop to 15 participants. Please bring dance shoes with soles that are suitable and safe for turning. Heels should not be higher than 1.25 inches (standard WCS sandal). You are welcome to dance in socks.

Cost: $25

Time and Date: Monday July 8, 6:30-8pm

Location: 430 Waterloo St, London, ON, right side rear entrance

Registration: Save your spot by sending an e-transfer to Jessica Polzer at jpolzer@uwo.ca with a note that says “turning workshop” and include your email so we can confirm receipt of payment.

Jess and Shaii are excited to combine their teaching skills and passion for dance in this workshop. With over 15 years of dance and acrobatic training, Shaii discovered his love for West Coast Swing dancing within the London community. He has a minor in Modern Dance from Western University where he learned to truly appreciate the shapes, dynamics, and control expressed through the human body. His studies and training are reflected in his background in professional performance and choreography, both on stage and on film for national and international audiences. After a long pause in formal dance training, Jess has been dancing and learning the art and science of West Coast Swing for the past 9 years and currently leads West Coast Swing classes in London, Ontario. She competes in the intermediate World Swing Dance Council division (as a lead and follow) and trains regularly with top All Star and Champion level WCS dancers.

Kyle Fitzgerald Workshops (All levels)
June 9, 2024

Schedule

• Workshop 1 – 10:15-11:45am – How to Look and Feel Smooth and Grounded
• Workshop 2 – 12:00-1:30pm – Creating Elasticity through Connection in Partnership
• Intro class with Jess – 1:30-2:15pm
• Social dance – 2:15-4:30pm

Cost

Each workshop is $35 before May 29 ($45 after May 29). Both workshops is $60 before May 29 ($80 after May 29). Registering for the workshops includes the social dance. The cost of the social dance is $15 (or $10 if travelling more than 40 km).

Workshop Descriptions

These all-levels workshops will help you understand and develop your skills in the technical aspects of what makes West Coast Swing dancing so smooth and stretchy. The information and drills in these workshops are essential for all dancers, whether you have just completed one of our Foundations courses or have been dancing for many years!!

Participants must have experience leading and/or following pushes, passes, and whips. If you have just completed one of our Foundations series and want to improve the quality of your individual movement and connection skills, these workshops are perfect timing for you!

Workshop 1 – How to Look and Feel Smooth and Grounded: This workshop will focus on the different kinds of weight transfer used in West Coast Swing and how to control weight transfer in individual movement.

Workshop 2 – Creating Elasticity through Connection in Partnership: This workshop will focus on how to create stretch and compression with resistance and elasticity and how to use arcs to create momentum and redirection.

“My favourite thing about this dance is the journey — the rabbit holes of improvisational possibility and the diversity of music and style”

Kyle Fitzgerald is a luminary in the world of dance whose passion for movement began at the tender age of 9 years old. Born and raised in the vibrant city of Toronto, Kyle’s childhood was spent in the lively environment of a dance studio where he first encountered the elegant world of ballroom and Latin dance styles. In 2010, Kyle’s dance journey took a pivotal turn when he discovered the dynamic and captivating dance form known as West Coast Swing, which propelled him into the spotlight of competitive dance. Kyle’s dedication to his craft and innate talent led him to become a two-time US Open Champion and a top All-Star competitor with triumphs in Jack and Jill competitions at numerous events in seven countries.

As a dedicated teacher of West Coast Swing, Kyle is well known for his expertise and thoughtful instruction in the technical aspects of the dance and for helping his students understand and master the intricate relationship between connection, communication, and creativity. On the social floor, Kyle is regarded as one of the most friendly and generous professional dancers on the West Coast Swing circuit who thrives in leading and following partners at all levels and from diverse dance backgrounds.

Kyle has trained extensively with West Coast Swing Champion Robert Royston and more recently with Champions from the Schwimmer School, Thibault and Nicole Ramirez.

All Levels Workshops with Chris and Melissa Moy
April 28, 2024

Schedule
Workshop 1 – 10:15-11:45am – Connection in West Coast Swing
Workshop 2 – 12:00-1:30pm – Breaking Out of the Basics
Intro class with Jess – 1:30-2:15pm
Social dance – 2:15-4:30pm

Cost
Each workshop is $30 before April 14 ($40 after April 14). Both workshops is $50 before April 14 ($80 after April 14). Registering for the workshops includes the social dance. The cost of the social dance is $15 (or $10 if travelling more than 40 km).

Workshop Descriptions

Workshop 1 – Connection in West Coast Swing
In this workshop, we will explore the elements of connection in West Coast Swing by building from the bottom up. We will explore body positioning, foot work, hand hold and frame to level up your connection with your partner. We will explore expanding your creativity in the dance by using connection in both open and closed positions. Participants should know: left side pass, right side pass (under arm turn), sugar push (push break), basic whip, basic starter.

Workshop 2 – Breaking Out of the Basics
In this workshop, we will look at the ways to bump up your basics and foundational patterns by introducing elevated movement and musicality concepts. Through the use of foundational patterns and guided drills, we will help you on the journey to developing your own style in the dance. It will be helpful to know the following patterns: left side pass, right side pass (under arm turn), sugar push (push break), basic whip, left tuck, front tuck, single turn basics, and basic starter step.

Drills, practice, questions & feedback: During the last half hour of each workshop, we’ll answer questions, give feedback, and review-record a video recap of the practice drills presented in the workshop.

