Bootcamp by the Bay

 

New for this year

A learning-first experience at Boogie by the Bay!

No comps. No boredom.

  • 8 hours exclusive workshops on Saturday & Sunday afternoons with
    – Personalized feedback from champion instructors
    – Small, intimate group learning
  • 15 hours of general workshops
  • 4 nights social dancing

Don’t want to compete to keep improving? Or maybe just don’t compete at all? We’re trying something new at Boogie 2026—and it’s meant just for you.

Over the years, people have told us they want an alternative to comps during the day. They’ve also said bootcamps held earlier in the week can be hard to attend. So we’re piloting a new experience this year’s event, one that lets you go all-in on learning.

✨      ✨     ✨

At its heart is 8 hours of unique classes just for Bootcamp attendees, held during the J&J competition blocks on Saturday and Sunday afternoon. These workshops are purposely intimate in size and will offer personalized feedback. The idea is to grow your dance not just through the info shared, but also what our teachers want you to work on within that material. 

In addition to these exclusive workshops, Bootcamp attendees can pack in up to 15 more hours of learning through Boogie’s general workshops, with over 25 classes to choose from to fill the time.

And of course, each night from Thursday through Sunday, you can dance your heart out with hundreds of other Boogie attendees. Craving even more social time? Join up with all your friends for our premier programming—the Saturday evening buffet, red carpet photos, and watching phenomenal routines.

✨      ✨     ✨

Bootcamp by the Bay is for everyone who wants to finish a weekend energized about their dancing. We want you to walk away feeling like you learned exact things to work on—and that you know how to become better at what you’re doing, what you want to do, and where you’ll take your dancing next.

FAQ

When is Bootcamp by the Bay?

Bootcamp by the Bay is happening during this year’s Boogie by the Bay (Oct 8-11, 2026). 

Thursday and Friday are open time to participate in Boogie’s general workshops and social dancing. (General workshops are those held in the Main ballroom and Regency ballroom.)

You may also take WSDC-competitor workshops that you are eligible for, or opt to attend Jordan & Tatiana’s Friday afternoon intensive (additional admission fee applies).

On Saturday and Sunday afternoon, you’ll join fellow Bootcamp attendees for small, focused classes. These will happen during the same period as Boogie’s J&J competitions. Each day will be set as 4 hour blocks (12:30p to 4:30p).

Who is Bootcamp by the Bay for?

The short answer is anyone who wants to push their learning to the max.

But Bootcamp by the Bay is for many people, e.g.:

  • You compete but would prefer to take classes
  • You like to compete but personalized training would be way more helpful (and fun)
  • You don’t compete and get bored during comps on Sat & Sun afternoon
  • You want personalized feedback during classes
  • You prefer more time to process material in class
  • You like small, intimate learning environments
  • You want to ask top pros questions about your dancing

Who will teach at Bootcamp by the Bay?

Our instructor lineup will be announced very soon!

What will be taught at Bootcamp by the Bay?

The goal is to focus on fundamental concepts within West Coast Swing—stuff that helps you feel accomplished and expressive in the dance.

Right now we’re chatting with our instructors to lock down material and ensure a cohesive set of topics. As soon as it’s finalized, we’ll update with that info.

I’m new to West Coast Swing. Is this for me?

For those absolutely brand-new to West Coast Swing, we instead recommend our Beginner Series! It’s FREE to the public and a great way to get started with this super fun dance 🙂

Those who are still newish to WCS (less than 1 to 1.5 years) are welcome to join Bootcamp by the Bay, but be aware that the Bootcamp-specific classes will be more intense than general group classes. Expect to go deep into the finer points of the dance.

If you’re uncertain if Bootcamp by the Bay is right for you, reach out to us! We’re happy to chat about if it’s a good fit for you.

How many spots are available?

Currently, we plan to cap attendance at around 30 people.

At the moment, we estimate that this will break down to about 12-14 spots for each dedicated role (leader/follower), with a handful of flex dancers filling in the remainder for balance.

How much will Bootcamp by the Bay cost?

We are currently finalizing our last details and will post pricing information early next week.

How do I register?

You can buy your pass through DanceApp.net starting July 21, 2026. 

Registration will work a bit differently than a standard Boogie pass. To better ensure a positive experience for Bootcamp goers, we will be role-balancing attendance. This will not be strict, but we want to mind the balance so class rotations, etc, will feel productive. (We want to give full freedom to our instructors when choosing between partnered and individual material.)

Your options will be Lead, Follow, or Flex. A Flex dancer is someone willing to take on whichever role will help balance the class, at any given time.

How does the role-balancing work?

Registering as a leader or a follower will automatically put you on a wait list. About every 24 hours, the DanceApp system will auto-approve a matching number of leaders and followers to keep the Bootcamp by the Bay attendance balanced. Waitlisted people do not complete payment until their registration is accepted.

Flex dancers will be accepted immediately.

Please be patient with us through this process, as we try out role balancing for the first time. Send us any questions or concerns via boogie@nextgenswing.com!

Will Bootcamp by the Bay have different skill levels?

At the moment, we’ve planned for a single cohort moving through the classes together. Our instructors are all exceptional at teaching for multiple skill levels in a single class, and they will also focus on challenging you no matter who you partner with during rotations.

If early signups exceed our expectations, we may consider expanding the program to divide up classes based on skill level—but expect those splits to be determined per specific skill, not overall West Coast Swing proficiency.

Can I attend part of the Bootcamp-exclusive classes?

For this pilot year, we’ve designed the Bootcamp as a full alternative to competing at Boogie—similar possibilities for intensity, but different approaches.

Those of us behind this idea actually compete regularly, but we also know that not everyone finds their best path in West Coast Swing through that method. We’d like to promote a different way to go deeper with WCS at events, while still being able to connect with friends in the evenings.

(TL;DR – If you’re a competitor, you will have to pick one or the other for this year.)

Why not have a separate bootcamp?

We love events with separate bootcamps! Unfortunately, not everyone can take additional time off during a week. And as mentioned above, dedicated learning and competitions are both valid ways to improve at West Coast Swing. We’d like to offer non-competitors the same chance to go hard, while still being part of a huge community event.

What if I already purchased my pass and/or competitions? 

Not a problem! Send us a note at boogie@nextgenswing.com, and we’ll sort you out. (As part of the switch, your original Boogie pass and comp fees will be refunded with no administrative charge.)

As a reminder, we recommend booking your Bootcamp by the Bay spot as soon as possible, as spaces are limited!

What if you don’t get enough sign-ups?

We don’t anticipate that we would have to cancel this pilot program. But should interest be too low, those already booked will receive a full refund, with the option to buy a Boogie by the Bay weekend pass priced at the time they registered. (Ex: If you signed up for Bootcamp by the Bay in August, we will offer you the “Regular”  Boogie weekend pass price.)

Do Flex dancers receive a registration discount?

At this time, no role-based discounts will be offered to Bootcamp by the Bay registrants.

Have more questions about Bootcamp by the Bay? Reach out to us at boogie@nextgenswing.com!