Email: gpsdcWCS@gmail.com
Non Profit Swing Dance Club Founded 1981
Where Legends are made
Welcome to The Phoenix Fourth of July!
Did you know that 2020 is the 39th Anniversary of the Phoenix 4th of July Convention? As one of 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. They completed the all new Paradise Ballroom. This is where the main events took place in 2019. 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 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 39 years - please join us!
This will be our 39th year!
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 or a minimal fee. We have brought in Ben Morris, Demetre Souliotes, and will have Kara Frenzel in August.
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
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
Laureen Baldovi
Dance, 1995-1998) and 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.
Sean McKeever & Courtney Adair
Sean McKeever and Courtney Adair’s partnership extends beyond the dance floor and is rooted in their love for one another. They began dating in 2010 and started their partnership in West Coast Swing within the next year. An engagement followed 2 years later. They have spent the last 10 years together, traveling, training, teaching and competing, to become one of the most established and prolific couples in swing. Over this time they have accrued numerous national titles in strictly swing and jack and jill competitions, several awards on the NASDE circuit, and consistent top placements as one of the world’s top Classic Swing Division couples. They are most well known for their innovative and intellectual teaching, approachable and social attitudes, and unique interpretation of traditional West Coast Swing.
Parker Dearborn
Parker Dearborn began his dance career seventeen years ago in Ballroom, Latin, and West Coast Swing. He quickly discovered his passion for West Coast Swing and became a professional dancer and instructor in his hometown of San Diego, California at the young age of seventeen.
Parker’s exceptional talent, distinct style, and irresistibly charming showmanship have earned him the most prestigious awards in the world of West Coast Swing. Parker holds the title to every major championship in the nation, including three time US Open Swing Dance Champion and two time Grand National Swing Dance Champion. In 2009, he was inducted into the Dallas D.A.N.C.E. Hall of Fame for his repetitive wins at this national contest.
Parker’s success received recognition off the dance floor as well. He appeared in the off-Broadway production of Swango and the Hollywood movie, Love and Dancing. He also demonstrated his creativity and innovation as a choreographer for the hit television series, So You Think You Can Dance.
Although Parker continues to travel and teach around the globe, his most recent endeavors have lead him to own and direct the largest, most successful international West Coast Swing event in the world, Swing Diego Dance Championships. In addition to this substantial undertaking, Parker also directs a new event in Las Vegas called Sin City Swing as well as Endless Summer Swing Camp.
Perhaps, one of Parker’s most significant contributions to the dance community may be his creation of Project Swing. Project Swing offers dancers of all levels the opportunity to participate in formation teams coached by professionals. But most importantly, it provides free classes to beginners in hopes of expanding the community and sharing the love for West Coast Swing.ve customers a reason to do business with you.
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