Answers to common questions about WSDC events, Trial Events, Registry Events, divisions, Jack & Jill, Strictly Swing, and how to use Westie Hub.
Yes, Westie Hub is completely free. You can browse all WSDC events without an account. Creating a free account unlocks event planning tools, attendee lists, listings (partner search, room share, pass sale), the friends system, and your personal dance profile.
All events are sourced directly from the World Swing Dance Council (WSDC) registry at worldsdc.com. We sync the data regularly so the list stays current. If an event is missing or incorrect, it's likely not yet registered with the WSDC — reach out to the event organiser to get it added to the registry.
You can look up any dancer's WSDC points, division, and full competition history on Westie Hub. Search for a dancer's name in the WSDC lookup — we pull the data live from the official registry so it's always up to date.
A WSDC (World Swing Dance Council) event is a sanctioned West Coast Swing competition where dancers earn points toward their divisional ranking. Points are tracked in the WSDC registry and determine which division a dancer competes in. There are two types of WSDC-affiliated events: Registry Events (established events that have earned full sanctioning status) and Trial Events (newer events in their first year or two). Both types can award points when properly certified.
A Trial Event is a West Coast Swing competition running for the first time under WSDC oversight. Trial events now do award points, as long as the head judge is WSDC-certified. In practice, most trial events today have an approved head judge, so dancers can generally expect to earn points at them. After successfully running as a trial event, an event can apply to become a full Registry Event.
A Registry Event is a fully sanctioned WSDC competition that has been running for multiple years and meets all WSDC requirements. A Trial Event is a new competition in its first year or two, working toward full Registry status. Both can award WSDC points as long as the head judge is WSDC-certified. Registry Events have a proven track record — dancers generally know what to expect in terms of organisation, judging quality, and structure.
Use the country filter on the Events page to narrow events by location, or type a city or country name into the search bar. Switching to the Calendar view shows events laid out month by month, which makes it easy to plan around travel. All events listed here are sourced directly from the WSDC registry, so you're always seeing the official list of sanctioned competitions worldwide.
WSDC divisions from beginner to elite are: Newcomer, Novice, Intermediate, Advanced, All-Star, Sophisticated, Champion, and Invitational. Dancers earn points by placing in competitions and automatically move up once they reach the point threshold for their current division. You cannot voluntarily skip divisions — advancement is strictly point-based.
You earn points by placing in Jack & Jill or Strictly Swing competitions at WSDC-sanctioned events. Points are awarded based on your finishing position and the size of the field. First place earns the most points; lower placements earn fewer. Points accumulate over your career in the registry, and once you cross the threshold for your current division you are automatically promoted to the next.
No. Once you advance to a division, you must compete at that level or higher. The point system is designed to ensure fair competition — you cannot enter a lower division to "win easy points." Some events do allow competitors to enter the division above their current one voluntarily.
Jack & Jill (J&J) is the signature competitive format of West Coast Swing. Leaders and followers enter separately and are randomly paired with different partners for each round — prelims, semifinals, and finals. Judges score each couple on connection, musicality, and technique. Because you dance with strangers, J&J tests real improvisational skill and adaptability, which is considered the core of WCS. Placing in a J&J is how most dancers earn their WSDC points.
Strictly Swing is a partner-registered competitive format where dancers sign up as a pre-formed couple rather than being randomly drawn. Partners typically rehearse together before the event. Unlike Jack & Jill, the same couple competes together through all rounds. It's a popular format for dancers who want to showcase polished partnering with someone they know well. Strictly Swing placements also award WSDC points.
Beyond Jack & Jill and Strictly Swing, many events also offer Showcase (choreographed solo or couple performance routines), Classic (a longer, more theatrical partner routine), and Cabaret (theatrical performances with props or costumes). These formats are generally non-points events focused on artistic expression rather than divisional advancement.