P. O. Box 97459, Phoenix, Arizona 85060, United States 425-512-2168
Starting on FRIDAY!! June 30 - July 4th, 2023
Welcome to The Phoenix Fourth of July!
As one of the longest running West Coast Swing Conventions, 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 it is the first choice for a luxury resort. They completed the all new Paradise Ballroom. This is where the main events take place. Comments included, "It was the best ballroom with the best vibe I've seen."
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 our other dancers - lots of social dancing for everyone.
We have joined the AANCE tour for the novice and Intermediate dancers.
This gives the 1st place winners the opportunity to go to Meet me in St Louis in September for the Championship.
The highest standard of excellence is maintained by our dance competitors and judging panel for all our competitive divisions: Champion, Jack & Jill, and the ever-popular Generational Strictly Swing and All American Hi-Lo. We have added a Switchly Strictly and if you didn't know it we are degendered. We are proud to be a WSDC event for 40 years - please join us!
Phoenix 4th of July
Convention Staff
Returning as MC is Robert Royston
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 Fame. 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.
@dancingdeborah
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
P J Turner
P J is from Knoxville, TN. If you have seen PJ at a dance event you know that he is one of the most approachable pros in the business. He always wears a backwards hat and a big cheesy grin, he may talk a little funny, but he’s down to earth, dances with everyone, is always animated on the floor, and brings a smile to your face with his southern charm. These are some of the reasons that he is one of the most sought-after pros!! His classes are always super fun with his BOOM MOMENTS so always be prepared for him to scare the pee out of you! LOL.
In 2015, PJ quit his job and commenced dancing professionally full time. It’s a decision he has never regretted. PJ loves dancing and is extremely passionate about teaching and social dancing. Now PJ travels all over the world teaching, judging, performing, competing, and always learning! Despite his rigorous travel schedule, PJ NEVER forgot that the most important thing is family. He has an AMAZINGLY SUPPORTIVE FAMILY that is his rock and cheers him on. If you see PJ out at an event, don’t ever hesitate, just ask him to dance. His motto is and will always be: Just make her smile!!!
Laureen Baldovi
Laureen Baldovi has won 8 US Open Swing titles in the Classic (1995), Superstar (1996, 1997), Showtime Invitational (1998), Teams (1993, 1994 & 1996), and Showcase (2003) Divisions. She retired from UCWDC competitions in 1999 and moved to New York City to dance in a Broadway show called ‘Swing!’ until 2001.
The California Swing Dance Hall of Fame awarded Laureen the Nova Star in 1998, the Rising Star in 2002, the Shining Star in 2016, and in 2014, she was induced into the World Swing Dance Council’s Hall of Fame. In January, 2015, the UCWDC inducted Laureen into their first Legends of Country Dance category, and in 2016, they inducted her into their Hall of Fame.
Stacy Kay & Hugo Miguez
We believe in community and how a tribe of confidence surrounding us can empower us to do things we never thought possible.
We believe in connection, the kind that allows you to feel someone’s heart, someone choices, someone's passion, through one subtle movement. In the waiting, an energy builds between two people and it’s building up to the incredible visual display of emotions that tells a story.
We Believe
the best dances happen when we hold nothing back and leave our hearts on the dance floor.
Glenn Ball
Glenns been in full swing since 2015, when he hit the couples dance world and stepped into the West Coast Swing circuit. He rose up through the divisions, winning competitions in Europe and The US competing in the Showcase Division.
After placing 3rd in the World Renowned US Open, Glenn also won a The Open Strictly division and co-choreographed the Go Dance Cabaret Routine and Swing Team which both took 2nd place in their divisions.
In 2019, with it being the first degendered year at The US Open. Glenn, in is usual style, had an idea to mix things up and dance with fellow Brit Callum Powell. This would be the first ever time 2 males had hit the US Open dance floor together and boy, did they steal the show. They shook up the competition and swung into 3rd place creating a historic moment that may never be repeated.
His knowledge and style are as diverse as his dynamic background in dancing, showcasing his boundless passion as a movement-based creative.
Glenn Ball is a world-renowned swing dancer and Choreographer, coaching and developing couples all over the world.
Glenn knocked the socks off the swing circuit when he became the first-ever Englishman to achieve a top 5 placement in a routine division, taking 3rd place in the US Open.
While based in Austin, Texas, Glenn’s work continues to call him across the world; teaching, choreographing, competing, MCing, and showing his love for this awesome dance form.
Susan Kirklin
Susan Kirklin & Gary McIntyre are unique that they competed and have been successful on three separate circuits: Country, Ballroom, and West Coast Swing. They are 3 Time US Open Classic Swing Champions, World Professional Smooth Finalists, UCWDC Classic Masters World Champions, Showcase Swing Champions, and U.S. Open Swing Cabaret and Team Champions.
