The Naked Truth: Real Talk about West Coast Swing

In this episode, we sit down with not one but two champion dancers and all-around awesome people, Courtney Adair and Sean McKeever! We talked with them about their start in West Coast Swing, how they met and formed …

There are few people in our community who represent the true spirit of swing dancing like Mr. John Festa. In this episode, we got to sit down with the dapper, debonair legend from New York to discuss his early days in …

We recorded this episode live at SwingCouver! Listen to our interview with Victor Loveira, in which we discussed his West Coast Swing origin story, his experience DJing, and how he made the move into MCing. We chatted …

Love ’em, hate ’em, do ’em or don’t, competitions are a big part of our global dance community. In this episode, we talk about all things competition – different types of competition, different competition formats, …

It’s not every day you get to sit down with a champion dancer, event director, DJ, member of WSDC, and member of NASDE. But this week we chatted with the bundle of joy and love that is John Lindo. He talked to us about …

We’re back! And to kick off the new year, we’re talking about how we can understand and improve our psychological and emotional well-being. We sat …

Many of us dance West Coast Swing for the joy of sharing in musical expression with someone else. Unfortunately, there are times when people cross personal boundaries, and times when people are harassed, abused, and …

Though she is perhaps best known as mother to Benji and Lacey, Laurie Schwimmer has been and continues to be a star in her own right. In addition to performing in a variety of dance styles, she has taught West Coast …

Most people know Laureen Baldovi from her winning routines with Robert Royston, but she has followed her own path since their partnership ended …

Every year, The Open is a showcase for swing dancing – what it is, what it has been, and what it can be – and this year’s event was no exception. We talked about Deborah’s experience competing at The Open, how much we …

Let's face it: good music is essential for a good night of dancing and a good dance in competition. To discuss the power of music - and the role of …

Grab yourself a beautiful glass of wine and find a cozy spot to sit for this special interview with one of the classiest people we know, the lovely …

In this week's episode, we sit down with our good friend Tom Paderna and talk about a wide range of topics. We discussed the origins of NASDE and how it's changed over time. We discussed WSDC and how it's impacted the …

With the US Open fast approaching, we talk about what it takes to put together a routine - from picking a song and getting choreography to working with coaches and practicing. Deborah talks about how she's working on …

Whether you’re a competitor, a professional, an event director, or someone who just enjoys watching dance videos online, judging has a big impact on you - and the dance we all love. In this episode, we discuss the …

After a fantastic weekend at Boogie by the Bay, we discuss what makes it such a great event, and what other events can learn from its example. From hiring top-notch staff to creating a relaxed atmosphere to keeping …

In this episode, we discuss professionalism - and the lack thereof - among our dance professionals. We talk about the ways event directors can mistreat the instructors they hire, how instructors can be unresponsive and …

The legendary Robert Royston joins us to discuss his early days in West Coast Swing, what he did to become a dance professional, and how the dance scene has changed over the last thirty years. We talked about the …

In our very first episode, we have a more introspective and reflective conversation about our own dance journeys and the challenges of finding our places in the dance world. Deborah shares the story of how she got into …

An introduction to The Naked Truth: Real Talk about West Coast Swing and hosts Eric Jacobson and Deborah Székely.