Join us for an amazing day of fun and learning with the world’s highest ranked Follow and Lead competitor in West Coast Swing today!
From an Edmonton participant at Samantha’s workshop in Victoria in December:
“There was a wide variety of skill levels from people that just knew the basics to more experienced. Samantha seamed to tailor the workshops so everyone learned something new in each workshop. Her being a lead and follow helped lots. She wasn’t afraid to share all the secrets about how to get to Championship level. She definitely didn’t hold anything back. She gave lots of information for the value that it cost. Even flying to Victoria to see her was worth it…. I would definitely take her workshop’s again.”
— Dominic Minty
Samantha Buckwalter West Coast Swing Workshop
Saturday March 8, 2025
Location: Bonnie Doon Community Hall 9240 93 Street, Edmonton.
Schedule
Friday March 7:
730 pm: Lesson with Samantha Buckwalter and Matt Richey
830 pm – 1130 pm: Open social dancing
(Workshop ticket includes entry to Friday March 7th lesson and dance.)
Saturday March 8:
Workshops: (6 hrs of instruction with Samantha)
- 10 am: Connection 101- Understanding your Lead and Follow
- 11 am: Building on your Basics
- Noon: Connection 102 – Breaking the Rules
- 1 pm – 2 pm: 1 hr lunch break on your own
- 2 pm: Adding Textures to your dance
- 3 pm: Understanding Music and How We Dance To It
- 4 pm: Accenting 1 vs 7,8
- 5 pm – 6 pm: After workshop practice session
Tickets
Early bird: $110 (before Feb 23)
Regular: $140
Payments processed via Square
Important Prerequisites!
Because we want to cover key concepts in this workshop, participants should have confident basics and be able to demonstrate sugar push, right side pass, left side pass, sugar tuck and basic whip.
It wasn’t until she was 10 years old and attended her mother’s (Kelly Casanova) convention, Swingbreak, that she actually wanted to learn WCS. It was at this event that she saw Jordan Frisbee and Jessica Cox perform a Junior routine. Samantha began competing in 2001. She danced her first Juniors routine at the US Open with Ben Morris in 2002. Samantha had no intention of teaching or pursuing West Coast Swing as a career until 2006 at Capital Swing.
From that point on she began mentoring under her mother, assisting in her classes and shadowing her as a judge to learn everything she could about the dance. Starting in 2007, Samantha was fortunate to study under Mario Robau Jr. She assisted him in workshops and intensives both in the US and abroad which she credits to her confident teaching foundation. Samantha was inducted into the California Swing Dance Hall of Fame in 2012 and continues to travel all over the world competing, coaching, and teaching with her dance partner Matt Richey.
One of Samantha’s proudest moments was becoming the first woman to final in a Champion’s division as a Leader, thanks to the help of Jennifer Deluca!
More info on Samantha’s website
Private Lessons
Private lessons with Samantha are available
Lessons can be taken as a single or as a couple. Singles are welcome to bring a ‘dance dummy’ friend as demonstration partner.
Email Terra at wcsstyle@gmail.com for details.