Yes, it's true that you should expect to be dancing to Country music at
this "Little Bit of Texas" dance festival. However, as to "style":
the East Coast Swing and West Coast Swing taught at this event are
the same East Coast and West Coast Swing that you will find anywhere.
In fact, since the instructors are all competitors themselves, you
are guaranteed to learn some awesome stuff in the advanced classes.
The Waltz you will learn will be American style silver ("continuity"
or travelling") Waltz (no feet-together-on-3 moves nor "box" basic)
with lots of cool turns and open position moves,
The Cha cha you will learn will be American style ballroom Cha cha,
though usually danced to slower tempo music than at a ballroom
competition (and what could be beter for learning?)
Just about the only real "Country" dance offered at this event is Country
2-step (and even that was invented by an Arthur Murray ballroom dance
instructor...)
Why does a country/western dance festival feature most of the same dances
that we dance? Because if you ask anyone who competes on the C/W dance
circuit where they get their instruction and choreography from, the answer
you'll hear is "from ballroom and Swing dance instructors". In fact, one
of the teachers offering a cha cha/cuban motion workshop is a former latin
dance competitor.
Good dancing is good dancing. The current C/W World Champion couple are
also the current US Open Swing Champs, and they take their lessons from
ballroom and latin dance coaches. If you doubt any of this, reserve
judgement until you see the dancing in the Masters' and Showcase divisions
at this event - your collective jaws will hit the floor!
At past C/W events where I've attended the evening social dances, I've
never had any trouble finding partners, and I've gotten nothing but
compliments on the Waltz, Cha cha and Swing that I've learned through the
DI. Everyone is there to dance with everyone else. Dancing is dancing.
The instructors I've had have all been good about changing parnters
frequently... even in the "West Coast Swing Sleaze Moves" classes that I've
taken :-) :-) On some occasions I have encountered couples in workshops
that would not switch partners, but that is by far the exception, and not
the rule. Usually it's a case of a couple who don't really have the
prerequisite beginner dance experience for the intermediate level class
they want to take, and they'd rather dance with each other than step all
over the people who have had the prerequisites.
For a good time, just leave your tux at home; and instead bring your jeans
and your smile. The event is very inexpensive for all you'll get in
return.
Mark