WORKSHOPS
CONVENTION
A NOTE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
NICK BOWMAN
Whether you are new to WCDE or have been a part of our family for decades, I believe this is your season to ignite your passion — and at WCDE, we’ve got the inspiration, motivation and connection to help close the gap between where you are and where you want to be.
This season, let’s use the momentum behind us so we can create a more fulfilling, committed and disciplined pursuit towards dance excellence – and so we can help everyone around us do the same.
Let’s accelerate the process of taking our community to the next level now!
Live With Passion!
ALONE WE ARE STRONG. UNITED WE THRIVE.
TOGETHER WE CREATE THE FUTURE OF DANCE EDUCATION.
COMMITTED TO EXCELLENCE
West Coast Dance Explosion has continued to double-down on its commitment as a student centered dance convention; committed to the education and encouragement of young artists as well as their well-being.
At WCDE, we are committed to setting the max capacity at our events in a responsible way that allows students space to dance during workshop classes and stage time to participate during competition while attending our convention.
We are committed to not losing any workshop class time in order to expand competition time blocks during our Saturday and Sunday classes.
Every student who attends West Coast Dance Explosion can expect to receive 10 one-hour workshop classes over the course of the convention, along with a one-hour audition experience on the second day of classes.
THE FACULTY
Progress is the key to success – and the entire WCDE team is committed to helping you make progress in every avenue of dance education so that you can reach the goals you’ve always dreamed of. This season, we have worked tirelessly to curate a teaching Faculty who are both highly celebrated and established in their individual dance styles — and fully invested in challenging and encouraging every dancer who attends a WCDE event.
NICK BOWMAN
TAP FACULTY
· Rhythmic Circus · Disney's La Feet ·
· Caution: Men At Work Tap ·
· Americas Got Talent ·
SCOTT MYRICK
INDUSTRY JAZZ FACULTY
· Katy Perry · Taylor Swift · Mariah Carey ·
· MTV VMAs · Billboard Awards ·
· Lip Sync Battles ·
ELIZABETH PARKINSON
BALLET FACULTY
· Fosse · Astaire Award Winner · Joffrey Ballet ·
· Twyla Tharp's Movin' Out ·
· Tony Award Nominee ·
WILL JOHNSTON
CONTEMPORARY FACULTY
· Glee · Katy Perry · Jordin Sparks ·
· Dancing With The Stars ·
· Entity Contemporary Dance ·
GEV MANOUKIAN
CHARACTER HIP-HOP FACULTY
· Whitney Houston · SYTYCD · AMAs ·
· Dancing With The Stars ·
· High School Musical 2 ·
KIM WOLFE
CONTEMPORARY FUSION FACULTY
· MTV Awards · Ani DiFranco · Nike ·
· American Music Awards ·
· Prince ·
BREAK OUT
BREAK THROUGH
Since day one, WCDE has centered our events on the belief that excellence lives in every dancer. We also understand that ability level comes in many varieties. That’s why we have re-mixed our workshops to include advanced and specialty classes for those who are ready for the challenge.
Each Breakout Class is designed to help you unlock and unleash the forces inside that can help you break through any limit and reach the next level of your dance excellence.
Join us this season and break through the barriers that lie in front of you and maximize your own potential.
YOU BELONG AT WCDE.
STUDIO OWNERS: FOR PRICING & INCENTIVES, PLEASE LOGIN TO YOUR REGISTRATION ACCOUNT
WORKSHOP AGES
The age group for workshops, scholarship auditions and competition is determined by using the dancer's age as of January 1, 2025.
The following is a list of the age groups for the workshop ballrooms and scholarship auditions:
SENIORS: Ages 16-19
TEENS: Ages 13-15
JUNIORS: Ages 10-12
MINIS: Ages 6-9
PLEASE NOTE: The Junior Ballroom is open to students over the age of 12 with less dance experience.
WRISTBANDS
West Coast Dance Explosion wristbands must be worn by all students and observers at all times. Anyone without a band will be denied entry into the ballroom. Full tuition must be paid for lost wristbands!
OBSERVERS*
West Coast Dance Explosion allows guardians of registered workshop participants to observe workshop classes by purchasing an observer band on site at each convention city.
*Observer band policies and limits are set based on each venue's capacity limitations and other protocols. Observer bands are not valid for Breakout Classes or Scholarship Auditions. For more information on observer band policies in a specific city, please see your city page one week prior to the event.
RULES & POLICIES
SAFETY
+ No blankets permitted on the ballroom floor.
+ Please make sure all dance bags are kept against the wall and out of the dancers’ way to avoid any injuries.
