Advertisement
✨Hello Westies! And wannabe Westies!✨Once a month, on the first Sunday of the month, we gather both valley's dancers (Roanoke and New River) to dance and socialize ~ a social dance! This month will be in Roanoke on Sun, Oct 5th. Next month (Nov 2nd) in Blacksburg, and so on, switching each month.
It's a relaxed, friendly, inclusive afternoon where all levels of dancers are welcome to come and enjoy some West Coast Swing, the state dance of California, which is danced to a wide variety of musical genres!
Each month is special, but this month is extra special because we get to welcome our neighbor and friend, Jason Donahoo, from Lynchburg to join in the fun and guide our beginner lesson! Learn more about Jason below!
📍This Oct 5th will we gather in Roanoke from 3:00-5:30pm
• All Levels Lesson 3-4pm
• Dance 4-5:30pm
With Guest Instructor/DJ Jason Donahoo from Hill City Swing in Lynchburg!!!
• At Carilion Wellness - 4508 Starkey Rd., Roanoke - Studio A
(If you are not a member, you will need to sign a waiver at the front desk. Please arrive early enough to do so.)
• Cost to attend - The admission is a sliding scale from $5 (financially stretched) to $20 (looking to support VWCS), with $15 as the recommendation.
If it's your first time, admission is FREE! We accept cash, Venmo, and PayPal at the door. If you would like to pay in advance, we can send you the link!
✍️ Let us know you're coming, or ask any questions, by contacting: [email protected] or [email protected], and that way we can let you know if something changes.
• No partner or experience necessary!
• Wear comfortable clothes & shoes, no flip flops.
• Bring a water bottle.
😁 Our lessons are beginner friendly and perfect for people trying social dance for the first time! We always have an excellent mix of beginner and experienced dancers, so the lessons are designed to have something for everyone.
🎶 The dance playlist is West Coast Swing-heavy with some Latin, Ballroom, and Country styles mixed in.
🤗 A safe and welcoming space is a priority, so please read the code of conduct, before attending.
More about Jason!
With over 15 years of teaching experience and a background in more than 20 dance styles, Jason blends deep knowledge with an approachable teaching style. His classes emphasize consent, community, and genuine connection, helping dancers build skill and confidence on and off the floor. Drawing on expertise in kinesiology and a lifetime of movement training, Jason makes complex ideas simple—so you can focus on having fun and growing as a dancer.
CODE OF CONDUCT:
The dance community should be welcoming so everyone can learn and enjoy social dancing. We are dedicated to providing a safe, inclusive, and comfortable dance experience for everyone, and we expect cooperation from all participants to help ensure it. By attending our classes and events, you agree to abide by these rules and be held accountable if you engage in unsafe or harassing behavior. This applies to all individuals: students and teachers, beginners and experienced. We reserve the right to handle any violations of this Code of Conduct as we deem necessary. Violators may be ejected from the class or event without a refund and/or banned from attending future events.
Thank you for helping to support and protect our community! ~Lane, Bonny, and the VWCS Community
DANCE IS FOR EVERYONE: We would like to dance with everyone! This community will welcome and respect all dancers regardless of race, age, level of dance, sexual orientation, gender identity, ability, physical appearance, body size, religion, familial status, or anything else.
ROTATING PARTNERS: In this dance community, it is common to dance with different partners, even if you come with a particular partner. While this is entirely optional, it is an opportunity to connect with other dancers. Partner dances have a leader and a follower, or (if your partner agrees) you may switch roles during the dance. These roles are not tied to gender identity. There aren't any rules or norms about who should ask whom to dance. All participants are encouraged to ask one another to dance. As a rule of thumb, asking a partner to dance with you for more than two songs in a row is considered excessive.
DECLINING A DANCE: You may decline to dance with anyone at any time, with or without giving a reason. If you feel uncomfortable at any point in a dance, you may ask for adjustments or excuse yourself from a dance without explanation. If someone declines your invitation to dance, asks for adjustments, or excuses themselves during a dance, respect that.
RESPECT THE LEARNING PROCESS: Do not offer unsolicited advice, teaching, or criticism when interacting with other dancers. If this happens during class, it is considered impolite, both to the person you are correcting and the instructor. If there is a designated practice time and the instructor guides you to share feedback as part of the class, or your partner explicitly asks for help (wait to be asked, do not offer), then you may do so. Ensure you aren’t talking while the instructor is teaching if you are helping someone. Respect the learning process by allowing beginners to be beginners and the instructor to decide what information is helpful to participants in the class. Sometimes, excessive tips and feedback chip away at someone’s confidence, which does more harm than good.
PHYSICAL SAFETY: Avoid drops, dips, and other weight-supported moves if you have yet to clear them with your partner, whether or not you have done these moves before with said partner. Lifts and aerials are not allowed on the social dance floor.
WELL-BEING AND HYGIENE: When attending an event, refrain from excessive alcohol or substance use beforehand. Alcohol is prohibited at events unless specified otherwise.
Dancing brings you into your partner's personal space, so please be cognizant of your hygiene. Wear freshly laundered clothing, and consider brushing your teeth before dancing and/or bringing mints (we often supply some). If you sweat a lot, you can bring extra shirts, a towel, and deodorant. Refrain from wearing perfume, cologne, and products, as these can cause allergic reactions in many people.
*HEALTH NOTE: Please err on the side of caution, and stay home, if you feel anything less than wonderful. It's a NO sniffles, NO cough, NO sore throat, and NO upset tummy Zone. Thanks for your cooperation.
PICTURES AND VIDEO: You must ask for consent before filming or taking pictures during class or social dancing. If consent is given, you must also ask for consent to share them with others or post them on social media.
HARASSMENT: Harassment of any kind will not be tolerated. Making another person feel unsafe or uncomfortable is considered harassment; it includes but is not limited to making offensive comments, verbal abuse, inappropriate or unwelcome physical contact, physical intimidation, and disruption of workshops or social dancing.
If you experience harassment during an event or notice someone else is being harassed, please alert me immediately so I can intervene. Anyone asked to stop any form of harassing or unsafe behavior is expected to comply immediately.
If You Need Help: Find an organizer in person. This will usually be Lane Mattox or Bonny Branch, but sometimes, others will be introduced at the beginning of the class or event.
Email Lane at [email protected] and/or Bonny at [email protected]
Hope to see you on the dance floor!
Bonny & Lane
Advertisement
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Carilion Wellness (Roanoke), 4508 Starkey Rd, Roanoke, VA 24018-8504, United States
