You may or may not know but West Coast Swing is the state dance of California in the USA!

From it's roots in California, WCS like many dances has gone through numerous tweaks and modifications by various teachers throughout the years. Even today the dance carries a different 'feel' dependant on where you dance in the US. This is natural for most dances and represents an evolution of that particular style.
Although this can be seen as a natural progression the process does bring with it it's own complications. Utilising different terminology together with names and techniques also provides scope for ambiguity for people who are learning.  

Now West Coast Swing has moved across the pond to the UK these differences are being replicated over here. It may well even get to the point where we have a 'UK Style' !!
 

Based in California itself is an organisation that has been developing teaching methods and principles for WCS over many many years. To say this organisation has been, and still is to this day, at the forefront of WCS development is a huge understatement. This organisation is known as the 'Golden State Dance Teachers Association' (GSDTA).

Not only have the GSDTA produced some of the top stars in the world of WCS,  they also continue to lead the way in providing the most concise and structured form of dance instruction available.

Now, with all that said, it makes sense that we should utilise the principles laid out by the GSDTA here at MoreThanMoves. That's exactly what we are doing.
Our beginner level classes and workshops will provide you with a solid base for your WCS and will also provide you with all of the tools you need to go forward. The techniques we teach, as mentioned above, have been developed over a long long time. This is evidenced in our beginners syllabus. Each and every pattern of the beginners syllabus has been selected as a pattern that contains a key ingredient in devloping a dancers' West Coast Swing knowledge and ability.

To improve in dance not only takes knowledge, it also takes understanding. That is why we are committed to giving you all the help you need. 

If you would like to know more about the GSDTA why not visit their website - www.swingworld.com

 

As mentioned above, WCS has been tweaked and changed so many times by so many different instructors in the US so it is distinctly possible that you may have been taught different names, moves or techniques than than we teach here at MtM. So which one's correct?   Answer - They all are to some extent! 

Dancing in any form is an art. We are not here to say which way of performing that art is absolutely right or absolutely wrong. All we can do as teachers is to base our instruction on what we consider to be the clearest and most articulate apporach available. An approach that will stand you in the best stead possible. This is why we have decided to teach in accordance with the GSDTA syllabus.