WCS Dance Thru the Decades

Come “Dance Thru The Decades” to a great mix of WCS music from the 1960’s to the Top 40 of today!  Join in on a couple of fun mixer dances from years gone by and enjoy some tasty treats at the snack table!

Lesson 4 of New Program starts at 7:00pm – We are getting amazing feedback on our lessons!!!!

Dance Practice from 8:00 – 8:30 pm

Dance starts at 8:30 pm with great tunes from our DJ team!!!

The earliest versions of WCS began to appear on the Lindy/Swing scene sometime after the late 1930’s. In the 50’s one version was called “Sophisticated Swing”. Until 1961, many variations of the dance were being developed. The Arthur Murray Schools were one of the first to try to define it in some kind of formal way. The problem was that it was evolving very quickly, so by the time it was defined, the boundaries and rules had already adapted to the next “iteration” of the dance, a phenomenon that is still happening today.

The most important development for WCS came around 1961, when Murray’s “coaster step” was replaced by an “anchor step” by Skippy Blair and the GSDTA, whereby the last step of the last triple of any pattern was slightly backwards for both partners, thus creating the characteristic stretching action that fundamentally defines the dance today. Also around the same time, the name “West Coast Swing” began to be used in print instead of “Western Swing” as the Arthur Murray Schools called it.

The 1960’s could thus be said to be the real beginnings of WCS as it is done today. So here we are 55 years later, with an awesome improvisational dance that has continued to evolve and embrace the most popular “music of the day”. Join us as we dance to some of the best of the best WCS songs from the 1960’s to the top 40 of today!!

Friday Mid-Winter Blues Party

The WCSwing Calgary “Mid-Winter Blues” Party!

– THIS FRIDAY Jan 22nd –

Cold and snow getting you down? Here’s the cure!!

Get into the fun, wear something BLUE!!!

Try a Blue Hawaii Jello Shot?

Keri Barringer is joining the Team to host the Social Party!

And dance the blues away to another great playlist.

We’ve been getting rave reviews about our lessons!!!!!!

Lesson 3 of the New Program: 7pm

Mid-Winter Blues Party: 8:30pm

WCS this weekend in Calgary

Some last minute updates.

There is the regular Friday night dance now at Ballroom and Country with the lesson from 7:00 – 8:00, then a 1/2 hours practice and then the dance from 8:30 til whenever.

Saturday afternoon from 1:00 – 3:00 is a Ladies Only Drills and Styling at Ballroom and Country with laurie.  Please preregister either on Facebook or via laurie_shafer@hotmail.com as we are serving treats.

Saturday evening Andrew is hosting a dance at B&C with a lesson from 7:00 – 8:00 and a dance following the lesson.

So lots to fit into your busy schedule.  See you somewhere!

Jan 15, Lesson@7, Practice@8, dance 8:30

Wow!!! Our New Year started off with a BANG!!! It was amazing to see so many taking the lessons, helping each other discover and feel WCS and having so much fun at the dance Party.
Together we can all make 2016 an awesome year of great parties at WCSwing Calgary!!
This week is “Favourite Top or T-shirt Night”!!!! Wear a Top or T with a story behind it!!
New Venue – Ballroom & Country – THE WHOLE TOP FLOOR @ 127 17 Avenue NE (Street parking available within a couple of blocks, including west just across Centre Street or south across 16th Avenue).  
New Lessons + 1/2 hr Practice – 7:00 to 8:30 every Friday
January 15 join us for week two of the New Lesson Program. We’ll start with a warm up/review to bring our newer dancers up to speed and then add onto that for everyone!
The Party begins at 8:30 with music by Michael Yu and Laurie Shafer, and pop, chips and other treats on the snack bar! Want to contribute something to share? Bring it along…
IMPORTANT – For your calendar – No WCSwing Calgary Friday Dance on these w/e’s:
All-Out Swing Feb 26-28 with Mario/Steph and Ben/Cameo,
Calgary Dance Stampede  April 8 – 10  – Gary McIntyre, Myles and Tessa
Xtreme Swing  June 3-5  with Benji, Melissa Rutz, Deborah, and Robert Royston 
p.s.  We’re looking for a couple of people with good communications skills.  Can you help out with this?
p.s.s. January 15 is also Michael Yu’s birthday…………We’d be thrilled if you came out to help us celebrate with him!!