West Coast Swing Dance in KC: fun, friends, creativity, and even exercise you can love!
I have been social dancing on and off, primarily swing dance, since 2003. It is a blast. I’ve danced a variety of styles in a variety of places, and I highly recommend checking out the offerings from Social Swing and making C.A.S.T. your home for dance.
Venue: C.A.S.T. – Cabaret Arts and Social Theater
Tuesdays and Thursdays every week you can learn West Coast Swing Dance for the first time or level up your dance game in Overland Park, Kansas in the KC Metro.
What is West Coast Swing Dance?
West Coast Swing is a fun type of swing dance done with a partner. It is often smoother than some other forms of swing dance like Lindy Hop or East Coast Swing. West Coast Swing Dance is danced to a wide range of music styles and encourages improvisation and partner connection. While some people find West Coast a more challenging version of swing dance, the amazing Social Swing teachers at C.A.S.T. have structured the lessons to make it very accessible, even for someone who has never danced before. There is also a welcoming culture that encourages dancers of all levels to dance together.
Your First Visit
Thursday nights are a great way to get involved and brings in a good crowd.
Flow of the Evening on Thursdays
People start arriving at 7pm to check-in and warm up for a 7:30pm lesson start time. There are 3 leveled classes that happen simultaneously, and anyone new starts at the first level. Friendly teachers (rotating week to week) will give you all the basics you need to be able to dance socially that first night. After the lesson, all 3 levels of dancers come together to encourage comfort on the social dance floor. After dancing briefly with one partner, everyone will rotate giving everyone a chance to gain confidence. Then social dancing will start with people asking one another to dance for a whole song. Announcements are at 9pm followed by a demonstration by the instructors, and then back to a social dance party until 11pm.
How Lessons Work
During the lesson you will choose whether you want to lead or follow for that lesson. This choice does not need to relate to your gender (many more experienced dancers dance both parts). It can really improve your understanding of the dance to take lessons in both roles (not during the same class session, that would get confusing). You will rotate partners frequently during the class, so if the number of leads and follows doesn’t match, you will still get to dance a lot.
You can join a level 1 class any week without needing to have attended a previous class. To advance to level 2 and level 3 you will master different aspects of West Coast Swing and test into the next level with a practical demonstration to instructors at your own pace. Ask an instructor to learn more. I appreciate the video I got of me dancing from my test to level 3. Not only was it great to see myself dance, I grabbed a still from the video for the cover photo of this post.
Social Dancing after the Lesson
Stick around for the social dancing. Introduce yourself and ask a lot of people to dance. Most people dance with many different people throughout the night. Typically you dance with someone for one dance, then dance with someone else or take a break for the next song. Jesse, one of the lead teachers, is especially great at dancing with dancers at all levels, so be sure to ask him to dance. When I went back to start dancing again, I looked for where he was teaching and knew that C.A.S.T. would have a great dance community with his involvement.
Do I need to bring a Partner to C.A.S.T.?
No! No partner needed. You will find plenty of people to partner with at the dance. Even people who do come with a partner still typically dance with multiple people. Feel free to come with friends or come alone and meet new people. There are also more opportunities to get to know the other dancers outside of Tuesdays and Thursdays (like board game nights or weekend travel to dance events) if you are looking to make friends more quickly.
What Should I Wear for West Coast Swing Dance?
West Coast Swing Dance is more casual. Dress in cool layers as you will get warm as you start to dance (deodorant is always a good idea). Most people wear pants, even jeans, to the social dances. It’s not unusual to see crop-tops, t-shirts, athletic pants, or Hawaiian shirts. You want to be comfortable and able to move easily. You don’t see as many skirts or dresses here, although you will still see some. (Wear shorts under if in a skirt as you will be spinning!)
Dance shoes are a good idea, but for sure wear shoes that won’t fall off and that can spin smoothly without twisting your knee. C.A.S.T. does have a small selection of dance shoes for sale onsite in limited sizes.
Will People my Age be Dancing at C.A.S.T.?
