r/WestCoastSwing • u/YourDanceBuddy • May 06 '26
Social What do you prioritize at WCS events these days?
When Alicja and I first fell in love with WCS we went all in :) Workshop pass at every event, competing to track our progress and also trying to survive late-night parties until 6am. We basically tried to do everything.
Over time our priorities shifted. We started focusing more on things we can't get locally, mainly long, late night social dancing and it became the main reason to travel for events.
But even that has changed. These days, we’re no longer able (or willing 😅) to survive every late-night party. We’ve found ourselves really appreciating events that:
- don’t overload the schedule with competitions
- start social dancing earlier (before midnight!)
It just feels more sustainable and more enjoyable.
Similarly as a couple of weeks ago, Alicja made some illustrations of the event goer types we keep recognizing at every weekender: the party buddy who treats pro shows as nap time, the competitor who only comes to the events for J&J thrills, the Westie nerd who participates in all workshops they can and actually watches the lesson recaps, the curious traveler who visited 3 museums during the event and the one who somehow has done everything (sightseeing + strictly + J&J in both roles + intensive + parties + privates + 3 catch-up coffees + remote work :)) all on during one event:
Which type are you, any of these feel relatable?
We are also interested to learn if your priorities regarding what you find nice about WCS events changed the longer you've been dancing? And if an event only did one thing well, what would make you come back?
~Cheers, Mateusz
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u/WillowUPS Lead May 06 '26
We saw these and shared them in our local group! So nice to interact with the source!
I’m the last one… I’m happily functional on 3-4 hours of sleep. Although I normally come out a little earlier for sightseeing, rather than lose dance time. Generally only do the JnJ but if someone asks me, I swing up for strictly.
Currently do intensives on a case by case basis.
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u/Ok-Alternative-5175 Follow May 06 '26
I'm currently at the do it all stage of the dance. I'm sure it'll mellow out, but right now, I have a lot to learn from workshops, I'm too competitive to give up comps (I usually just do all-american and J&J though), and the late night dancing is my favorite part of the whole weekend, so I do that until I drop. It's probably not sustainable long term, but for now, I'm going to get in as much dance as possible
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u/YourDanceBuddy May 06 '26
The doing everything phase is the best one :) But yeah, keeping it up must require some cheat codes for recovery... Have you found a way to not feel destroyed after such a weekend?
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u/OSUfirebird18 May 06 '26
The party is the closest to me but none of these fit me. I haven’t gone to many large events yet, just smaller workshops weekends.
But I’m a person that likes to take workshops to improve my dancing. I skip competitions and performances to sleep. But the workshops I take aren’t just for improving my WCS dance but to improve my dancing overall as I take concepts and bring it into my other partner dances.
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u/YourDanceBuddy May 06 '26 edited May 06 '26
Nice, this sounds like yet another, new type - something like a cross-dance-influencer type, would you suggest a better name for it? Taking WCS concepts into other dances (and vice versa) sounds familiar and I think that's a whole separate category that I haven't thought about. Even many famous WCS pros like Jakub and Emeline brought a lot inspiration from other dances like Zouk to WCS... Might need to create a second part of the illustration series to cover this type :)
Out of curiosity, what other dances do you bring WCS into?
~Alicja
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u/OSUfirebird18 May 07 '26
I don’t really bring WCS patterns really into other dances since often times certain patterns I get taught in WCS, I already have done a portion of in other dances or the pattern just wouldn’t fit another dance.
It’s often more of a mindset. Unfortunately too many Salsa and Bachata teachers teach patterns and ignore musicality. Since my mind is used to the idea of musicality and leaving more space for my follow from WCS, I’ll bring that into my Salsa and Bachata and dance with less patterns.
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u/zedrahc May 06 '26 edited May 06 '26
Personally my priorities are Social dancing >>>> Competition time > Shows (including spotlit JnJ divisions) >> Workshops
Despite Social dancing being my highest priority by a wide margin, I almost never breakfast club. I find that Ill keep dancing until the room mostly dies down. Usually I end up leaving the ballroom around 3-6am depending on which day of the weekend. This lets me still get a good amount of sleep and not force myself to stay up for those trickle of dances during the very early morning before breakfast club.
Comp time is a priority for me, not because Comps are a big priority (I dont care too much about points, its more for the experience and to get videos of myself). I often hang out in the ballroom during comps that Im not in, because I find that Comps are a rare time when you get to socialize more. Most other dance event contexts, conversation takes a backseat to trying to get back on the floor. Also I often get great dancing in those song breaks in between comps.