+ If you are in need of first aid, please see a WCDE staff member.
+ All students must wear cover-ups outside the ballroom area.
+ Be respectful to both hotel property and staff.
+ No food allowed in the ballrooms at any time.
CHAPERONES
All dancers 15-years old and under who are registered at the hotel must be accompanied by a chaperone of legal age when not present in a WCDE workshop.
PHOTOGRAPHY & VIDEO
Video cameras are prohibited at all times during the convention.
Still photos are permitted in lobby areas and during workshop classes. Professional video and photography services are available through ShutterStorm at all events.
VENUE & CITY SPECIFIC RULES
Should any rules or limitations be placed on an event by a particular venue or local ordinance, the information will be posted on the tour page for that particular city in the Schedules & Info. section. If parents have questions about these specific rules prior to the event, we ask them to coordinate with their studio representative to help streamline communication.
SCHOLARSHIPS
REACH FURTHER & FUEL YOUR GROWTH
On the second day of workshops at each regional event, WCDE faculty will conduct an audition for each age division to determine scholarship winners for that tour stop. All scholarships will be awarded during The Weekend Wrap Up following the last class.
Any dancers attending more than one WCDE Regional Event within the current regional tour will receive 35% OFF their workshop registration fees for any additional regional events they would like to attend in the same season!
(regardless of whether or not a dancer used a scholarship to attend their first event)
CONVENTION & SPECIALTY SCHOLARSHIPS
West Coast Dance Explosion offers a variety of scholarships to further the training and education of young dancers. Students will be awarded scholarships based on their regional scholarship audition experience for their designated age level. Mini, Junior, Teen, and Senior dancers are eligible for all scholarships unless otherwise notated.
(E)MERGING ARTIST SCHOLARSHIP
Dancer receives a $100 credit to be used towards future regional convention and/or competition fees. Valid for the next season’s Regional tour. Expires at the conclusion of next season’s Regional tour. Not transferable for end of season National event.
SINGLE CONVENTION SCHOLARSHIP
Attend one regional city’s workshops for free. Valid for the next season’s Regional tour. Expires at the conclusion of next season’s regional tour. Not transferable for end of season National event.
YEAR-LONG CONVENTION SCHOLARSHIP
Attend all regional workshops for free. Valid for the next season’s Regional tour. Expires at the conclusion of next season’s Regional tour. Not transferable for end of season National event.
NATIONAL CONVENTION SCHOLARSHIP
Attend the current season’s National workshops for free. Scholarship Recipient must register six weeks prior to the National event of the current WCDE season. Expires at the conclusion of the current WCDE season. Not transferable for any Regional event.
PLEASE NOTE: West Coast Dance Explosion and its partners reserve the right to award additional scholarships/prizes without prior disclosure.
SEASON 28 ELITE PROGRAM SCHOLARSHIPS
The Elite Dancer Program is the premier soloist competition in the country. Dancers are selected to participate in this program based on their regional scholarship audition experience for their designated age level.
All students who are awarded an Elite Platinum, Elite Gold, or Elite Silver scholarship are invited to compete at our National Finals Event for the National Elite Title.
SILVER ELITE
Eligible to register for the National Elite Dancer Program in the current season. Attend the current season’s National workshops for free. Scholarship recipient must register six weeks prior to the National event of the current WCDE season.
GOLD ELITE
Eligible to register for the National Elite Dancer Program in the current season. Attend the current season’s National workshops for free. Scholarship recipient must register six weeks prior to the National event of the current WCDE season. Included in this level of ELITE Scholarship is one Single Convention Scholarship.
PLATINUM ELITE
Eligible to register for the National Elite Dancer Program in the current season. Attend the current season’s National workshops for free. Scholarship recipient must register six weeks prior to the National event of the current WCDE season. Included in this level of ELITE Scholarship is one Year Long Convention Scholarship.
SCHOLARSHIPS ELIGIBILITY & RULES
+ Dancers must be registered for both days of the convention workshops to be eligible for scholarship awards.
+ Dancers can only be awarded a specific scholarship classification once per season.
+ If a dancer is attending more than one regional convention during a WCDE tour season, and have won a scholarship in a previous city, they may audition for other scholarship award classifications.
+ Substituting or transferring scholarships is not allowed.
+ Scholarships can not be used as a studio credit.
+ If a dancer leaves the studio they were attending when they won a scholarship, that scholarship becomes null and void.
Dancers may re-audition with the new studio they are attending the following season.
+ The above scholarships will be presented through the Season 28 National Finals event. Scholarship programs may vary from season to season.