Private lessons and open studio practice available Feb 3rd!
Classes at-a-glance
When: Tuesdays
Where: Hatfield, PA (Bucks County Academy of Fencing)
New? Start here: Beginner WCS 1 or Intro to WCS
No partner needed
See sections below for additional information and sign up links
Join our 4-session Beginner 1 progressive series is perfectly crafted for brand-new dancers eager to start their West Coast Swing journey. We’ll explore foundational 6- and 8-count patterns (left side pass, right side pass/underarm turn, push break/sugar push, and basic whip), introduce stretch and compression technique, and teach you how to confidently start the dance. It’s everything you need to get comfortable on the floor and excited for what comes next!
$60 for 4-session series
Each class includes 1 hour of instruction and 30-minute practice
Tuesdays 7-8:30pm
Upcoming start dates: 3/17/2026, and 5/26/2026
Continue your West Coast Swing journey with our 4-session Beginner 2 progressive series. In this series, you’ll expand your repertoire with fun new moves such as the tuck turn (sugar tuck), spinning side pass, right side pass with outside turn, and reverse whip. We’ll also introduce pattern variations, hand changes, extensions, and essential turning techniques that help make your dancing feel smoother, more dynamic and enjoyable.
Prerequisites: Comfortable with underarm turn (right side pass), left side pass, push break (sugar push), and basic whip
$60 for 4-session series
Each class includes 1 hour of instruction and 30-minute practice
Tuesdays 7-8:30pm
Upcoming start dates: 2/10/2026, 4/21/2026, and 7/7/2026
Our weekly Skill Builder drop-in class is perfect for any dancer looking to deepen their understanding of fundamental West Coast Swing skills while adding fresh, exciting patterns to their repertoire. Each week features brand-new content designed to strengthen both your individual technique and your partnership connection, helping you feel more confident and expressive on the social floor. Come ready to learn, grow, and elevate your dancing one step at a time!
January Theme: Adding, Subtracting, and Multiplying Triples
Prerequisites: Comfortable with left side pass, right side pass (underarm turn), push break (sugar push), tuck turn (sugar tuck), and the basic whip
$15 per class drop-in. 6-class punch cards available for $90.
Each lesson includes 1 hour of instruction and 30-minute practice
Tuesdays 7-8:30pm
February Dates: 2/10, 2/17, 2/24, and 3/3
Curious about West Coast Swing?
Experience the fun, stylish, and endlessly versatile world of West Coast Swing with our 30-minute introductory class, perfect for absolute beginners! In this relaxed, welcoming session, you’ll be introduced to the core rhythms, connection skills, and basic moves that make West Coast Swing one of today’s most popular social dances. No partner or experience needed. Just bring your curiosity and see why so many dancers fall in love with West Coast Swing from their very first lesson!
$10 per class drop-in
Each lesson includes 30 minutes of instruction and 30-minute practice
Tuesdays 7:30-8:30pm
Upcoming Dates: 2/10/2026, and 2/24/2026
Unlock your full potential on the dance floor with a private lesson, tailored entirely to you. Whether you’re brand-new and want to build confidence quickly, or an experienced dancer looking to refine technique, styling, connection, or musicality, private lessons accelerate your progress in ways group classes simply can’t. You’ll receive focused, one-on-one coaching, clear corrections, and targeted guidance that help you level up faster, dance more comfortably with any partner, and express your unique style with ease.
$40 per 30-minute private lesson with either Sascha or Kerry. (Cost includes instructor fee and floor fee.)
Tuesdays at either 7pm, 7:30pm, or 8pm
Please contact us for availability and scheduling
Dates: 2/3/2026, 3/10/2026, and 4/14/2026
1713 Bethlehem Pike (Rt. 309), Hatfield, PA 19440 (Bucks County Academy of Fencing).
Free parking in front of the building. Click here to see pictures of the venue.
Cash, Venmo, PayPal, and Zelle are accepted. Pre-payment instructions on series sign-up, or payable at the door.
Missed class policy: If a student has prepaid for a 4-week session and misses one or more classes during the session, 309 Westies will provide a discount voucher to the student for the amount of missed classes to use toward enrolling in a future 4-week session. Cash refunds will not be given for missed lessons.
You will need flexible, smooth soled shoes that stay on your feet. Dress shoes with a leather sole work great. No flip flops or slides. Sneakers and boots with treads grip the floor too much.
Only clean shoes allowed on the dance floor. Please bring your dance shoes to change into, or we have boot brush to clean your shoes.
Wear clothes that you feel comfortable moving in.
A water bottle encouraged.
Please arrive 5-10 minutes before the start of class to check-in and change shoes.
The leader is the person who initiates patterns and determines the direction, timing, and speed of movement. In West Coast Swing’s slotted structure, leaders generally stay near the center of the slot, moving to the side or in front of the follower as needed—much like directing traffic.
The leader is also responsible for creating and managing space for patterns and for safely navigating around other couples on the dance floor (this is called floorcraft). While the leader role was traditionally danced by men, today both men and women lead in social and competitive West Coast Swing.
The follower is the person who responds to the patterns initiated by the leader. A follower’s job is to wait for the lead, travel from one end of the slot to the other, and move in the direction requested until stopped or redirected.
Followers are also responsible for maintaining the rhythm of the dance and preserving the structure of the slot. While this role may sound passive, a strong follower is actually very active—completing patterns, filling the space created by the leader with movement and timing, and contributing creativity through styling and musical interpretation.
Traditionally, women filled the follower role, but today both men and women follow in social and competitive West Coast Swing.
In modern West Coast Swing, both men and women can choose to lead or follow in social and competitive settings. Leaders tend to move less through the slot, staying closer to the center while initiating movement and managing space—similar to a traffic controller. Because of this, the leader role may be a good option for dancers with injuries or physical limitations.
If you are a beginner, we recommend choosing one role and sticking with it through the Beginner 1 and Beginner 2 progressive series before learning the opposite role. Learning both roles can greatly improve your overall dancing and gives you the opportunity to dance with twice as many partners.
Wear shoes that fit securely, are flexible, and allow you to glide or slide comfortably across the floor. Most dancers wear flat or low-heeled dance shoes with suede or chrome soles, which provide the right balance of grip and slip.
Dance sneakers, boots, and (for women) strappy sandals with open toes are all popular options. If you’re new to West Coast Swing, you likely already own something suitable—such as lace-up dress shoes with leather soles or older sneakers with worn-down tread. Nylon “dance socks” that slip over your shoes can also help reduce friction. We’ve even seen dancers use duct tape on the soles of running shoes as a beginner-friendly solution!
Yes! After completing Beginner 1 and Beginner 2 with 309 Westies, you are ready to join the Skill Builder class.
Skill Builder assumes you are comfortable with 6- and 8-count basics, including:
Push break (sugar push)
Left side pass
Right side pass (underarm turn)
Basic whip
Tuck turn (sugar tuck)
Spinning side pass
Right side pass with outside turn
Reverse whip
You are also welcome to repeat Beginner 1 and/or Beginner 2. Repeating these classes is a great way to strengthen fundamentals, build muscle memory, and gain confidence. Strong basics make great dancers!