People of all ages dance here. While there are currently few people under age 20, you won’t feel out of place at any age.
Community Code of Conduct
If you have ever been to a dance environment that felt a bit sketchy or like people weren’t respecting people’s boundaries, Social Swing is extremely proactive to avoid that. In addition to learning the physical mechanics of West Coast Swing Dance, you will also learn the social conduct that lets you support a really comfortable and positive dance community in KC.
This code of conduct is based around consent, empathy, and duality. It includes things like being able to ask anyone to dance and anyone being able to decline any dance, not teaching on the social dance floor, not recording individual dancers without consent, and including everyone. There is a large banner with the code at the entrance and it can be found in the links below. This emphasis and practice leads to a welcoming and healthy KC dance community.
Tips for a Great Experience
Get a discount on your first visit, and ask about any special offers for dancers who are new to C.A.S.T.
Bring a water bottle (although cups and a water cooler are available if needed). No outside food or drink allowed besides water.
Name tags are available at the front desk. It will help people get to know you faster.
Bracelets are available at the front desk. Wearing them indicates you’d like to be asked for more dances.
Many people bring a bag with their dance shoes and change out of their street shoes before dancing. Many West Coast Swing Dance shoes have suede on the bottom that doesn’t do well outside.
Ask to meet Rosie and Ollie, the best mascots.
Thank the awesome DJ’s that rotate from week to week. You can see online when they are DJing to catch your favorites.
If you plan on getting involved more often, join the Social Swing KC Discord used to share important info. QR codes on the tables.
Restrooms and a drinking fountain are available in the back.
Check out the C.A.S.T. calendar for other fun activities and the Social Swing Facebook and Discord for other events both locally and nationally.
Ready for a bigger event? Check out my post on Midwest Westie Fest, KC’s West Coast Swing Dance Festival in July.
Tuesday Nights at C.A.S.T.
Tuesday nights are a great option if you feel comfortable with less of a crowd. Classes start at 7pm with a level 1 and level 2 class happening simultaneously. The dancing after the lesson is still social, but it also includes people wanting to practice certain techniques. You’ll be more likely to dance with the same people several times on a Tuesday.
4th Tuesdays are special. A large number of teachers offer 5-minute mini-private lessons instead of group classes. Show up early as signups open for picking your 2 mini-private lesson teachers at 6:45pm. These 5-minutes sessions give you a chance to get individual feedback and work on something specific. If you aren’t sure what to work on, just ask for social dancing tips. It’s a great idea to jot down some notes from your lesson, so you can remember what to practice. This is also a great way to try out some instructors that you might like to book for a private lesson. The mini-private lessons are popular, so 4th Tuesdays have a larger crowd than other Tuesdays.
Tuesdays after the lesson ends at 8pm, there will be open dancing until 9:30pm. Sometimes people hang out after the dance (for instance getting frozen custard. Ask around, especially during warmer months). This is a great chance to meet some other dancers outside the dance setting.
Cost for the Evening
The Tuesday and Thursday class plus social dancing after are currently $15 per night (check their website for current pricing, linked below). I encourage you to dance regularly and buy a membership to save money. The dance becomes even more fun as you gain in skill. The 5-class pass is a great deal, or even buy one of the higher tiers if you plan to dance more often or professionally (membership link below).
Location
C.A.S.T. Cabaret Arts and Social Theater
9050 Metcalf Ave, Overland Park, KS 66212
Find C.A.S.T. in Overland Park, a suburb of Kansas City, on the Kansas side at 91st and Metcalf (across from Cinzetti’s and Cardboard Corner Cafe). C.A.S.T. is located in a strip mall near Ambica Foods and Toro Hibachi. (If you arrive after dark, you may need to look closely as the C.A.S.T. banner sign isn’t illuminated).
More Fun Kansas City Activities
Looking for more KC fun? Read my posts on Midwest Westie Fest, The British Faire and Tea, VikingFest, and the Kansas City Renaissance Festival! Find a listing of all my KC posts here!