Known for their entertaining style and emotionally captivating musicality, Chris and Melissa Moy are premier West Coast Swing Dance Instructors in the Ann Arbor and Metro Detroit area. They offer a unique teaching experience focused on technique, purposeful practice, and fun all while adapting their instruction technique to each student and fostering each dancer’s unique style. As the originators of Monday Night Swing! and its former dance studio in Ann Arbor for 10 years, they are enthusiastic about growing West Coast Swing around Michigan and forming relationships with other dance communities. Melissa and Chris Moy are pleased to offer their instruction services for workshops, private lessons, group lessons, choreography, and demonstrations. Melissa and Chris can be regularly found dancing and teaching around the Metro Detroit area and West Coast Wednesdays in Centerline.

Nelson Clarke Workshop
November 19, 2023

Workshop: 11:00-1:00

Shake Up Your Foundations – In this workshop, you will learn how to make your dancing more musical by adding shape, texture, and rhythm variations to foundational movements and patterns. Knowledge of foundational patterns (pushes, passes, whips) in WCS is required.

$50 for Workshop and Social Dance ($40 if you register before November 10)

$45 for Workshop only ($35 if you register before November 10)

Beginner Lesson and Social Dance: 1:00-4:00

$15 if not attending workshop ($10 if driving > 40km); free for first-timers

Nelson Clarke was introduced to Line Dancing by his grandmother in Cornwall, Ontario, when he was just 11 years old and took to it like a fish to water. He discovered West Coast Swing while on tour with a Line Team that performed across North America and never looked back. Known for his exceptional musicality and his success in competition as both a lead and follow in the All Star division, Nelson currently teaches private lessons and workshops and specializes in choreographing routines.

West Coast Swing Foundations Refresher Workshop
Monday, September 11, 2023

Workshop: 6:30-8:30 pm

Get back on your dancing feet with this refresher course. Review the foundational patterns of west coast swing (pushes, passes, whips) just in time to start Foundations II on September 18! Ideal for those who have completed Foundations or the Introductory workshop. Partner not required.

Location: Polish Hall, 554 Hill St.

Instructor: Claudia Amaral

Cost: $25 via eTransfer to swinglondon.wcs@gmail.com

Introduction to West Coast Swing Workshop
Sunday, July 9, 2023

Workshop: 10:00-12:00

This workshop will introduce the foundational patterns of west coast swing: pushes, passes, and whips. Dancers and non-dancers welcome!
Partner not required

Location: 430 Waterloo St. (right side at back, up stairs)

Instructors: Jessica Polzer and Claudia Amaral

Cost: $25 via eTransfer to swinglondon.wcs@gmail.com

Introduction to WCS Whips Workshop
Sunday, August 20, 2023

Workshop: 10:00-12:00

This workshop is a follow-up to the Introduction to West Coast Swing workshop and will introduce whips. Basic knowledge of pushes and passes, or participation in the previous workshop are necessary.

Location: 430 Waterloo St. (right side at back, up stairs)

Instructors: Jessica Polzer and Claudia Amaral

Cost: $25 via eTransfer to swinglondon.wcs@gmail.com

Joanna Swanson Workshop
June 25, 2023

Workshop: 11:30-1:15

This workshop will focus on how to lead and follow dips and tricks safely and how followers can decline and adjust these invitations. Knowledge of foundational patterns (pushes, passes, whips) in WCS is required.  $30 if register before June 15 ($35 after June 15)

Beginner Lesson and Social Dance: 1:25-4:00

Includes introductory WCS lesson. $5 with workshop; $10 without; free for first-timers

Nelson Clarke Workshops
April 30, 2023

Workshop 1: 10:30-11:45 – Line dance

This workshop will focus on improving the quality of solo movement and will be oriented to movements that can be applied to west coast swing. No prior knowledge of west coast swing necessary. All dancers and non-dancers welcome! $20 if register before April 1 ($25 after April 1)

Workshop 2: 12:00-1:30 – West Coast Swing

This workshop will focus on a technical concept/idea that is central to West Coast Swing and will use patterns to drill the technique and add to dancers’ repertoire. Knowledge of foundational patterns (pushes, passes, whips) in WCS is required.  $30 if register before April 1 ($35 after April 1)

Beginner Lesson and Social Dance: 1:30-4:00

Includes introductory WCS lesson. $5 with workshop(s)

Nelson Clarke was introduced to Line Dancing by his grandmother in Cornwall, Ontario, when he was just 11 years old and took to it like a fish to water. He discovered West Coast Swing while on tour with a Line Team that performed across North America and never looked back. Known for his exceptional musicality and his success in competition as both a lead and follow in the All Star division, Nelson currently teaches private lessons and workshops and specializes in choreographing routines.

Musicality
Not Running at this Time.

Webster Defines Musicality as:

• Sensitivity to, knowledge of, or talent for music
• The quality of being musical

For a dancer it means to make the dance fit the music.  This in turn means using movement to represent and emphasize the tempo, harmony, melody and vocals in a song.

Adding musicality to your dance requires some understanding of the structure of the music itself.  It also means you must be connected to the music.

This course is not about learning patterns but more to how to take your existing patterns and shape them to the music. There will be a fair bit of theory and exercises to help you become a more musical dancer.

This series is aimed at dancers who have strong understanding of their basics.

Here is a video of a song danced to the music