Vision & Mission
As beneficiaries of the mental, artistic, physical, and community benefits that West Coast Swing gives us, we help to grow the global West Coast Swing dance community 10x. To do our part, we offer a unique "Invitational Intensive" experience designed to connect, train, and transform some the dance's most talented and positive community leaders worldwide.
History
The Invitational Intensive was born in 2014 and started its first year with a small group of eager dancers. From the beginning, its design was based on martial arts master training. Since the first year with a handful of dancers, the Intensive has grown into a multi-week, multi-pro experience that offers continuing education to dedicated Advanced, All-Star, and Champion-level dancers from around the world. Today, the WCS Invitational Intensive is offered four times a year. The instructors are Champion dancers versed in the unique training that underpins the Invitational Intensives. The participants are Advanced, All-Star, and Champion dancers from around the globe.
The People
It takes a village to raise a dancer! These people make the WCS Invitational Intensive a success:
Our Champion professionals are decorated champions, carefully chosen for their ability to work in the Intensive's format; for their exceptional pedagogies; and for their ability to complement and contrast one another.
A Volunteer Committee Board ensures that the vision and mission are upheld.
Trained Monitors ensure that each week-long session has careful oversight, clear direction, and onsite problem-solving capability.
Lori Hayner's You Can Dance Dallas studio provides access to a big, beautiful studio and exceptional care of the dancers all week.
The participants are carefully selected for their "fit" on a variety of dimensions. Beyond their talent and competitive successes, they are positive, giving, community-oriented individuals with an ability to be vulnerable and work closely with others.
All together, we form a growing global FAMILY with deep bonds as well as a degree of self-monitoring and correction if struggles arise.