Newcomer Welcome Program
DCSX is a West Coast Swing mini-vacation with workshops, social dancing, shows and fun competitions to choose among. It’s a great way to accelerate your learning, get in hours of dance practice, and meet a bunch of friendly dancers from all over the world, beginners to superstars.
We offer a special welcome program just for first time attendees to DCSX. We’ll help you meet new dance friends, answer your questions, and support you and your dancing as you join the fun of a weekend west coast swing event.
The Newcomer Welcome Program includes tailored workshops and a social track with specialized attention to your needs, so you can have a great time learning, dancing and enjoying all the fun!
Our Newcomer Welcome Program is designed to give you what you need to have fun & feel connected on your first time with us. These offerings include:
- Orientation, “Social Dance Success,” and “Reflect & Connect” sessions with DCSX co-Director Kay Newhouse
- A sequence of skill-building L1 workshops, perfect if you already know your basics and are ready to improve your west coast swing dance skills under the guidance of specially selected national-level teachers.
- A welcoming team of experienced “DCSX Mentors” ready to meet you, dance with you, and answer your questions all weekend long
- A friendly warm-up session for people who enter the $5 newcomer Jack & Jill (you must register separately, in advance, for that contest) and anyone else who’d like to join
- Small group open dancing and “meet & greet” social opportunities
- A cohort of other friendly event first-timers who can’t wait to meet you and have fun all weekend together!
Recommended packing list:
- Shoes you can dance in, or plans to shop for shoes at the event.
- Deodorant, toothbrush, and several changes of t-shirts.Consider skipping perfume/cologne and using extra deodorant instead. (Some people you might want to dance with are mildly or severely allergic to fragrances.)
- Snacks.
- Some way to take notes (video and/or paper) for your workshops or private lessons.
- A sweater. The ballrooms will be chilly when you aren’t dancing!.
- A water bottle.
- Bandaids/moleskin/ antichafe stick especially for new shoes.
Most of the event is casual. Jeans & t-shirts are fine, but you can wear whatever you find fun to dance in. You’ll see a big variety. Contests are a little bit dressier — preferably black pants to jeans for dancing in those – but there’s no need for special costumes.
Here’s what you should do for your first time at DCSX:
- Make an account and register for a weekend “EZpass” at this link. Entry into the popular main ballrooms for ALL contests and pro shows, AND four nights of all-night social dancing are included in your pass.
- Add the “Newcomer Welcome Program” [from the Add Ons menu] to identify yourself to us as someone who’d like a little extra welcoming.
- Consider adding the All-In Mixer or a fun contest [from the Competitions menu]. Newcomer Jack & Jill and Pro-Am JJ Newcomer/Novice are popular choices. You can also log in again later to add these contests, up until a few hours before they start.
- Reserve a hotel room in one of our three recommended hotels. Dancing goes until late, so most people stay over!
Join our DCSX groups here and here on Facebook to ask questions or find roommates, and RSVP to DCSX 2024.
Workshops and enthusiastic social dancing start Thursday night and go through Sunday night.
Shows and all levels of competitions run Friday afternoon through Sunday afternoon in our biggest ballroom, while workshops, private lessons (by appointment) and open social dancing continue in our other spaces.
Your “EZ Pass” allows you to choose among oodles of workshops, shows, and social dancing in three ballrooms.
The full schedule is here.
We encourage you to attend these “Newcomer Welcome Program” sessions:
Orientation Thursday at 8 or Friday at 6 (depending on your schedule)
Social Dance Success Friday at 8pm
L1 workshops, or a different level as meets your needs. L1 workshops are typically equivalent to “advanced beginner” or “intermediate” workshops at your home studio. All of our instructors are national-level experts in teaching and learning West Coast Swing.
Newcomer J&J warmup Saturday morning
Reflect & Connect Sunday to close out our program together