Welcome to the Westie URBAN Dance Camp!

HOW WE LEVEL CLASSES..... ''TAKE'' vs ''EXPERIENCE''

  • If you qualify for a respective LEVEL based on the below criteria you may “TAKE” that class.
  • If you DO NOT qualify, you can still  “EXPERIENCE” that class if there’s room. We ask that you do so respectful of the guidelines below. Thank you!
“TAKE” The Level you Qualify For vs “EXPERIENCE” Level 1, 2, or 3
 
EXPERIENCE = If you don’t technically qualify for a levels 1,2 or 3… no problem you can still enjoy experiencing the class! Form small circles with other dance couples there to “EXPERIENCE” that class in the corners of the room or floor (space permitting). We ask that you please refrain from joining the main rotation (even if the numbers are off), and we ask that you please refrain from asking questions. Ideally you bring your own partner and do not rotate… but please feel free to rotate in your “EXPERIENCE” circle if you don’t find a partner, you can also sit in the ballroom and take notes, either way feel free to video tape the recap. Level 4 was added in 2024, as new closed door sessions for Allstar/Champion Dancers. These level 4 classes are ‘closed door’, in other words; you must actually qualify to be in the room. We are trying to facilitate a learning experience that allows for the teachers to really work in a familiar way with these high level students and peers… that dynamic is most easily attained in a closed door session. Thank you for your understanding.
 
TAKE = To take the class, you must qualify in one of two ways, by points (see below) or with your Coaches approval. Please do NOT approach our staff for an audition during the weekend. Rather if you already have a coach that knows your dancing well enough to give you a quick response, please ask your coach for their approval and have them message either Chuck Brown or Demetre Souliotes to let us know that you’re approved or forward us their message to you. Facebook is preferred, though email works. [email protected]
 
 

LEVELED WCS CLASSES

WCS: LEVEL 1

  • LEVEL 1 = NOV & Up
    – We’ll assume you have command of 6 & 8 Count Basics
    – Our teachers will base their class plan with the assumption that they won’t cover 6 & 8 Count Basics
    – It is likely that they’ll use basics to teach concepts and technique and you’ll get plenty of practice on the basics

WCS: LEVEL 2

  • LEVEL 2 = ADVANCED & INTERMEDIATE
    – Minimum 1 Intermediate Point // Or Coaches Approval
    – Teachers are asked to push the class and to teach to the upper half
    – Please give it time to let the class develop and allow yourself time to absorb the material.

WCS: LEVEL 3

  • LEVEL 3 = ALL-STAR & ADVANCED
    – Minimum 10 Advanced Points // Or Coaches Approval

WCS: LEVEL 4

  • LEVEL 4 = ALL-STAR+ (Closed Door Sessions)
    – Minimum 1 Allstar Point in the last 5 years
    – Or placed in Classic or Showcase at The Open in the last 5 years.
    – This is the one class that you must fully qualify for in order to join….aka we don’t allow people to “experience the

SOLO - DEEP DIVES - AS CRITIQUE CLASSES

SOLO CLASSES

  • ALL LEVELS – Classes are ALL LEVEL unless other wise specified – SOLO Classes are at the teachers discretion for difficulty level, but they know most of us are partner dancers.
  • NOW INTRODUCING ”LEVEL 1” CLASSES – We’re now introducing LEVEL 1 SOLO CLASSES. The teachers are asked to teach at a more approachable level.

DEEP DIVES

  • DEEP DIVES = ALL LEVELS
    – Please read all about Deep Dive Classes below

AS CRITIQUES

  • AS CRITQUES = MUST QUALIFY TO COMPETE IN AN ALLSTAR JACK & JILL
    – These are critiques for All-Star & Champion Dancers by Top Champion Dancers
    – Please read all about these sessions under “Things To Know @ TAP”

OUR PHILOSOPHY ON LEVELING

We really would like everyone to do be community minded and do their part to help us level class in the most productive, respectful, loving, and efficient way. It is important to our dance, to the joy of learning and to our collective growth that students be pushed in class. The only way to do this is to assure your teachers that they are allowed to push the class by having the tools & environment to plan and execute an effective class plan.

However, basing levels on competition success alone has an inherent problem… there are some badass dancers who don’t compete!! And WCS shouldn’t be about competition anyway! We need to be able to group classes based on dance/student level without mandating that you compete! At the same time, our inclusive nature at TAP has us shying away from implementing a full audition process as of yet… though it might be coming. As teachers, we still take LEVEL 1 and LEVEL 2 classes and still learn a ton!!! Please be humble, be respectful, we have some of the best teachers from all over the world…come ready to work!

If you do the same things in your dancing you will get the same results!  Come to TAP ready and open to try new things, to make your mind and body move in different ways!  Wake up with Yoga, go to a Burlesque class (yes guys, even you), take a Hip-Hop Class, Experience a Contemporary Class! Our weekend is meant to challenge everybody but not intimidate anyone!

— We ask our teachers to push each level. To challenge them, please come humble and ready to learn, not to perfect! —

DEEP DIVE aka CORE CLASSES

DEEP DIVES / TEACHER TRAINING / CLASSES FOR THE ENGINEER IN ALL OF US

Our DEEP DIVE classes are time to geek-out on WCS with like minded people.
We believe we hire the best teachers in the world, and as teachers ourselves, we love to hear our colleagues deep dive on concepts in WCS! As dance teachers, sometimes we’re surprised when our students find the minutia as interesting as we do; and furthermore, find that some students actually learn more from an analytical, hyper focused, dialogue-based approach. These classes are designed for other teachers and for those ‘engineer’ type of learners. So if you are like us and would love an hour or more of quality over quantity; to hear what some of the best in the world have to say on a particular element, concept, or core aspect of WCS… then come learn with other teachers and Dance Geeks. (Shout out Bameo)!

WESTIE SOLO MOVEMENT

CROSS-GENRE SOLO MOVEMENT CLASSES BY CHAMPION WESTIES

You’ll notice @ TAP that there are no titles on WCS Workshops, only levels. We believe that in order to facilitate the ultimate dance learning environment, it is important to empower the best teachers in the world to work on what is inspiring them, that weekend, coming off The Open, having traveled and taught all year, looking at the class warm up. They have the ability to really tailor the class in the moment to that level, that time, that weekend. Now imagine that, for Westies by the best dancers and teachers in our world in a Solo Movement setting! For our Westie Solo Movement classes, we don’t ask the teachers to tell us what they will teach, they know what we all need to grow our dance. They know what they’re working on, what is inspiring them, what could help us move differently, think differently. These classes are about moving your body, getting your brain to focus on internal kinesthetic dynamics in a way that will translate to you being a better Westie. These classes might end up being Hip-Hop, Contemporary, Jazz, House, Footwork, Syncopation, Turns, Line Dance, or Freestyle/Freeflow movement or all the above combined with a kick-ball-change! Come with an open mind, open heart, love of movement and an understanding that you will leave a better Westie for it!