The West Coast Swing community is buzzing, and it’s high time we gathered our collective brainpower (and fancy footwork!) to share some ideas and level up together! Get ready for open discussion sessions and presentations from October 3rd through 5th, 2025 in Nuremberg, Germany.
Let’s swap secrets, share successes, and maybe even discover a few new super secret moves!
Our mission is to create the go-to spot for WCS teachers and organizers to dive deep into discussions and share brilliant ideas that’ll supercharge our scene. Areas of focus may include…
- collaboration
- opportunities
- workshop organisation
- the first lesson
- promotional strategies
- level categorisation
- DJing / Party vibes
- and much more
We won’t dictate topics for discussion — instead we will provide a structure and a programme. Feel free to bring your own subjects to the table!
Ever heard of a BarCamp? Think of it as an "Un-Conference" where YOU set the agenda!
No stuffy lectures, just pure, unadulterated knowledge-sharing. It's surprisingly straightforward â we promise đ
We kick things off with a rapid-fire "pitch" session (don't worry, no actual pitches required!). Everyone gets a moment in the spotlight to share what WCS topic is currently buzzing in their brain. Clara (our fearless leader) will furiously scribble down all your brilliant ideas before moving on to the next person.
Once all the wisdom has been unleashed, we'll use a super-slick app to vote on which twelve topics are going to make it onto the official conference agenda. Then, it's go time!
Ever heard of a BarCamp? Think of it as an "Un-Conference" where YOU set the agenda!
No stuffy lectures, just pure, unadulterated knowledge-sharing. It's surprisingly straightforward â we promise đ
We kick things off with a rapid-fire "pitch" session (don't worry, no actual pitches required!). Everyone gets a moment in the spotlight to share what WCS topic is currently buzzing in their brain. Clara (our fearless leader) will furiously scribble down all your brilliant ideas before moving on to the next person.
Once all the wisdom has been unleashed, we'll use a super-slick app to vote on which twelve topics are going to make it onto the official conference agenda. Then, it's go time!
When a new session round kicks off, it’s your chance to play "Choose Your Own Adventure!" Scan the schedule, pick the classroom (and topic!) that calls to your Westie soul, and dive in.
The awesome human who proposed the topic gets to decide the vibe: perhaps it’s a deep-dive presentation, a lively idea exchange, or a no-holds-barred open discussion.
Typically, most topic facilitators share their insights for about ten minutes, after which dialogue and discussion flow naturally.
Free taster
By the way, our club has a meeting on Friday at 4:30 PMâright before the weekend. Weâll present the results of a major member survey along with key takeaways from our coaches. This is separate from Westie Wisdom, but if youâre curious about how we run things, youâre warmly invited to sit in. Please note: the session will be held in German.
The schedule is complemented by traditional presentations featuring a projector and PowerPoint slides.
For each of the four sessions at 10:45am, 12:00pm, 2:30pm, and 3:45pm, attendees can choose to participate in one of the three discussion sessions starting at that time, which have been planned for the beginning of the day, or to be entertained by a prepared presentation.
To conclude the conference day, we will have a short (10 minutes) debriefing in the Assembly hall and then an open WCS training session will be offered at 5:00pm. Later, at 7:30pm, everyone is invited to the main hall for a dance party with our club members.
The schedule is complemented by traditional presentations featuring a projector and PowerPoint slides.
For each of the four sessions at 10:45am, 12:00pm, 2:30pm, and 3:45pm, attendees can choose to participate in one of the three discussion sessions starting at that time, which have been planned for the beginning of the day, or to be entertained by a prepared presentation.
To conclude the conference day, we will have a short (10 minutes) debriefing in the Assembly hall and then an open WCS training session will be offered at 5:00pm. Later, at 7:30pm, everyone is invited to the main hall for a dance party with our club members.
To help you better envision the event, here is a sample session plan filled with topics.
This is merely an example; we still need to finalise the specific talks for the sessions highlighted in purple, while the topics for the discussion sessions marked in light blue will be collaboratively determined just one hour before the conference begins, following the Barcamp style.
They will be held in english language, except for Paolo’s lecture on sunday
Vanessa Bachmann
What It Means to Be Self-Employed in the Creative Industry
Thomas Bachmann
Teaching West Coast Swing With Historical Foundation â From Its Roots to Developing Your Own Signature
Michelle Braun
Social Media 101 â Let Social Media Work for you!
Thomas Ahern
The Westie Music Database: A searchable collection of WCS music driven by dancers and DJ
Paolo Iannello
Prozess-und körperorientierte Psychologie (Embodiment) â Wie Körperregulation meine Psyche stĂ€rkt
(this lecture will be held in german language)
Here are some impressions from Westie Wisdom 2024 đ
Photo 1 — Saturday 9:30am
Clara warmly welcomed the participants in the school auditorium but perhaps a bit too exuberantly! This kind of unnecessary enthusiasm is often why our association is not perceived as serious… after the weekend she received quite the stern talking to from the board
Photo 2 — 9:40am
The thirty participants were then asked in turn about the WCS-related topics currently on their minds
Photo 3 — 10:25am
After collecting materials and conducting an online vote, Clara jots down the most popular topics on the session plan
Photo 4 — 10:30am
VoilĂ – within just an hour, twelve engaging topics and four presentations were outlined in the conference schedule
Photo 5 — 10:45am
In the classrooms, small groups engaged in presentations discussions and shared experiences
Photo 6 — 8:00pm
The night ended with a dance bash and minimal injuries.
