COVID-19 UPDATE-Best of the Best 2021 has been cancelled.
2021 BEST OF THE BEST LINEUP
Featured Professional Guests
Katrina Branson
Katrina Branson is a champion level West Coast Swing dancer with 21 years of experience Teaching, Performing, Competing, Judging, Choreographing and Coaching around the world. She brings a breadth of experience from multiple dance styles across the Swing, Latin, Ballroom and Country Western genres.
Brady Stanton
Brady Stanton was drawn to Dancing as a teenager with a love of music and with an interest in martial arts and the mechanics of human movement. He discovered Modern Jive in 2005 and, from there, he immersed himself in the study of other dance styles including Ballroom & Latin, Ballet and Swing (particularly West Coast Swing).
His passion for West Coast Swing evolved to consume him. Inspired by the technical foundation of the Dance and the connection and expressiveness that it allowed. Brady travelled to the USA in pursuit of advanced training. He spent almost 6 months exclusively dancing, studying, practising, and competing under the mentorship of some of the greats, including the legendary Skippy Blair, Sharlot Bott and Mary Ann Nuñez, as well as Katrina Branson with Christopher Hussey, who were instrumental to Brady developing his teaching craft. Aged just 21, Brady cemented himself as Australia’s highest-awarded and most qualified resident West Coast Swing competitor and instructor, and he remained one of the most sought-after West Coast Swing professionals in Australasia for many years until taking a break in 2017 to focus on his young family. Best of the Best is excited to coax this highly regarded Australian teacher and dancer back out to the dance floor where he is truly an inspiration to other dancers!
His passion for West Coast Swing evolved to consume him. Inspired by the technical foundation of the Dance and the connection and expressiveness that it allowed. Brady travelled to the USA in pursuit of advanced training. He spent almost 6 months exclusively dancing, studying, practising, and competing under the mentorship of some of the greats, including the legendary Skippy Blair, Sharlot Bott and Mary Ann Nuñez, as well as Katrina Branson with Christopher Hussey, who were instrumental to Brady developing his teaching craft. Aged just 21, Brady cemented himself as Australia’s highest-awarded and most qualified resident West Coast Swing competitor and instructor, and he remained one of the most sought-after West Coast Swing professionals in Australasia for many years until taking a break in 2017 to focus on his young family. Best of the Best is excited to coax this highly regarded Australian teacher and dancer back out to the dance floor where he is truly an inspiration to other dancers!
Brad Whelan
Bradford Whelan is a man of many talents. He may be most well-known as the official photographer of West Coast Swing. For the past decade, he has provided the imagery for almost every major swing event in the world. Originally from the US, he now finds his home in the Gold Coast of Australia.
A champion dancer, he is highly regarded for his competitive skills in Jack and Jills and Strictlies, amassing more All-Star points than any other leader in West Coast Swing. His lectures on competition mentality and musicality are known for being both highly entertaining, and highly effective at improving the success and experience of the social competitor.
Bradford is also one of the most well-known emcees in the world of Swing. He can be seen on the mic at dozens events on five continents, from Swingtzerland, to the Asia Open, to Swingtacular, to the US Open and more, not to mention many events all throughout New Zealand and Australia.
A champion dancer, he is highly regarded for his competitive skills in Jack and Jills and Strictlies, amassing more All-Star points than any other leader in West Coast Swing. His lectures on competition mentality and musicality are known for being both highly entertaining, and highly effective at improving the success and experience of the social competitor.
Bradford is also one of the most well-known emcees in the world of Swing. He can be seen on the mic at dozens events on five continents, from Swingtzerland, to the Asia Open, to Swingtacular, to the US Open and more, not to mention many events all throughout New Zealand and Australia.
Shane and Keri
Shane & Keri are exceptionally entertaining performers as well as fun and versatile coaches with a background in everything from Ballroom to Ballet and Swing to Tap. They travel frequently to teach, coach, compete, choreograph, perform, and judge internationally and nationally continuously collecting awards as top teachers & most popular performers at events across America. Shane & Keri have gained accolades by dancing Champions Jack & Jill and Strictly competitions and, with their routines, placing Top 3 in the Classic Division. In addition, they have placed within the Top 5 in their division at The Open Swing Dance Championships for 8 years running, earning two 2nd place titles. Always on the cutting edge of dance trends with a solid technical foundation, they morph body mechanics with a revolutionary style and contagious enthusiasm.
Anthony and Amanda
(and Mikaela)
The talented and in demand duo (trio) of Anthony and Amanda (and Mikaela) Truong have been teaching, judging, and coaching WCS all over Australia and New Zealand. They have a passion for helping others and taking their students on a journey of self-discovery that truly inspires. Laughter and smiles are never far away when the Truongs are around! You wouldn't be wrong to think that these teachers could be stand-up comedians with the banter that they bring to their teaching!
michelle And Peter
Michelle Fletcher and Peter Fradley teamed up to teach and compete West Coast Swing together in the UK in 2011 and have a passion for sharing their love of West Coast Swing. They have won many Australian West Coast Swing championships through their career and have taught and performed at events all around world including the UK, Europe, USA, Singapore, Australia, NZ and even India.
Head DJS
JP Masson
Dancing since the age of 5, music and dancing have always been a passion of JP’s. After growing up doing multiple dance styles, at the age of 12, JP was introduced and hooked on WCS. While listening to music daily for hours, JP started to curate WCS specific playlists and soon after developed a love for DJing. For the last 7 years JP has done social and competitive DJing at Australian events and after completing high school has gone on to DJ at WCS events across 4 continents.
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Dani CosFord
Dani has been DJing the West Coast Swing circuit since 2014, as one of Australia’s most prominent WCS DJs. She has also DJed events in New Zealand, as well as in the UK, and is especially known for her competition music and late-night social sets. As a musician herself, Dani loves music in all its forms, and loves to see the power it has over a dance floor. She also likes pina coladas (but really gin and sodas) and getting caught in the rain (if it’s incredibly humid).
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OUR SPECIAL GUESTS FOR 2021 TBC
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Special Guests
TBC DJ'S TBC |
Live Streaming
TBC Scoring TBC |