Gary Mc Intyre & Susan Kirklin
Together they are unique that they competed and have been successful on three separate circuits: Country, Ballroom, and West Coast Swing. They are 3 Time US Open Classic Swing Champions, World Professional Smooth Finalists, UCWDC Classic Masters World Champions, Showcase Swing Champions, and U.S. Open Swing Cabaret and Team Champions.
Ben & Cameo Mc Henry ( Bameo)
The BAMEO Story
Ben and Cameo McHenry came together nearly 11 years ago with the goal of simply creating a routine for one night. One hour of choreography and a 2nd place in Classic the next night was just the beginning of what has become one of the top WCS partnerships in the world.
Ben started dancing WCS at 11 years old, and he very quickly fell in love with the dance. At 16, he had already competed and placed in the Champions division. Now age 34, he has been teaching for over 10 years. Known for his extremely outgoing personality, and his love for social dancing in WCS, he continues to bring joy into WCS dancers lives everywhere across the world. In 2017, Ben was also inducted into the California Swing Dance Hall of Fame.
Cameo started dancing almost immediately after birth. Daughter of Michael and Amber Cross (The 1st US Open Swing Dance Champions ever), she was exposed to WCS almost immediately. Dance has always been her life, as she changed her focus to classical ballet which took her to great heights going through the University of Arizona School of Dance on full scholarship, and then dancing with River North Dance Chicago in Chicago, IL. In Chicago, she found her way back into WCS, and this eventually led her to California, which is where she currently resides. In 2016, Cameo was inducted into the California Swing Dance Hall of Fame and in June 2018, won a local Northern California Emmy for her work in BaseBallet II: Into the Game. Cameo is the current US Open Classic Swing Champion with Ben Morris. At age 35, Cameo brings a wealth of knowledge and experience not only related to WCS, but also dancing as a whole that is extremely valuable for WCS dancers to gain an understanding of to apply to their own bodies and movement.
Courtney Adair
Courtney Adair found West Coast Swing by way of a country dance hall when she was 14. Immediately attracted to the improvisational freedom of the style, she danced at local venues and events in Northern California while finishing her BA of Psychology at UC Davis.
Courtney's love of movement had her explore and train in several different dance styles; gaining experience as part of the Afinkao Salsa Performance team and Allan Frias' Mind Over Matter hip hop company in San Francisco. Always a fan of cross training, Courtney came to Yoga in search of flexibility and discovered so much more. In December 2018, she traveled to Peru to complete her 200 hour YTT with the Sacred Yoga Institute. Experienced and accredited to teach both Hatha and Vinyasa Flow, she enjoys crafting accessible content for her classes and exposing WCS students to the power and peace of Yoga.
John Kirkconnell
Courtney Adair found West Coast Swing by way of a country dance hall when she was 14. Immediately attracted to the improvisational freedom of the style, she danced at local venues and events in Northern California while finishing her BA of Psychology at UC Davis.
Courtney's love of movement had her explore and train in several different dance styles; gaining experience as part of the Afinkao Salsa Performance team and Allan Frias' Mind Over Matter hip hop company in San Francisco. Always a fan of cross training, Courtney came to Yoga in search of flexibility and discovered so much more. In December 2018, she traveled to Peru to complete her 200 hour YTT with the Sacred Yoga Institute. Experienced and accredited to teach both Hatha and Vinyasa Flow, she enjoys crafting accessible content for her classes and exposing WCS students to the power and peace of Yoga.
Jesse Lopez & Ariel Peck
Jesse and Ariel will be teaching their Newcome lesson. this will be 3 hours of instruction to make you comfortable to hit the dance floor.
What can you expect?
Newcomer – Surviving the dance floor. This class focuses on the super foundations, the big picture building blocks, and small detail mechanics, which are the essential keys to unlocking a fun-filled dance party!
Novice – Developmental practice for beginners. This class builds on the newcomer foundations by clarifying vocabulary, communication techniques, and skill set repetition. This is a class where you work on dancing the way you want to dance!
Jung Won Choe
Jung started west coast swing in 1997 in Chicago. He went back to Korea to build up the Korean community there 2007-2014. Jung came back to DC in 2018 and started competing in All Star and became a professional dancer and teacher. He has become very well know in the dance circuit. We are so excited to have Jung back at Phoenix 4th of July 2022.
Jordan Frisbee & Tatianna Mollmann
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.
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 or a minimal fee. We have brought in Ben Morris, Demetre Souliotes, Kara Frenzel and will have Tashina Beckmann-King, Ben and Cameo McHenry.
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.
This year we have joined AANCE, which encourages novice and intermediate dancers to compete. The couples that win at our event are eligible to compete for the Championship title at Meet Me in St Louis in September.
Juniors attend our weekly dances for free.
Photo Gallery
