BEGINNER BOOTCAMP
Zero to HERO in just 2 hours!
Montreal Westie Fest in collaboration with Évolution Swing & Studio Sonya Dance will offer a FREE bootcamp for beginners with local West Coast Swing instructors. Your instructors will provide you with a safe and fun environment in which you’ll be able to begin your dance journey with a solid foundation of West Coast Swing fundamentals, enabling you to connect and have incredible dances with dancers at all levels of experience! Afterward, we invite you to stay and dance
WHEN?
Thursday October 8th
7pm - 9pm
WHERE?
DoubleTree by Hilton Downtown Montreal
1255 Rue Jeanne-Mance, Montréal, H5B 1E5
WHO?
J C Gagné
Stéphanie Monet
Tips for the bootcamp
No partner is required
But invite your friends! You’ll rotate between various partners during the class. You may choose to lead or follow, regardless of your gender, whichever role you prefer.
Wear comfortable clothing
Pants or jeans are recommended instead of shorts. Comfy and/or stretchy jeans, yoga pants, etc. are all great options.
Wear the right shoes
Leather or suede soles recommended, avoid rubber soles if you can. You can test out your shoes by sliding them (while wearing them) on your kitchen floor, and if they don’t squeak and/or grab the floor, then they’ll probably do fine.
Hydrate
Water will be available , but feel free to bring your water bottle, Gatorade, etc. if you like.
Bring an extra shirt or change of clothes
You may want to freshen up before the social dancing.
Join the Facebook group
We have a very active group set up to help everyone find hotel room mates, rides, and strictly competition partners! Montreal Westie Fest Roomies, rides & strictly partners Facebook group
Follow the event page
To keep up to date with the latest Montreal Westie Fest info, follow our Facebook event page.
We post actively throughout the weekend and in the months leading up the event every year.
What is West Coast Swing?
MOVEMENT
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"Lead and follow" dance that emphasizes the "conversation" between the partners. A "leader" is responsible for creating patterns and is encouraged to create opportunities to allow followers to collaborate. A "follower" is responsible for accomplishing the intention of the "leader" and is encouraged to interpret according to the general intent of the "leader".
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Usually danced in a linear fashion: the "follower" moves towards the ends of the dance line while the "leader" usually remains in the center.
CONNECTION
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All movements usually end with an "anchor"; the partners are stretched opposite each other. This elasticity (stretch) is what creates the relaxed look of the style. In comparison with other swing styles, the West Coast swing is based on the "anchor" at the end of each movement.
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This style of dance is very personalized. West Coast Swing is difficult to describe because its style varies with each person while resting on common ground.
COMMUNITY
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An open and welcoming place: the West Coast Swing community makes you feel comfortable no matter the level and no matter the role. All can be "lead", "follow" or both, and all are welcome, from beginners to experts. A world of possibilities.
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West Coast Swing offers many ways to approach dance. Whether for casual dance, competition or continuing education.
West Coast Swing in Montreal
Where to learn?
Evolution Swing, dance school.
👉 www.evolutionswing.ca
Sonya Studio Dance, dance school.
👉 www.sonya.dance
Where to go dancing?
Find everything about West Coast Swing in Montréal with Westie Montreal