(click on the photos to view them in a larger size)
Saturday, 9:30am
Clara warmly welcomed the participants in the school auditorium but perhaps a bit too exuberantly! This kind of unnecessary enthusiasm is often why our association is not perceived as serious⊠after the weekend she received quite the stern talking to from the members of the board
9:40am
The thirty participants were then asked in turn about the WCS-related topics currently on their minds
10:25am
After collecting materials and conducting an online vote, Clara jots down the most popular topics on the session plan
10:30am
VoilĂ – within just an hour, twelve engaging topics and four presentations were outlined in the conference schedule (Westie Wisdom 2024 wasn’t bilingual, that’s why everything on the session plan is in german language)
10:45am
In the classrooms, small groups engaged in presentations, discussions and general knowledge sharing
8:00pm
The night ended with a dance bash and minimal injuries.
The conference will be held in Nuremberg’s historic Old Town, which – much like the average inhabitant of our town – presents a captivating blend of beauty and ugliness.
Over these two days, we will utilise the classrooms and gyms of 190-year-old "Johannes-Scharrer-Gymnasium". However, for open training sessions, we will move to its younger sibling, 160-year-old "WillstĂ€tter Gymnasium" — the spring chicken of our local schools, where the members of our club dance five evenings a week.
Right in the heart of the city, attendees can indulge in a variety of culinary delights during breaks. Or, for a quick dose of epic views, just a 5-minute jaunt to the castle will have you feeling like royalty.
During the two days of the Westie Wisdom Conference, we will also be hosting a weekend of workshops spread across four different halls.
In the evenings, workshop and conference participants will come together for a lively party on the following dates:
- Friday 3rd October — Warm-up boogie, from 8pm until late at WillstĂ€tter,
- Saturday 4th October — Main dance party, from 7:30pm until late at Scharrer, and
- Sunday 5th October — Cool-down groove, from 6pm to 10pm at WillstĂ€tter.
If you roll into town early on Friday, glide over to legendary vintage student bar Cobra Club and join us for a free welcome drink. We will be there from 6 to 8pm, and it’s just a hop, skip, and a Westie-walk away from the main dance floor @ WillstĂ€tter!
Two Languages, One Awesome Conference
Last year, our wisdom was purely Deutsch. This year, we’re busting out of the linguistic box!
In order to extend our invitation to the international WCS community, we’re going gloriously bilingual. (Don’t worry, no secret decoder rings required.)
The conference will be led by our club teacher and human-shaped sunshine Clara Deiters, who will be on hand to help you before, during, and after the event.
Clara has been an excellent instructor for West Coast Swing for many years; however, there have been challenges associated with her exuberant energy and optimistic personality, which sometimes lacks the austerity, discipline, and heavy-handedness that our board expects and for which our club is known regionally.
To keep things properly in line, we’ve brought in our esteemed Vice-Chair and professional killjoy Dr Anja BrĂŒckner as a supervisory presence.
But the real boss? You. Because when you bring a topic, you deicde the format. Lecture? Discussion? Interpretive dance? Your call.
And you really donât need a polished pitch to contribute. If thereâs a half-baked WCS shower thought buzzing in your brain that hasnât fully hatched, bring it anyway. You can totally say: âSo⊠Iâve been wondering about this thing â thoughts?â Boom. Discussion activated.
We’ll keep you hydrated with a steady stream of complimentary water, coffee, and tea from dawn till dance party.
In addition to beverages, we also provide a selection of essential dance fuel like Hanutas and gummy bears, which you can help yourself to at any time.
For the sake of "let’s pretend", we also keep a couple of large boxes of healthy alternatives, such as apples, even though they usually remain untouched.
Of course you are also welcome to bring your own food and drink to enjoy in the communal munching zone!
If you want to save some money, you can stay for free in one of the gymnasiums we have available on this weekend!
Think of it as exclusive, no-star accommodation with plenty of soft mats for your comfort đ
Since we have rented a total of four gymnasiums for the workshop weekend (which runs parallel to the conference), but we’ll use only the biggest one of them for the dance party, you won’t have to wait until the party winds down before you can get some well-deserved rest.
This Westie Wisdom weekend isn’t just about unlocking dance secrets; it’s also our club’s epic 7th Birthday Bash!
While we can’t make any promises just yet, as a participant in Westie Wisdom, you can look forward to an exceptional free cake buffet and perhaps even some super secret swag.
Super Secret Moves e.V. is a non-profit crew obsessed with spreading the joy of swing dance! We pour our hearts (and a ton of unpaid hours) into these events, not for profit, but purely to cover costs.
That’s why Westie Wisdom is an absolute steal at just 50 Euros â snagging you two full days of mind-blowing insights, three epic dance parties, plus all the snacks and drinks you can handle!
Whether we are going for a third edition in October 2026 will be decided around April 2026. If you are interested, please come back here at around that time đ
