West Coast Swing Performance and Competition Prep

Get Ready for Liberty Swing with Joe Miller & Jes Ann Nail! 

Step into the spotlight with confidence! This workshop series is designed to help you prepare mentally, physically, and creatively for performance at Liberty Swing Dance Championships.

Each session begins with a 1-hour focused class covering essential topics like Phrasing, Fronting & Starting the Dance, Dynamics & Troubleshooting, Partnership, and the contrast of Stillness vs. Groove. The remaining 2 hours are dedicated to mock spotlight dances with guided, in-depth feedback—not just for you, but for everyone in the room. Learning to observe and apply feedback from others is a key part of the process.

This is a space to challenge yourself, refine your dancing, and build the kind of presence that holds up under pressure.

Level 2+ (Must be comfortable with these WCS basics: Right-side pass, Left-side pass, Sugar push, Sugar tuck, Whip, Slingshot)

SCHEDULE: Saturdays 5-8pm
Six sessions of learning, personal feedback, and critique!
4/19 – Phrasing
4/26 – Fronting & Starting
5/03 – Dynamics/Troubleshooting
5/10 – Partnership
6/14 – Stillness v Groove
*6/22 – Sunday Practice Competition

PRICING
• $450/ series (18 hours of instruction + practice)
• $360 for Danznik Members (20% off)

Registration limited to 12 Leads and 12 Follows to ensure a personalized and focused experience.

TOPICS & DESCRIPTIONS

Phrasing
Learn how to hear and respond to the natural structure of music—verse, chorus, bridge, and beyond. We’ll explore how to shape your dancing to reflect these musical phrases, making your performance feel more intentional, musical, and emotionally connected.

Fronting & Starting
Set the tone from the very first beat by being mindful of where your dance is fronted—the direction you’re performing toward or favoring visually. We’ll work on how to start with clarity, presence, and awareness of spatial orientation to elevate your performance quality.

Dynamics/Troubleshooting
Approach dynamics like a musician—through shifts in volume, energy, and texture. You’ll explore how to translate musical dynamics (from soft to powerful, smooth to punchy) into movement choices that bring depth and contrast to your dancing.

Partnership
Refine how you connect, communicate, and collaborate in real time. This session focuses on the mechanics and mindfulness of partnership—how to offer and respond with clarity, intention, and sensitivity.

Stillness v. Groove
Learn when to move and when to hold. We’ll dive into the expressive power of both stillness and groove, using contrast to create texture, build anticipation, and deepen your musical interpretation.

Practice Heats/Direct Feedback
Get instant, in-the-moment coaching during prelim-style heats designed to mimic a competitive environment. We’ll offer feedback as you dance—helping you catch and correct habits before the thought has even left your brain.