Non Profit Swing Dance Club Founded 1981
Where Legends are made
July 3 - 7, 2019
Welcome to The Phoenix Fourth of July!
Did you know that this coming summer in the Valley of the Sun is the 38th Anniversary of the Phoenix 4th of July Convention? As the original West Coast Swing Convention, we strive to honor the traditions of where west coast swing originated and bridge to what it will become. Year after year, it continues to be “Where Legends are Made”. Held in a fabulous 5 star resort, the J.W. Marriott Camelback Inn, which graces the base of beautiful Mummy Mountain in Paradise Valley and is the first choice for a luxury resort.
Top champions join together to teach, compete, entertain and amaze us. The YASDA program offers great opportunities to the junior dancers to learn from the best. We offer a fun learning environment for juniors while offering the best in late night dancing for the other dancers - lots of social dancing for everyone.
The highest standard of excellence is maintained by our dance competitors and judging panel for all our competitive divisions: Invitational Champion, Jack& Jill, and the ever-popular Strictly Swing. We are proud to be a WSDC event for 38 years - please join us!
We've been around 38 years!
This west coast swing dance convention is the oldest running convention in the country. For more about the event click the website below or go to the registration link for ticket informaiton.
Junior Program
The members and board of directors at the Greater Phoenix Swing Dance Club make it part of our mission to provide safe, learning environments for our youth.
We have workshops though out the year to help them learn. Most of these are free
Phoenix 4th of July convention has a diverse youth/junior program
YASDA tour comes to our convention providing the juniors with lessons from top Champions
Juniors attend our weekly dances for free.
Convention Staff
Returning as MC is Robert Royston
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Robert is internationally renowned for bringing his wealth of knowledge, charisma, experience, and talent to any project in which he has a role.
Robert has won everything possible in the world of Swing including several US Open swing titles. Robert is a Champion performer, instructor, choreographer. His west coast swing intensive is definitely not to be missed. Additionally he has won the Country World Championships five times. Robert has performed on Broadway and is one of the original creators of the Off Off Broadway hit Swango.
Always a crowd favorite, Robert continues to MC, compete and perform at competitions worldwide, his first love.
Deborah Szekely
Deborah Szekely “say kay” started dancing when she was 3 years old. She is formally trained in ballet, tap and jazz since the age of 3. In 1995 she was introduced to WCS and became competing the next year. Deborah became partners with Robert Cordoba. In 1997. During their 15 years together they accumulated 4 more US Open Titles. Two in showcase and 2 in Sophisticated and a US Open Jack and Jill win for Deborah. Deborah has 8 Grand National Titles. She is in Dallas Dance and California Swing Dance Hall of Famer. In 2014 she was Inducted into the National Living Legends of Dance. For the past 7 years Deborah has been traveling the circuit solo sharing her knowledge and passion for Dance.
Benji Schwimmer
Benjamin "Benji" Daniel Schwimmer is an American professional dancer, choreographer and actor. On August 16, 2006 he was announced as the winner of the second season of So You Think You Can Dance
Jordan Frisbee & Tatianna Mollman
Jordan & Tatiana have been partners since 2000, and are 11-Time US Open Classic Division Champions. They also are multiple Grand National, NASDE and Classic Division Champions, and are the most winning dance couple in West Coast Swing. Their TV and movie appearances include "30 Seconds to Fame", "Star Search", "Good Morning America", "The Polar Express", and "Love N’ Dancing". They have earned a great reputation teaching all over the world as Certified Teachers for the Golden State Dance Teachers Association. Their latest endeavor, JT Swing Teams, has created a new global community of dancers working together on a common goal to improve through choreography and gain exposure for West Coast Swing by performing in their local communities.
Kyle Redd & Sarah Vann Drake
As a partnership, they have been teaching, competing, performing, judging and choreographing all over the world for 12 years. They are the only couple to hold a US Open Swing Dance Championship title in both the “Showcase” and “Classic” Divisions.
This innovative couple love what they do and it shows every time they step on the floor.
They have performed 24 West Coast Swing Routines all over the world and are constantly driving to evolve style while strengthening technique.
Kyle and Sarah are best known for their ability to teach their innovative style while preserving the fundamental roots of West Coast Swing.
Melissa Rutz
Melissa began her training at age four at Star Dance Studio in San Francisco. Three years later, she found herself at the prestigious SAN FRANCISCO BALLET SCHOOL for seven years under the direction of Lola DeAvila.
While studying Lindy Hop for three years, Melissa dabbled in the social West Coast Swing scene. It wasn't long before she found an intense passion for WCS due to the versatility of the dance and the music. Currently, Melissa teaches, competes, judges, choreographs, and performs all over the world. She is ranked among the top WEST COAST SWING dancers in the world and has won numerous champion level competitions including Showcase Swing, Classic Swing, Strictly Swing, Team, and Jack & Jill Competitions.
Melissa is known for her versatility as a dancer. She has performed in a variety of solo works on stage as well as on the industrial scene. Melissa had the pleasure of working as Christina Aguilera's dance double in her music video, Candyman. You can also watch Melissa dance on the big screen in the movie, Love N' Dancing. Besides Melissa's dance background, she has also trained in New York City and San Francisco as a singer (classical, musical theater, jazz, pop, country) and actress. Melissa graduated Magna Cum Laude from Marymount Manhattan College with her B.A. IN DANCE!
HIGHEST ACHIEVEMENTS
- 2-TIME US OPEN STRICTLY SWING DANCE CHAMPION
- 2-TIME US GRAND NATIONAL SHOWCASE SWING DANCE CHAMPION
- 3-TIME PHOENIX CHAMPIONS OF CHAMPIONS JACK & JILL DIVISION WINNER
- LIBERTY SWING CLASSIC DIVISION CHAMPION
- US OPEN TEAM DIVISION CHAMPION
- US PRO-AM THEATER ARTS CHAMPION
Meet the staff
Myles Munroe & Tessa Cunningham
The Intensive "Swing Literacy" will help you take your west Coast swing dancing to the next level.
Who could possible be more exciting than these two?
Jordan Frisbee and Tatianna Mollman have won more US Open titles than anyone. They are two of the most energetic and entertaining couples on the circuit.
Kellese Key
A fantastic addition to the staff this year for the Phoenix 4th of July. She had not been to the Phoenix 4th for many years. If you haven't seen her dance you have missed something special.