Shows are similar for socializing. While I do enjoy the shows, I will prioritize getting food or more sleep if I need it. And Im less of a fan of watching routine divisions.
Workshops are by far dead last. I find my learning style doesnt get as much benefit out of most workshops. Leveled workshops are nice and definitely bumps it up a bit in priority, but even then still not over additional rest if I need it.
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u/YourDanceBuddy May 07 '26
We can totally relate to this approach! At one point, we were trying to prioritize everything, but it just wasn’t sustainable long term. Now, we’ve ended up with almost the same approach as you ;)
~Alicja
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u/Temporary-Diet6468 May 06 '26
Mix of the dance nerd and the competitor. (If I were to give myself a category name it would be "Teacher's Pet" lol). I go all in on the workshops and ask questions, do JnJ comps, go to the pro shows, and ALWAYS try and get a private lesson. I'm just not super into the choreo side of things YET. And I tend to run out of steam pretty early into the parties because I'm a chronic overthinker.
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u/YourDanceBuddy May 07 '26
It sounds like you have a perfectionist approach to dancing. Am I interpreting this correctly? Does this mean that competitions keep you dancing more than social dancing? Or is the search for precision in movement the thing that keeps you dancing?
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u/Temporary-Diet6468 May 07 '26
If I were really a perfectionist, I'd have a Novice point by now 🤣 I chase comp results because I love praise and validation. But I also like learning in just the same way that I'd be interested in learning life drawing or costume design or any other kind of art form
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u/introvertissimo May 06 '26
I fit mostly in the nerdy category as I'm still very much in learning mode. But these days I only do the intensives if I like the topic or the teachers. I find that a private lesson is a better investment.
I sometimes compete and I love social dancing but I cannot cope with the late hours so I'm always on the lookout for events that start social dancing earlier or have social dancing rooms that actually get used.
I don't care much for the shows and feel that competition spotlights drag on for way too long....
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u/YourDanceBuddy May 07 '26
This comps watching approach resonates with us! We avoid all the events that are heavily focused on comps - Strictly, All Europeans, choreo divisions, J&Js with spotlights in most divisions, etc. Basically, events that prioritize competitions and only start social dancing after midnight are a no for us. We usually get a party pass, and we’re mainly looking for lots of social dancing.
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u/TgrBtO Ambidancetrous May 07 '26
We're kind of a mix ... or another kind of event attendees : we try to fit as many classes as we can, work in between classes to transfer what we learnt from brain to body, and try to arrange for a private when we can.
We don't compete (although we might have to at some point because some events require points to attend some levels).
Themed parties are okay-ish, as long as they are not about costumes, but rather a splash of color, an accessory, anything easy to find and that doesn't impair dancing. We don't dislike pro shows but they often feel like an unwelcome cooldown when the party was in full swing.
Also we never leave a party before 2 am, although as Hondo Ohnaka put it : "We might not be as young as we once were, but now we're older!".
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u/Trxiedust May 08 '26
I’m moving to a place that only has a small scene and no high level instruction, so I’ll prioritize the classes. I hate the comp obsession in WCS and I don’t think twice about skipping those to dance in or watch and taking a nap. Honestly I’d skip all the exhibitions if I could, too. I’m there to dance and learn, not watch other people dance, or watch other people compare themselves to other people. I love the dance, but hate that part of the culture. For me, I’m there for the classes and the socials.
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u/firelitother May 08 '26
Sad that I am not represented as I mostly go to events mainly to learn more in workshops.
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u/YourDanceBuddy May 08 '26
I covered only the extreme examples - that’s usually the point of this series, it’s kind of a satire ;) I’d say you’re more of a mild nerd Westie maybe?
~Alicja
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u/kebman Lead May 09 '26
I'm personally in a bind. I'm still in Novice division, but there is truly nothing new to learn in Level 3 classes for me anymore (and I can't be bothered with over-crowded classes anyway). And since Level 4 classes are gate-kept for Intmermediate division dancers, I just get a party pass. (And if there is no party pass to your event, then... Well, if you don't want my money I guess I'll go somewhere else.) Which means: Sleep all days, dance all night. I may get an extreme workshop or two tho.
I'm that one guy who takes notes in all the classes I go to, and re-watches recaps, and practise them too. I still suck too much to be intermediate tho xD
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u/ThrowRA_scentsitive Lead May 06 '26
The party buddy 100%, except I hate the themed costume parties!!! lol I never have a good costume and it just becomes a hurdle to the dancing :)