West Coast Swing guides

Plain-English explanations of how the West Coast Swing scene actually works — written for people going to their first events.

• What Is a West Coast Swing Weekender? A First-Timer’s Guide — What actually happens at a West Coast Swing weekender — the schedule, workshops, Jack & Jill and Strictly competitions, social dancing, what to pack, and what it costs.
• How WSDC Points and Divisions Work — A plain explanation of the WSDC points registry: the divisions from Newcomer to Champion, how points are awarded, how many you need to move up, and what Registry and Trial Events mean.
• What Is a Jack & Jill Competition? — How a Jack & Jill works in West Coast Swing: random partner draws, prelims and finals, what judges actually score, and how it differs from Strictly Swing.

Looking for events instead? Browse upcoming WCS events or see the events calendar.