West Coast Swing Dance Society

West Coast Swing (WCS) is a smooth and versatile partner dance which you can do to nearly any genre of music – see for yourself on our playlist. Dancers typically improvise on the spot, building on a set of basic moves and communicating with their partner through body language cues and elastic tension. This makes it very dynamic and exciting to watch, and dancing it is even more fun so come and have a go! 

Intrigued? Watch a 5-minute introduction or 5 minutes of dancing or a ‘random partner, random song' improvisation to Meghan Trainor or AC/DC.

No experience or partner required: We run classes for complete beginners, even if you think you have two left feet!

MEMBERSHIP OPTIONS

Free membership will entitle you to join all classes for a small fee. Classes for the remainder of the 2026 academic year will be priced on a pay-as-you-go basis for flexibility.

• Standard: For any registered student at the University of Glasgow.
• Associate: For anyone who is not a registered student at the University of Glasgow, including staff, students from other Universities, and members of the public.

WHY TRY WEST COAST SWING?

• Dance to nearly any music, including pop tunes, EDM, alt/indie rock, hip-hop, R&B, Latin and more (playlists here).
• Learn the basics fast, then build your skills: Start dancing right away by learning a few core steps (called ‘basics’), then unlock endless variations to experiment with.
• Meet new people: Dance with lots of partners in every lesson, and get started social dancing right away.
• Show off your creativity through styling and musicality. We’ll run workshops in other dance styles for extra inspiration!
• Improve coordination, mental health, and fitness: Dancing releases feel-good endorphins and keeps you active without feeling like a workout.

MORE INFO

• Follow our Instagram @gu_wcs for updates, announcements and videos.
• Visit our Linktree website for our WhatsApp group, playlists, local events & more.
• Concerned about a situation or someone's behaviour? Let us know here.
• Give feedback about classes & events here.
• Email us with any questions!

JOIN A CLASS! 

GUWCS runs classes for all abilities, (including absolute beginners) taught by experienced local instructors. All upcoming classes will be listed below: buy tickets on the event page or pay on the door, no need to prebook. 

No need to bring a partner, as everyone rotates throughout the class. WCS is a social dance, so half the fun is turning your dance into a ‘conversation’ and improvising with each new person you meet!

Wear any comfortable clothing that you can move freely in. We also advise wearing shoes with a non-grippy sole - walking boots tend to stick to the floor and make certain moves tricky. 

Please take 2 minutes to read our dance etiquette guide before attending your first class.