West Coast Swing is a very fun partner dance that places great emphasis on connection with your partner.

West Coast Swing is classified as one of the swing dances, but swing dances originally stemmed from jazz and traditional African dances. Partner jazz dances such as Texas Tommy and Foxtrot eventually evolved into Lindy Hop, from which many other swing dances such as West Coast Swing, Carolina Shag, Texas Whip, Boogie Woogie, Rock and Roll, and Balboa/Bal-Swing were born. West Coast Swing is officially registered as a dance in California, USA. For more information on its history, please see here .

​

West Coast Swing is a very smooth dance, but it is known for its creativity, freedom in musical interpretation, and wide range of expressive possibilities. It can be danced to a variety of music, from blues and country swing to soul and pop.

The key to West Coast Swing is elasticity, which creates the contrast of speed and the stretchy look.

Whether you're someone who already has experience in other dance forms and wants to take your partner dancing to the next level, or a beginner looking to learn some fun moves, West Coast Swing is a wonderful dance.

West Coast Swing is an active dance, so please wear comfortable clothing. It's best to wear clothes that are easy to put on and take off to regulate your body temperature. If you tend to sweat a lot, it's a good idea to bring a change of clothes. Skirts are not recommended. Please remember to bring a drink to stay hydrated.

​​

Since the lessons are held in the studio, you cannot participate in your outdoor shoes. Please wear indoor shoes or socks that you don't mind getting dirty. For more information about shoes, please refer to this page .

​

For group lessons with fixed members and days of the week, additional items may be required. If so, we will inform all members again after they join the class.

The classes are usually held in the following studios, but there might be an unexpected change.

Please check the monthly calendar before joining.

◎IO Hula Studio (Kanda）

https://maps.app.goo.gl/TwzgnWBU2pgNSVhAA

◎Studio Sun and Moon（Yotsuya 3-chome）

https://maps.app.goo.gl/uDDrjBvaDo1agDNj7

You can pay by credit cards on this website or can pay by cash at the studio. Please note that currently we don't accept credit cards at the studio.

Visits are certainly possible! Please let us know if you'd like to take a tour.

The class itself is basically in Japanese, but we have so many students from abroad, so we are conducting all the classes in bilingual (Japanese/English). We have many students from abroad especially in our 3 month course. It's also very interesting to see that many of our Japanese students understand English too. We all enjoy interacting with each other, doing a language exchange, and enjoy dancing together!

For those new to partner dancing, including West Coast Swing, we recommend the A0 level class.

We offer trial lessons once or twice a month. You are welcome to participate in trial lessons as many times as you like. We always cover the same content, so it's perfect for review.

If, after your trial lesson, you feel like you'd like to learn more, we encourage you to join our 3-month beginner's course (group lesson). You'll be working with a fixed group of members, steadily improving your skills each week, and enjoying a strong sense of camaraderie.

It's also possible to level up to the next level course every three months with the people you started with.

This will be the most popular class at Westie Tokyo.

After learning the basic forms to some extent, if you are interested in choreography, you can also participate in choreography classes.

Application periods vary depending on the class, so please check the latest information on social media, etc. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.

​

For those who want to improve their skills at their own pace, more reliably and as quickly as possible, private lessons are recommended. With a personalized practice menu tailored to you and hands-on experience with an instructor, you can achieve the fastest possible improvement.

It's perfectly fine. Anyone who likes music and doesn't mind physical activity can participate and have fun.

Athletic ability can be improved at any age through daily habits and experience.

Many people find that their bodies, which they initially couldn't control as they wanted, become more flexible as they learn different movements through dancing, develop a habit of exercising several times a week, and before they know it, they've become healthier than before.

Confidence will come later. For now, let's just have fun together.

There are no age restrictions! Anyone is welcome to participate.

Our trial lessons are attended by people of all ages, from teenagers to those in their 60s.

While the 3-month course tends to attract more participants in their 20s to 40s, anyone is welcome to join.

However, for elderly individuals, those with pre-existing medical conditions or injuries, or those who are not accustomed to exercising regularly, you might feel the 3-months course a bit difficult or might not be able to keep up as expected. In such cases, we might recommend private lessons or other options to allow you to steadily improve at your own pace and continue enjoying dancing. Please feel free to contact us if you have any concerns.

No dance experience is required!

This is a dance that anyone can enjoy, so please feel free to come and join us!

​

Of course, if you have experience in other dance forms, you can put that experience to good use. The beauty of this dance is that your style of dancing changes depending on your dance experience and background. Please come and let your experience shine!

West Coast Swing involves delicate use of the soles of the feet. Therefore, both men and women wear shoes with soft materials that allow for good grip and a good sense of the ground. First-time participants often start with jazz shoes and socks. Most regular sneakers have rubber-like soles, which can make dancing a little difficult.

West Coast Swing shoes often feature designs that can be worn by both men and women, ranging from sneaker-like styles to boots and sandals, which are more commonly worn by women. Unlike the high heels and narrow widths often seen in salsa and Argentine tango, women's shoes tend to have relatively low heels and wider widths.

Recently, many dancers have had suede material added to the soles of their everyday sneakers or slip-ons to make them easier to dance in, creating their own original dance shoes.

​

If you'd like to see what the shoes look like, you can click here to go to the social media accounts of Swayd, a shoe brand used by many dancers around the world, so please take a look.

Westie accepts bulk orders for Swayd shoes, allowing you to purchase them at a slightly discounted price.

If you have any requests, please feel free to contact us.

Please come dressed in comfortable clothing that allows for easy movement. Skirts are not recommended.

You can change clothes inside the studio.

Most people attend alone, so please don't worry!

Many people come to a trial lesson alone, enroll in a 3-month course, and end up making lots of new friends!

In the trial class, we usually cover about three basic steps, and most people are able to move to the music by the end of the class.

The 3-month course is structured to allow students to gradually improve their skills by covering different steps and techniques at each level. After completing the initial 3-month course, you will be able to start dancing with anyone at a party using basic steps.

After that, the path varies from person to person: some acquire more steps and techniques, others hone their skills for competitions, and some practice with the goal of becoming a professional.