West Coast Swing UK

08/09/2021

Hi All! So here is the long-awaited update for West Coast Swing UK as of this moment, September 2021. As you all know, I announced my retirement from teaching which was due to take effect at the end of 2020 but of course Covid interrupted my plans for that year and it feels somehow wrong to just stop completely without following through with my final year’s plans! This is a lengthy post with lots of information so please feel free to save it, share it, copy it, do whatever you need to to keep it fresh in your minds…and possibly diaries! :)

- Mondays – Farnham: Relaunching with yours truly and team on Monday 20 September 2021 – Facebook event with all the details coming soon. Please spread the word!

- Wednesdays – Twickenham: Relaunching on Wednesday 6 October 2021 in the very capable hands of Coleen Man, with myself as cover teacher and occasional visitor with my SwayD footwear!

- Fridays – Club Jive Addlestone: I’ve spoken with organizer David Taylor and at present there is no official relaunch date. However, should the 2-room freestyle resume in the upcoming months, it’s likely I will continue with my monthly guest spot, dates permitting, so watch this space!

- Saturdays – ICE Freestyles: No official dates set but our West Drayton venue is agreeable for us to book with them on an adhoc basis, as and when there’s a free weekend. Please register your interest with me so I can make plans accordingly, thank you!

- Sundays – Windsor Workshops: No plans to continue with these events for the foreseeable future, sorry!

- Sundays – WCS Exeter Workshops: Currently in negotiations with the Coaver Club for a reunion/farewell event, likely to take place in Spring 2022!

- SwingV – The London SwingVitational: Unfortunately, although we are slowly creeping out of lockdown, it will not be viable to run our Finale event this year, especially as a large contingent of attendees (including most of the pros) are international and may still be restricted with travel. My intention is to make sure our Finale matches, if not exceeds the atmosphere we’ve managed to create and maintain throughout the years. So we will be deferring once again to November 2022, date TBA. All bookings/deposits will be automatically transferred to 2022 but if you’d prefer a refund, no problem, just ask!

- Maxime & Torri Zzaoui Workshop Weekend: Rescheduled date has been confirmed for Saturday 21-Sunday 22 May 2022, possibly with baby Zola in tow! Congratulations to you both on the birth of your beautiful baby girl! Again, all bookings/payments will be automatically transferred to 2022 but if you’d prefer a refund, no problem, just ask!

- Private Lessons: No plans to resume teaching regular private lessons but if you see me at a weekender (any event that I’m not organizing myself) and would be interested in booking a slot, please just ask at the time!

- SwayD UK Footwear: I am still the exclusive official rep for SwayD here in the UK and will be continuing in that position for the foreseeable future! So if you’d like to make a purchase, please contact me directly to arrange a suitable time and place to meet up. And if you’d like me to bring a pop-up booth or my full inventory to an upcoming event, please contact me directly to discuss - https://www.facebook.com/SwayDUK

- Weekenders & Events: I will be in attendance at quite a few upcoming events, mainly with my SwayD booth, but in some cases teaching WCS Workshops/Masterclasses too! Please check my website Google calendar here for regular updates -

04/08/2021

Hi All,

I'm being inundated with calls, texts, messages and emails asking if and/or when WCSUK classes will be reopening. So this is just a little message from me to say please watch this space as I will be posting a formal update in the next few weeks! Thank you for your patience and keep safe everyone! :)

14/11/2020

As you all know, this weekend would've been "SwingV The Finale"! But sadly, events the world over have been affected by the ongoing Covid pandemic meaning we had no choice but to cancel! However, this is a great opportunity to take a trip down memory lane and revisit or even watch for the first time our Highlights videos from the last 5 editions of SwingV! I've laughed, I've cried, I've reminisced whilst compiling this post! So I urge you to take the time to watch each video when you can. It will not be time wasted! And I want to thank again our amazing videographers Piotr Badman Lenart and Ned Gould for capturing such utterly amazing footage documenting SwingV through the ages! You guys are rockstars! ❤
2013 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBseYF9WHDs&feature=emb_logo
2015 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85mx82emBSc&feature=emb_logo
2017 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WoUYH84p-7c&feature=emb_logo
2018 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgEfzAue2P0&feature=emb_logo
2019 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMG3SWF-3Fc&feature=emb_logo

Highlights from London Swingvitational "SwingV" 2019 organised by Catriona Wiles of West Coast Swing UK. Music: Just Hold On by NuChoyce. Buy the song here.....

06/04/2020

Need a little pick-me-up in these very troubling times? Want a taster of what to look forward to at SwingV The Finale, 12-16 November 2020? Well look no further! Huge thanks to Ned Gould for his legendary videography skills! And huge thanks to Markus Smith (https://www.facebook.com/NuChoyceMusic/) for providing the original backing track!

26/03/2020

That time again 🤩🎷 More info in a few hours 👌🏼

05/01/2020

Happy New Year Everyone!

By now, many of you will have heard the news that this is the final year for West Coast Swing UK as you know it. I have agonised for many months about the direction I should take this post but I have decided to keep it really simple…I just don’t want to do it any longer. For some, this may come as a total surprise but for those that know me better, you will have seen this coming for a long time now. As the saying goes, “You’re a long time dead”! And it is my intention moving forward to fill my life with as many things that I do want to do while I’m still alive!

To quell any rumours, West Coast Swing UK© is not for sale and is not available to offers. The London SwingVitational© (SwingV©) is not for sale and is not available to offers. Both were borne out of my imagination and at a time when there was very little consistent infrastructure in place for WCS and WSDC events in the UK, or to be honest the majority of Europe. They are my babies. And any parent will testify that your children are not available for sale or offer once you “grow out of them”…or they “grow out of you”! With both ventures, I took a huge risk and ultimately most of the reward, a risk I was willing to take at that point in my dance career. Today’s dance climate means there is more choice of classes, workshops, socials and events than ever before. And I am glad to have played a part in developing that climate. But the truth is, I no longer have the energy, inclination or enthusiasm to take it further. I’ve had really good innings and can step out with my head held high and with no regrets.

I would like to take this opportunity to give my heartfelt thanks to every single person; dance partner, team member, client and friend that has supported me over the past 15 years of West Coast Swing UK. To those that trusted my vision and more importantly, the thing that I hold dearest, my integrity, thank you! Your trust was not misplaced. To my critics, knock yourself out! You have only spurred me on in my times of weakness. It’s been the best of times, it’s been the worst of times. But it’s also time to move on.

It is not my intention to close any doors permanently. Dance has been a huge part of my life since I was 3 years old and has taken on many different forms over the decades. Who knows what the future may hold, but for now this is the absolute right decision. I will be putting as much effort into my dance endeavours for 2020 as I have ever done. A full program of events will run as usual but with extra special send offs for our West Coast Swing UK 15th Year Anniversary (Sunday 23 August 2020) and for our 10th Edition SwingV (12-16 November 2020). Then it’s time to rest. Much Love, Catriona!

25/04/2019

*SwingV 2019*...Details Coming Soon! In the mean time, check out our amazing promo video here (make sure you watch it in HD) and get your name on the pre-registration list!

Highlights from London Swingvitational "SwingV" 2018 organised by Catriona Wiles of West Coast Swing UK. The pros were... Michael Kielbasa Lee Easton and Fab...