About Don West

Don West has been dancing for eight years and teaching for the last five in Dallas. He’s been in a number of dance troupes including Smiley’s Lindy Hoppers, Uptown Swing and began his own troupe called the Madcap Maniacs. He was also the 2000 American Lindy Hop Jack and Jill Champion in Connecticut as well as first place winner in several local competitions in Austin and Houston. He has performed locally here in Dallas at the Dance for the Planet Festival was featured as dancer and swing choreographer for the Cedar Valley College Christmas Musical in 2003.

Don has dedicated his time as President of the Dallas Swing Dance Society for the last three year. He works tirelessly at building the Dallas-Ft. Worth swing dance community where everyone is welcomed and having fun. He is now focusing his attention and his love for the dance in teaching. He teaches on Monday’s with one of Dallas’ best and most influential instructors, Elaine Hewlett, at the Rhythm Room on Greenville, but also offers his own classes on Thursdays at Carter Dance Studio.

Don likes to focus on the technique of dancing; giving his student’s solid fundamentals as well as useful lead and follow techniques that will give you the ability to dance with anyone at anytime. He teaches with passion and humor and makes learning fun for everyone. He is always searching for more knowledge to pass on so he stays mentally fit by still frequenting workshops taught be world renowned instructors such as Frankie Manning, Sylvia Sykes, Steven Mitchell and Virginie Jensen, Paul Overton and Sharon Ashe, and Ryan and Jenny Francois.

Don wants nothing more than to share his love of the dance with you and for you to enjoy yourself on the dance floor. See you in class.