Training

Camp

Details make a difference

Mondays at Arts at the Armory, Somerville, MA

7pm — 8:30pm Level 2: Refine (closed)
8:30pm — 10pm Level 2: Refine (closed)

Thursdays at Star Dance School, Brighton, MA

8pm — 9:30pm Level 3: Explore (closed)

Our Training Camp courses are 6-month closed cohorts for dancers who are dedicated to improving their craft. These classes are an opportunity to push your dance development through personalized coaching, targeted practice, and camaraderie with like-minded students. Whether you’re a dedicated social dancer or a focused competitor, Training Camp is for dancers who want to leave their egos at the door and work as a team to get better.

Email me when the next cohort opens

Level 2: Refine

Have you been bitten by the WCS bug and just can’t get enough of learning? Once you’ve gotten a good handle on your basics, start here.

Next cohort opens April 2026!

  • Class material is personalized for each cohort, but you can generally expect to focus heavily on connection, partnering skills, individual body mechanics, and specific skills such as turns. The goal of this course is for students to be able to social dance successfully with a variety of dancers using excellent technique, basics + some fancier moves, and early musicality skills. For those with competitive aspirations, this course will provide you the skills to comfortably compete at the WSDC novice level.

    We typically spend ~1 month per topic. Past class topics have included:

    • Intention & Direction

    • Connection Through Dimensions

    • Leg Lines & Foot Articulation

    • Pattern Refinement

    • Turning & Spinning Technique

    • Listening & Responding

  • We offer multiple payment options:

    Paying online (card, Apple Pay, PayPal, etc.):

    1. $110/month, automatically charged 1x/per month beginning from the date of registration for a total of six payments

    2. $550 up front for all six months

    Paying in cash:

    1. $100/month, due by the 25th of the previous month

    2. $500 up front for all six months

    If finances are a barrier to your participation in this class, please contact us about scholarship options.

  • Classes meet once per week for 1.5 hours. Your cohort will meet on the same day and same time for the duration of the course unless otherwise noted.

    Arts at the Armory (cafe area), Somerville, MA

Email me when the next cohort opens

Level 3: Explore

This is the next step after completing the Refine course. Build a deeper relationship with your cohort as you continue to train more advanced skills.

  • Class material is personalized for each cohort, but you can generally expect to focus heavily on connection, partnering skills, individual body mechanics, and specific skills such as musicality and more advanced pattern work. The goal of this course is for students to be able to social dance successfully with a variety of dancers using excellent technique, excellent basics + solid variations, and growing musicality skills. For those with competitive aspirations, this course will provide you the skills to comfortably compete at the WSDC novice & intermediate levels.

    We typically spend ~1 month per topic. Class topics may include, but are not limited to:

    • Micro & Macro Musicality

    • Speed Changes

    • Swung Rhythms

    • Aesthetic Technique

    • Compensation Skills

  • We offer multiple payment options:

    Paying online (card, Apple Pay, PayPal, etc.):

    1. $110/month, automatically charged 1x/per month beginning from the date of registration for a total of six payments

    2. $550 up front for all six months

    Paying in cash:

    1. $100/month, due by the 25th of the previous month

    2. $500 up front for all six months

    Level 3 dancers may also audit Level 2 classes at a reduced rate.

    If finances are a barrier to your participation in this class, please contact us about scholarship options.

  • Classes meet once per week for 1.5 hours. Your cohort will meet on the same day and same time for the duration of the course unless otherwise noted.

    Star Dance School, Brighton, MA

  • This was a great experience and I definitely improved a lot in the past 6 months. I appreciated the small class size and continual feedback from Max and Alli as well as my fellow dancers. I feel like this is a far more effective and efficient 6 months of learning opposed to monthly group classes that lack content consistency. The training really fills in the gaps that typical group classes don’t have time for.

    Anonymous, leader

  • Max & Alli's WCS Training Camp has been excellent. The consistency and structure provided through a six-month course allows for the students to build the habits necessary to grow in the dance. The small class size offers camaraderie and group learning that is both fun and supportive. But also, it hits the sweet spot of balancing a tutorial style against creating a practice space where students can grapple with the concepts and try things out. Not only have I had a lot of fun and learned a lot, but it has been wonderful to do this with friends who are in the same skill range. Definitely recommend!

    Dan, leader

  • Max and Alli's training camp is essential for anyone trying to get good at West Coast Swing! It provides a solid foundation of both depth and breadth for key skills necessary to progress in your West Coast Swing journey. Whether you want to become a better social dancer, feel more confident in your dance, improve in competition, or anything else - this will help you!

    Anonymous, follower

  • The training course run by Max and Alli is an excellent choice for someone who knows their basics but is looking to level up their dancing. These weekly lessons are well organized and really get into the minutia of WCS that typical drop in or series classes don’t have time for. And the small details make all the difference. If you think about taking a series class but everyone in the group is serious, competent and the class is 6 months long covering several subjects, this is it. The duration of the course really allows us to go a mile deep as well as a mile wide.

    Jacob, leader

  • This class has truly helped me grow as a dancer and connect more deeply with the community. I feel much more confident and comfortable asking others to dance, and I’ve seen real improvement in my skills. The instructors are incredibly supportive. They encourage questions, take the time to understand each person’s needs, and always keep the class fun, engaging, and on track. Which can be very hard some time with all the jokes being made

    Anonymous, leader

  • Max and Alli taught me dancing is a skill, that can be improved with guidance and practice. They gave me some great tools to analyze my dance and drills to make the uncomfortable, comfortable. Get ready for a fun, immersive, and thoughtful learning experience. I will definitely be taking the next classes, so I hope to see you there!

    Anonymous, follower