Paul Warden

Paul Warden began his dance career at age 19, competing in Line & Country Couples Dance. He was unbeaten in Line Dance, (2000-2004) in the UK, Europe and the USA, ultimately going on to earn two World Championship titles before retiring from this discipline. He discovered WCS whilst competing in the States and immediately developed a passion for it. He has embarked upon tuition from a range of top WCS professionals, the likes of Jordan Frisbee, Robert Royston, Robert Cordoba and ultimately his role model, Kyle Redd.

Paul's Credentials

Catriona Wiles

Catriona Wiles has studied dance all her life. She began with Ballet aged 3, and moved on to gain experience in a range of partner dances including Salsa, Ballroom, Latin, Modern Jive and most recently, Argentine Tango. Her involvement in the Country Couples Dance scene led to taking the titles of British Champion with Lee Easton (1999), and Pro Am Spotlight World Champion (2000) with a medley of Cha Cha, Nightclub 2-Step and West Coast Swing. She went on to earn qualifications to both Judge and teach dance professionally (ISTD).

Catriona discovered WCS whilst living in the USA, winning the Swing Fling Cabaret Division (2002) with 4-time US Open Swing Champ, Robert Royston and wife, Nicola, dancing a swing number called "Trois" from the acclaimed off-Broadway show, "Swango - The Fusion" (Swing and Tango). In 2005, she re-joined in partnership with Lee Easton, winning a string of Division 1 Classic titles before ultimately taking the title of Open 8-Dance Professional Country Dance World Champions (2007).

Cat's Credentials

Together

Together, Paul & Catriona have enjoyed massive competitive success, seeing their graduation from Intermediate level where they began as teachers to Allstars/Champions level in only one year!

Paul & Catriona have taken the UK social dance scene by storm and are now successfully running multiple weekly classes, courses, monthly workshops and private lessons in and around London and the UK under the umbrella of Catriona's company, West Coast Swing UK, and appearing at dance events globally. They love the musicality, freedom and intricate footwork which comprise West Coast Swing. Their workshops thoroughly cover all the basics needed to get people onto the social floor, along with dynamic patterns and emphasis on creative style and flair!

Kevin Flynn

Having spent several years social dancing, Kevin spent the past four years studying Ballroom, Latin and Argentine Tango in London, with the infamous Kele Baker (MSTAT, AISTD, BSc and consultant on Strictly Come Dancing).

He took intensive WCS tuition with both Catriona Wiles and Lee Easton, and now teaches with their endorsement.

Kevin likes to keep up to date with all the latest developments in WCS styling and teaching trends and regularly furthers his dance development with tuition from top American Professionals. This enables him to pass on the latest concepts of the dance to his class.

His teaching style is designed around the true social dancer and pure lead and follow is the foundation of his lessons.

To find out more about Kevin and where he teaches, check out www.westcoastswinglondon.com.

Kevin's Credentials

Rachel Martino

Rachel's dance background includes ballet as a child and extensive Modern Jive as a demo and assistant teacher in more recent years. She began learning WCS back in 2005 in London and has since embarked on tuition from some of the UK and USA's best teachers including Paul Warden, Catriona Wiles, Lee Easton, Jordan & Tatiana and Kyle & Sarah. Upon discovery of her natural talent for the dance, she was snapped up to join the West Coast Swing teaching team and can now be found teaching regular classes and workshops alongside Paul, Cat, Kevin & Ed.

Rachel also teaches independently for Decadance in Brighton and Jive Plus in Oxford. Check out www.westcoastswingbootcamp.co.uk and www.jiveplus.com for more details on these nights.

Rachel's Credentials

Ed Smith

In a short space of time Edwin has established himself as one of the main WCS leaders on the UK Swing circuit today. Having enjoyed a successful time as a Modern Jive dancer he then began looking for the next progression that would improve his love for dancing. While attending classes for Tango and Lindy Hop in a search for new techniques that would improve his overall dancing a good friend showed him some footage of a display from an American couple who brought their dance to these shores. Like so many before him his imagination was captured instantly and so began his passion and thirst for knowledge for a dance that continues to grow today.

That was four years ago and Edwin now travels regularly to America to compete and learn more about this amazing dance that has captured the imagination of so many dancers here in the UK. Over those three and a half years Edwin has amassed a wealth of information from the very best instructors both in America and over here in the UK gathering the depth of technique required to teach WCS. This has helped him consistently reaching finals and now placing in WCS competitions in different States across the US. After a successful start to this year Edwin hopes to build to his collection of NASDE points (National Association of Swing Dance Events) and join the few who fly the flag abroad.

Edwin can be found teaching beginner level WCS regularly at workshops and weekly classes as an integral part of the West Coast Swing UK team.

Ed's Credentials