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> WHAT'S NUROC
> WEST COAST SWING

> When it started:
Nuroc Dance Company started teaching West Coast Swing in late 2005.

Nuroc Dance Company has brought several international West Coast Swing couples to Australia to train Charles & Michelle Gil, owners of Nuroc Dance Company and to conduct workshops for Australian West Coast Swing students. Jordan Frisbee & Tatiana Mollmann, who are one of the Worlds Leading West Coast Swing Couples, were the first couple to attend Australia for Nuroc Dance Company in May 2006.

Several other top couples have attended Australia for Nuroc including Robert Cordoba & Deborah Sezekely, Tessa Cunningham & Myles Munroe, Patti Vo & Chuck Brown.

Jordan Frisbee & Tatiana Mollmann are scheduled to attend Australia for Nuroc Dance Company again in January/February 2009 - for more details about workshops and events to be held please see http://www.wcsdancing.com.au/events.htm

> What is West Coast Swing:
West Coast Swing, the State Dance of California (USA) since 1989, is a form of swing dancing that evolved on the West Coast (in America ) in the early 1940s from the Lindy Hop and Jitterbug dances of the 1920s and 1930s.

Unlike other forms of swing dancing with circular patterns, West Coast Swing is danced in a linear slot, allowing a large number of dancers to pack a dance floor. The basic patterns (underarm pass, side pass, push break, whip, etc.) are 6 or 8 counts long, and there are hundreds of intermediate and advanced patterns and syncopations of various lengths, providing endless variety in an evening of dancing.

West Coast Swing is a sophisticated, high-style evolution of the Lindy or Jitterbug which became popular during World War II. West Coast Swing has a huge emphasis on connection between the partners as well as improvisation and personal interpretation to the music! IT IS A BEAUTIFUL SMOOTH & SEXY DANCE STYLE!

West Coast Swing is the perfect dance not only the experienced dancer looking for a new style, but also for any brand new dancer that has never danced before! WCS will teach you essential techniques which can be applied to a range of other dance styles and will teach you some sexy and beautiful moves that can be applied to a range of other couple dances!


West Coast Swing is phenomenally popular all over the USA, and is growing in popularity across Australia, because it can be danced to most Rock and Roll, Rhythm and Blues, as well as most current Top 40 dance music.

> Who created West Coast Swing?
Nobody knows for sure. Some claim the dance evolved by necessity in overcrowded California dance halls during World War II. Others credit Dean Collins (a legendary Lindy dancer who came to California in the late 1930s and choreographed most of the swing dancing performed in Hollywood movies during the next two decades) with creating slot patterns to keep dancers within camera range. Some give at least partial credit to Laure Haile, who developed the first syllabus of steps for the Arthur Murray Studios in the mid-1940s based on what she saw the street dancers doing. Whatever its origins, the dance was known as "Sophisticated Swing" or "Western Swing" until the 1950s, when the dance was renamed "West Coast Swing" as a parallel to "East Coast Swing" and to distinguish it from Country-Western dancing.

> WHAT TO EXPECT AT A WEST COAST SWING CLASS

A West Coast Swing Dance Class night starts at 7.15pm with registration. At 7.30pm, we start a Beginners class. This class is where you will learn some fun and easy beginner West Coast Swing moves. This class normally goes for approximately 1 hour (7.30pm until 8.30pm).

The beginner class is then followed by 20-30 minutes of "freestyle" social dancing where you can get up and practice what you've learnt. We then hold an intermediate class which you are more than welcome to join into if you have completed approximately 4 weeks beginners classes. This is followed by more "freestyle" social dancing where again you can practice your dance moves!

In total a Nuroc West Coast Swing Dance night lasts for approximately 3 hours.

New Beginners are welcome every Monday or Wednesday night as we teach basic 6 and 8 count patterns in the Beginner Class. Just turn up at 7.15pm to participate!

Remember you don't need a partner as you can rotate around with other students who don't have a partner. If you do have a partner and wish to stay dancing with that partner throughout the class you are more than welcome too!

A Nuroc West Coast Swing class is fun so smile and don't worry if you can't do the moves straight away - it will happen in time. ROME WASN'T BUILT IN ONE DAY AND A GREAT DANCER DOESN'T LEARN OVERNIGHT HOW TO DANCE! Remember it's easier to dance if you relax, have fun and laugh when you make a mistake.
> WHAT TO WEAR AT A WEST COAST SWING CLASS
> On your feet:
Try to wear shoes that will slide on the dance floor - ladies Court shoes are OK. You don't have to buy expensive dance shoes when you first start learning. Just make sure you don't wear joggers as joggers tend to stick to the dance floor every time you go to spin! Guys your standard type of black/brown shoes you would wear to the office or a wedding/party are fine - smooth soles are the best - remember no joggers if possible. Ideally leather sole shoes are the best!

Dance Shoes are sold at classes so look out at the front desk at classes for them!

> Clothing:
Keep it casual! A pair of jeans, or dress pants are best for the guys and a skirt, jeans or pants are fine for the girls. Just make sure you are comfortable!

Deodorant is a must! Remember no ones likes dancing with someone who smells - unless they smell nice of course! If you are prone to sweating/perspiring a lot then please bring a hand towel to use during the class.
> OUR SINCERE THANKS TO BROTHER YUSEF!

In March 2008 we re-taped our Beginners West Coast Swing DVD and the song featured throughout the DVD is by Brother Yusef. It's called "I've got the Blues". Brother Yusef is a fantastic blues singer from California, USA and he sings regularly at Disneyland! If you're ever in Disneyland then please drop in and say hi to him. Lots of his music is perfect BLUES to dance to!

To hear the song featured on our DVD please click here

To visit Brother Yusef's website please see www.brotheryusef.com You can purchase his music from there or from Itunes.

Our sincere thanks go to Brother Yusef for allowing us to be so honoured to have his song used on our DVD!
CONGRATULATIONS TO CHARLES & MICHELLE GIL
OF NUROC DANCE COMPANY & C & M'S DANCE STUDIO
'HAND PICKED' TO TEACH AT Sydney's Annual Salsa Congress
2007, 2008 & 2009


A huge honour, we are part of the elite few to be hand picked to teach at the Sydney Salsa Congress!  Double the amount of teachers applied to teach at the Congress than what workshops would be available, so we were very honoured and excited to be chosen to teach at the Congress!  This is not an opportunity that comes easily! This is a nationally and internationally recognised Salsa Event which brings about 4,000 dancers together for a weekend of learning different dance styles.   It is the biggest dance event held in Australia bringing many overseas's teachers to Australia to teach and perform!  We will be at the Sydney Salsa Congress to teach a West Coast Swing workshop!

See: http://www.sydneysalsacongress.com.au for full details on the workshops held!

Photography compliments of Kim Mengell, Contact phone number 0400 039 051.


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