Welcome to Umeå Westie Weekend 2026!
Dates: 23 January – 25 January 2026
Place: Umeå Folkets Hus (Adress: Skolgatan 59, 903 29 Umeå)
One of the biggest social events in Sweden! We’re looking forward to a weekend full of workshops and social dancing with you and our great instructors.
Registration
Registration will open Wednesday 15/10 18:00.
Registration link: https://onbeat.dance/wcsumea/uww2026
Teachers
- Victor & Evelina: Evelina started dancing when she was six years old and began dancing West Coast Swing in 2015. Over the years, she has explored various solo and partner dances, but when she encountered West Coast Swing, she fell completely in love with it. What she likes most about dancing is that it allows for the creation of art where both partners can influence. With her dance, she strives to create dynamics and contrasts, making her dance innovative and unique. Evelina has been teaching West Coast Swing for the past five years and is passionate about sharing her knowledge with others. She regularly attends events where she judges and participates in All-Star level competitions. Victor Aitman took his first steps in West Coast Swing in 2018, but it was after the pandemic that he became completely captivated by the dance. For Victor, the best thing about West Coast Swing is that it provides space to express and convey emotions. He wants to create an open space for both his partner and himself to let emotions shine through in the dance, making his dance expressive and dynamic. Victor has been teaching for four years now. He competes at the Allstar level and regularly attends events both nationally and internationally. Victor and Evelina found each other through dance five years ago and have been teaching together for the past three years. Both of them are passionate about dance and teaching it. They place great importance on clarity in their teaching and are described by many as the most pedagogical instructors in Sweden. Victor and Evelina are active within the West Coast Swing community and frequently attend events for further education, social dancing, competing, and judging competitions, which keeps their teaching current. Victor competes in the Advanced division, and Evelina in the All-Star division. They want to spread their joy for dance and inspire both new and experienced dancers to share their love for West Coast Swing.
- Evi & Clement: Clevi – Clem & Evi – are two passionate West Coast Swing dancers based in Berlin. With a decade of experience each, they have joined forces to teach and dance together. Clement, an All-Star Division leader and an Advanced Division follower, brings a unique sense of musicality and creativity to the dance floor with his decade of musical studies and his background in solo dances like Ballet, Hip-Hop, and Contemporary. Evi, an All-Star Division follower with a professional contemporary dance background and experience in Ballet, Jazz, and Modern dance, adds her unique flavor to WCS. Clem & Evi love communication and connection in WCS, which allow them to co-create and express the music both as individual dancers and as a couple. They also love choreographies and achieved a 5th place in the Rising Star division at the Open 2023, as well as a 1st place at Global Grand Prix 2023 and French Open 2024.
- Ibi & Jula: Ibirocay tried many different dance forms before he got involved into partner dancing. Latin folklore, hip-hop, flamenco, jazz, ballet, etc. But it wasn’t until he took his first salsa steps that he found his true calling. During his time as a pro he traveled, taught and performed at events all over the world and also became a silver medalist in the World Salsa Championships 3 times. He has over 25 years of teaching experience and in search of new inspiration, he first witnessed WCS on VHS tapes back in 2001. But it actually wasn’t until a few years later that he realized what he had seen when he stumbled upon several YouTube videos and was immediately hooked. After an introduction course in 2008 he continued on the learning path traveling to events, taking workshops, privates and social dancing. He tried his luck competing for the first time at the UK champs 2012 and is the first Scandinavian dancer to make it up to the All-Star division. He has been teaching WCS since 2010 and aside from organizing 3 WSDC events in Sweden as well as hosting regular weekly classes in his hometown, he also travels both nationally and internationally during weekends, sharing his knowledge and passion for the dance. Meet Jula, a passionate West Coast Swing dancer and instructor from Germany. Having danced since childhood, she explored various styles, including jazz, ballet, ballroom, and Latin dance, before discovering West Coast Swing in 2015. Since then, she has achieved remarkable success, recently reaching the Champions division. Jula’s empathetic teaching style, rooted in her own journey, makes her a supportive and encouraging guide for dancers of all levels. With her, you’ll not only learn the steps but also find confidence and joy in your own dancing.
- Maxence & Virginie: They are known for pushing the boundaries of West Coast Swing, introducing innovative movements that retain the essence of the dance while adding modern flair. Their teaching emphasizes musical interpretation and partner connection, making their workshops sought after by dancers worldwide. Their presence at major International West Coast Swing events, has further solidified their reputation as leaders in the dance community. Their performances are marked by fluidity and a deep understanding of the music, allowing them to engage audiences with every movement. As instructors, Maxence and Virginie are renowned for their ability to break down the complexities of West Coast Swing, helping dancers of all levels improve their skills. Their workshops focus on the importance of timing, rhythm, and connection, which are essential to mastering the dance. Their global influence can be seen through the growing popularity of their teaching techniques and performance styles. Maxence and Virginie continue to inspire dancers worldwide. Together they are unique in terms of their patterns and styling, with Maxence combining his flair for turn and leverage technique with Virginie’s own brand of subtle body isolation and footwork.
Location
All workshops and socials are at Umeå Folkets Hus (Skolgatan 59, 903 29 Umeå).
Accommodation
We are pleased to provide you with a special booking code, WCS2026, which offers a discounted accommodation rate at Hotell Winn. Comfort Hotel Winn, which is just across the street from the venue.
Passes
| Early Bird (The first 40 passes) | 1200 SEK |
| Regular Bird | 1400 SEK |
Levels
OBS! When you couple register with someone you have to register on the same workshop level.
Level 2
For those who know the basics in West Coast Swing.
You should know the basic 6 count and 8 count patterns: sugar push, under arm turn, left side pass, sugar tuck, and whip. This level is suitable for those who have taken at least a beginner course.
Level 3
For those who have been dancing regularly for at least one or two years.
You should feel confident dancing on the social floor, and changing between patterns is not a problem for you. This level is suitable for those who have taken at least one or more intermediate courses (fortsättningskurs).
Level 4
This is a level for those who have been dancing for a longer time.
You should have danced WCS for at least 3 years, have points in the Novice division according to WSDC ranking, or have equivalent knowledge in case you don’t compete.
Level 5
You have been dancing for a long time and travel regularly to bigger dance events.
You should have at least 10 Novice points. In case you don’t compete, you can enter this level through auditions.
Level 6
This level is for the most experienced dancers who want to be challenged.
You should compete in the Intermediate division according to WSDC ranking and have a minimum of 5 Intermediate points to take this level. In case you don’t compete or don’t meet the criteria, you can enter this level through auditions.
Schedule will be released closer to the event!