FAQ SwingVester
Event & Location
SwingVester is held at the spectacular Tanzschule Hippmann in Wels, Austria (Pollheimerstraße 7, 4600 Wels). The venue offers 2,000 square meters of premium dance floors spread across seven distinct rooms, providing plenty of space for workshops and social dancing.
Wels is a major travel hub in Austria. You can easily reach us by train (Wels Hauptbahnhof is just a short walk away), by car (parking is available nearby), or by flying into Vienna (VIE), Munich (MUC), Salzburg (SZG), or Linz (LNZ) and taking a direct train to Wels.
All workshops at SwingVester are taught in German. However, West Coast Swing is a highly visual dance, and our international instructors are experienced in making their classes accessible to non-German speakers.
Competitions
Yes! SwingVester is an official World Swing Dance Council (WSDC) Registry Event. We offer Jack & Jill competitions where you can earn official WSDC points to advance through the skill levels.
We offer a wide range of competitions, including WSDC Jack & Jill (Newcomer to Champions), Strictly Swing, ProAm, and our special choreographed Rising Star division. You can sign up for competitions directly at the event check-in.
Who can participate in West Coast Swing competitions?
Anyone can participate in West Coast Swing competitions, regardless of whether they are beginners or professionals. The lowest competition class in Jack&Jill (Newcomer) corresponds roughly to the Tanzbogen Level 5 course – however, there are no minimum requirements for participation. Whether you are ready to compete is different for every dancer. If you are unsure, it is best to talk to one of your trainers.
Do you also change partners in competitions?
That varies depending on the competition category. In the most popular category, “Jack & Jill,” dance partners are changed regularly. If you compete in the “Strictly” category, you register with a fixed dance partner.
Should I dance my first competition as a newcomer or novice?
You can register for your first competition in the newcomer or novice skill classes. We always recommend competing in the newcomer category for your first competition. There you will meet others who are also new to competition, gain your first experiences in a relaxed atmosphere, and get an impression of the level of dancing in competitions. You can decide at any time whether you feel ready to dance your next competition in the higher novice class. The intermediate, advanced, and all-star competition classes can only be reached by dancing your way to world ranking points.
What kind of music is danced to in competitions?
The music in competitions can vary greatly. Usually, there are three songs to dance to per round. This often includes a slow song (80-100 BPM), a fast song (100-120 BPM), and a blues song (with/without swing rhythm). For the lower competition levels, the DJ usually selects slower/easier-to-dance music.
What are the judging criteria?
The judging criteria for West Coast Swing competitions include technique, timing, and teamwork. The judges pay attention to how well you master the dance technique according to your performance class, whether you dance in time with the music, and how well you harmonize with your partner. Creativity and presentation also play an important role.
How can I best prepare for a competition?
To prepare yourself as well as possible for your first competition, it can be helpful to learn and internalize the most important basic techniques beforehand. Technical training and private lessons are particularly well suited for competition-related technical input. In open training, you then have the opportunity to practice the techniques you have learned independently and get feedback on them.
What is the WSDC?
The WSDC stands for World Swing Dance Council and is the umbrella organization for West Coast Swing dance sport. The WSDC is responsible for the international points ranking, sets standards and competition rules, and supervises the correct conduct of competitions around the world.
Registration
Where can I buy a ticket?
We have a central ticket page for all our events. There you will find everything you can order from us, including tickets for other events.
Which ticket is right for me?
The following differences are important: Do you just want to party or do you also want to attend workshops? There are separate workshop tickets that also include the parties, or just party tickets without access to the workshops.
I have WSDC points. Where do I enter them when placing my order?
When registering for workshops or party tickets, it does not matter how many WSDC points you have. Assignments will only be made on site at check-in according to our level classifications.
I have enough Advanced points to be eligible to dance in AllStars Competition. Can I register for an AllStar ticket?
No. You need at least 1 Advanced Point for an Advanced Ticket and at least 1 AllStar Point for an AllStar Ticket.
Do I need a partner to register?
No, you do not need a partner to register for SwingVester. West Coast Swing is a social dance, and we rotate partners frequently during all workshops. For Strictly and Rising Star competitions, you will need to choose a partner in advance.
NYE Dinner
Can I book just a NYE dinner?
No, if you want to book our dinner, you also need a valid workshop or party ticket.
Can I reserve a table in advance?
No, seating arrangements will be made on site.
Ticket resale
Can I resell my ticket if I am unable to attend?
Yes, you can. However, the new participant must purchase the same ticket. WSDC levels or dance roles cannot be exchanged.
The ticket transfer feature allows customers to give their tickets to someone else, such as a friend or loved one.
How Ticket Transfer Works
After purchasing a ticket, the customer will receive a ticket notification email with a link to access their ticket.
Clicking “View your ticket” opens the ticket page.
On the ticket page, the customer can enter the recipient’s name and email address, then click “Update Ticket Details.”
Once updated, the original ticket becomes invalid. The page will display the recipient’s email address and the transfer date.
The recipient will automatically receive an email with the updated ticket details.
