Matyáš Brenner
I was born in early 1989 and 3 years later I got my first dance experience. In the beginning I danced because my parents wanted me to, but gradually I grew to love dancing, and its elegance has been with me to this day.
Since my first dance steps I have tried different kinds of dances, from Wallachian folklore, through balroom and Latin to social dances such as West Coast Swing. Marginally, I have come across many other dances, such as salsa and zouk. I continue to develop my dancing skills with Czech and foreign teachers at various events around Europe.
I started dancing West Coast Swing with Silvie in 2015. But I first encountered it much earlier and over time I have grown to like it very much. What I appreciate about it is the possibilities of improvisation and leadership, which is not as dominant as it is in more traditional dances. In West Coast Swing, even the followers have the opportunity to interfere with what is going to happen without disrupting the whole concept of the dance. On the positive side, it is also danced in many countries around the world, so you have the opportunity to dance it even during a holiday abroad.
I first started teaching dance in 2007. During that time I have had the opportunity to teach not only on courses, but also at various Czech and international seminars and workshops. I always try to make sure that there is a good atmosphere at the courses and that the students have fun. Apart from that, I also try to pass on the technique and elegance of dance to anyone who is interested.
Silvie Brennerová
Since I was 10 years old, I have spent most of my free time dancing, mostly Latin dances. When I came to Prague to study at university, I tried other styles and then returned to ballroom dancing, where I met Matyáš. We started looking for something new and tried West Coast Swing. We attended our first course in 2015 and we started teaching three years later. In the meantime, I danced zouk for several years. When I have some free time and family obligations allow it, I enjoy my free time dancing West Coast Swing.
Why did West Coast Swing interest me the most? I fell for it mainly because of its playfulness, variability, beauty of improvisation and, last but not least, the large space in the dance for both partners, which I haven't experienced in any other dance. Furthermore, thanks to the fact that WCS is a social dance, I am not dependent on one particular partner, I don't have to deal with conflicts in a permanent couple. Last but not least, it's great that West Coast Swing is danced all over the world, thanks to it I've been to a lot of events in places where I wouldn't have thought of going otherwise.
Míša Diasová
I have roots in northern Moravia and my parents first introduced me to dancing when I was ten years old. Since then, dance has been a fundamental part of my life. My main passion has always been ballroom dances, but after I went to university I also fell for the magic of various social dances. I tried salsa, bachata, zouk and of course West Coast Swing. The advantage is that you don't have to have a partner, and yet you always get a good dance.
I started dancing West Coast Swing in 2018 in WCS Prague. Besides Prague, I also learned it in Brno, at various international events and during my Erasmus in southern France. From the beginning, I was attracted by its variability and also by the modern music it is danced to. I would like to pass on to you, besides the actual steps and technique, the joy of this dance and show you its possibilities.
Tibor Košťál
My story begins in the northern Slovakia, where I was born and raised. University has brought me to Prague, where I have now been living for eight years.
My dance ambitions appeared in small doses during childhood, but it wasn’t until I started university that I officially began dancing. Like most people in this country, I started with classic ballroom dances, which awakened my passion for dance, a passion that has been with me ever since.
After a few courses, ballroom dancing started to feel insufficient, so I began exploring different dance styles. I went through the basics of salsa, zouk, and even lindy hop, but none captivated me as much as West Coast Swing. This dance fascinated me for several reasons, particularly its adaptability to various types of music and, most importantly, its compatibility with popular songs we often hear on the radio. Another key aspect is its social nature, which means that anyone who practices this dance can easily dance with others who do as well.
Anežka Rajmonová
I grew up in an area close to Prague, where I also spent the major part of my life. Since I was a child, my greatest hobby was training and competing in track and field, however, music and dance always formed an important part of my life. When I was fourteen, I activelly started with ballroom dancing and few years later I also learned some basics of salsa and bachata while doing my erasmus in Spain. In 2022, my longtime friend introduced me into west coast swing and I completely fell in love with this dance, right on the first lesson with Míša and Tibor. Apart from WCS Prague, I have my second mother comunity in Barcelona, where I spent half a year doing my PhD internship.
West coast swing in not only a dance for me, it is primarily a very safe and liberal space where I can be myself and where the age or physical predispositions don’t matter at all. It enables to create connections with dancers from different corners of the world and with different dancing skills. My favourite part of WCS is the playfulness and connection you build during the dance, this is something I love to share and pass on to others.