Here is a series of questions and answers that we anticipate you might have for our 8-week progressive West Coast Swing classes:
Questions about Classes
- Question: Can I join your 8-week West Coast Swing class late if I need to miss the first week or two?
Answer: We don’t recommend. In a progressive class, second week builds on the first, etc. West Coast Swing is a complicated dance. Falling behind at the beginning affects your experience.
- Question: Do you really require class members to change partners in your West Coast Swing classes? If so, Why?
Answer: Yes and Yes. Changing partners is critical to learning. No exceptions. If you have a special medical case, don’t register. No exceptions.
- Question: Can I come without a partner?
Answer: Yes. Class intended for individuals, not couples. We change partners throughout class.
- Question: Do you have age limits on your classes?
Answer: Our classes are mainly for adults. We recommend attendees have an adult-like attention span.
- Question: If I need to miss a class, can I send someone to stand in for me and communicate the material to me?
Answer: No. We’re selfish about our reputation. Second-hand info makes someone less qualified your teacher. But we’ll take the reputation hit. So no.
- Question: How many patterns will we learn during the beginning 6-week course?
Answer: We hope to teach you all 14 basic patterns plus a couple additional patterns and if time permits.
- Question: I’ve heard West Coast Swing is a hard dance. Can I start with it as a beginner?
Answer: West Coast Swing requires a lot of information to get started. We know and agree. Some beginners could learn with extra effort. But prior dance or movement experience is recommended.
- Question: What if I need to miss multiple weeks in a row?
Answer: We don’t recommend registering in this case. Not a hard no. But you’ll fall behind.
- Question: I am an experienced ballroom or swing dancer. Can I just drop in on a class?
Answer: Short version: Ballroom West Coast Swing isn’t real West Coast Swing. You’ll be lost, and we don’t want the reputation hit.
- Question: I have a conflict with your current class from 10/8/26 to 11/12/26. When will your next multi-week class be?
Answer: Likely in Fall, 2027. We might put up a dance with a lesson before-hand before then.
Questions about Payment
- Question: When should I pay? Do I pay the full amount up front?
Answer: Payment will be accepted on or before the first day of class. Please pay the full amount up front. Cost is $40 per person for the full 6 weeks (there is a student discount — the full 6-week class will cost $20 for students).
- Question: Do you have refund policy?
Answer: You may request a refund if you have only attended one class. All refunds must be specifically requested by the payee and are not automatic.
- Question: Which payment methods do you accept?
Answer: Venmo, cash, credit card, Google Pay, Apple Pay, personal checks. We don’t currently accept any cryptocurrencies or other digital currencies.
- Question: I can use a variety of payment methods. Do you have a payment method you prefer?
Answer: No real preference. We can do credit cards. We can do cash. We’ve got Venmo.
Questions about the venue
(Blackfoot Rec Center)
- Question: Where is the Blackfoot Rec Center?
Answer: The Blackfoot Rec Center is located at 1350 Parkway Drive, Blackfoot ID, Suite 31 (next door to O’Reilly’s Auto Parts). It is right off I-15 exit 93, the middle Blackfoot exit with Walmart, Ridley’s, and McDonalds.
- Question: My maps navigation is taking me to somewhere on the other side of the plaza. How do I get there?
Answer: Many map programs, including Google Maps, are very confused about where in Riverside Plaza the Rec Center is. Your best bet is to navigate to O’Reilly’s Auto Parts next door.
- Question: Isn’t that address called the Blackfoot Community Center?
Answer: Up until recently, it was. However, it has new ownership and a new name; it is now the Blackfoot Rec Center.
- Question: Is child care offered?
Answer: The owners of the Blackfoot Rec Center may be willing to work something out for child care during classes. Please call Brittin at (208) 760-6730 to make arrangements with the Rec Center, and let her know you are looking into “child care for the West Coast Swing class”.
Questions about our Teachers
- Question: Do you dance/teach any dances besides West Coast Swing?
Answer: Yes. Jeremy has danced and taught a variety of ballroom, social, nightclub, and country dances. Jeremy performed as a member of a prominent ballroom dance formation team in college and was part of a performing country dance team.
- Question: Are either of you top professionals / champion competitors in West Coast Swing?
Answer: No, Jeremy is a well-taught and experienced dancer. But not a big competitor or performer.
- Question: If you know and teach so many different dances, why call the site West Coast Swing Blackfoot?
Answer: One of the reasons is to honor the memory of a recently departed teacher of ours, Skippy Blair, who is credited for popularizing the name “West Coast Swing” from the late 1950’s until about 2015. She passed away shortly before we launched this website in mid-2021. Skippy was possibly the greatest influencer of West Coast Swing for 5+ decades, so the site name is a small shout-out to her hard work and influence. Rest in peace, Skippy.
Questions about West Coast Swing
- Question: Is West Coast Swing the same thing as “Country Swing”?
Answer: No. “Country Swing” isn’t in the Swing Dance family. It’s in the Hustle dance family. West Coast Swing is real Swing Dancing. Swing Dancing has a lot of specific footwork and dance rhythms.
- Question: Is West Coast Swing a good dance for beginners?
Answer: Not really, no. If you can’t find classes with easier dances, line dancing is a good practice option.
- Question: How many patterns are there in West Coast Swing?
Answer: There are at least hundreds, probably thousands, of well-documented patterns in West Coast Swing.
- Question: What is the “basic” in West Coast Swing.
Answer: There is no pattern called the “basic”. There are 14 patterns, as defined by the World Swing Dance Council which are “the basics” of West Coast Swing.
- Question: I already learned West Coast Swing at BYU/BYUI/UVU, so I already know everything in your basics class, right?
Answer: No. Those schools don’t teach actual West Coast Swing. At all.
- Question: Where can I dance West Coast Swing locally?
Answer: No dedicated West Coast Swing dances in East Idaho yet. Can crash dances listed in the “East Idaho Dance With Me” Facebook group : https://www.facebook.com/groups/EIDdancewithme/.
If willing to travel to Salt Lake City for dancing, see the resources at the bottom of the About West Coast Swing page.
- Question: Are there places I can go to see top experts and professionals compete or where I can learn West Coast Swing from the best of the best?
Answer: Yes, there are a lot of weekend swing dance events that happen all around the world. You can find a large listing of these events at https://www.worldsdc.com/event-list/. An alternate list of events, with a stronger focus on international listings, can be found at http://weekenders.dance/.
West Coast Swing Blackfoot 