Thibault Ramirez & Nicole Ramirez (FRANCE/USA)
Thibault and Nicole first met in 2015 with the only mutual language they had being dance. He didn’t speak English and she didn’t speak French but they effortlessly connected on the dance floor. They communicated through google translate and made plans to becoming a partnership in the next few years. Finally in January 2019, they started their partnership, quickly building a strong base and at the same time, falling in love with each other.
They became the World Champions of 2019 with their Showcase routine, and they immediately began traveling all over the world teaching, performing, judging, and competing. They are in high demand at all events and congresses for their performances, knowledge, and love for this dance. Even during the pandemic, their passion pushed them to work on their skills, creating and performing mini routines and improvising daily to continue to grow, develop their style even more, and to hopefully keep their community inspired. They choreograph routines and coach dancers all around the world with an emphasis on technique and precision.
They are the creators of Unit Dance Center, a developing platform for dancers to learn and grow in WCS and Flash Choreo, a mini choreography intensive for dancers to challenge themselves and perform a routine in events.
They also run an event called Unit Dance Festival, which pushes dancers to learning choreography and performing for a professional camera crew.
They have developed a great rhythm teaching classes and intensives together, offering great technique in a relaxed and fun environment. With over 20 years of knowledge in West Coast Swing and other partner and solo dances, their teaching style is very appreciated everywhere they go and benefits dancers of all styles. Their emotive, passionate spirits shine when they are on stage and while teaching. They love to motivate their students to excel and reach their maximum potential. Their personalities are very energetic and open to connecting with people, on and off the dance floor.
Check them out here….
Thibault Ramirez & Nicole Ramirez "Everybody Wants To Rule The World" - Routines - Budafest 2023
and if you still haven't had enough...
Maxence Martin & Virginie Grondin (FRANCE)
Virginie Grondin is one of the best West Coast Swing dancers in Europe right now, and she is progressively proving herself in the United States. In particular, she won the UK Open and the Midland Swing Open in 2010. She placed in the Champions division at three of the biggest american events : Boogie By the Bay (San Francisco), Madjam (Washington) and Swing Diego (San Diego).
Virginie began her dance training when she was only five years old. Beginning with the rock’n'roll and the Boogie, she moved to individual dances, like modern jazz, classical and contemporary dance. She studied in the National Superior Dance Conservatory and succeeded in the technical final examination. She discovered West Coast Swing in 2007 and since, she’s growing very quickly in the community, thanks to her previous training and her natural talent for this dance.
Maxence Martin, a former Champion and Black belt in Judo, he started his career in dancing with Lindy Hop. He soon he fell in love with WCS and started his training in 2007 alongside the Best dancers in California. In less than a year he became a contestant in the “Champions” category in the USA. Maxence is now the only French dancer to have won the title of Champion in West Coast Swing..
He recently won the Best International Award at the 2011 Westie Awards Nominations. He performed his two first routines at the US Open, partnering with the famous Kelese Key (Texas). Maxence is an exceptional dancer and one of the most touching and appreciated of his generation.
He now travels the world to share his knowledge and passion for this dance. His unique style of teaching is infectious and enthuses you to want to learn more!
Check them out here….
Maxence Martin & Virginie Grondin Show Baltic Swing 2015
and if you still haven't had enough...
Maxence Martin & Virginie Grondin - 2014 US Open Classic Division
Semion & Maria (RUS)
We are super excited to introduce……
Maria and Semion have been dance partners for about four years.
Semion has been dancing ever since he was eight. He started with ballroom dancing first, then got into social dancing, and finally into West Coast Swing. He is known for his musicality and great connection with his partners.
Maria has been dancing since 2007. In 2008 she fell in love with social partner dances. She started learning hustle/discofox and salsa. She had been dancing hustle and discofox for 4 years, working on her solo choreography as well when West Coast Swing came in to her dancing life. After that she couldn't stop dancing WCS. She enjoys the versatility of the dance, bringing new emotions, options for musicality and styling to every dance.
Semion and Maria were the first Russians to ever get to US Open Classic finals in both 2016 and 2017. Their partnership emphasizes musicality and connection. They love the possibilities for communication and dialogue between partners during every dance, and seek to help their students discover this incredibly fun aspect of WCS. They share a philosophy that care and attention are the best things partners can give to each other during any dance.
Check them out here:
Semion & Maria - US Open 2017 Classic
… and if you still haven’t had enough…
Rolf & Karin (Israel/Norway)
Karin Kakun has been dancing all her life. She holds a university dance degree and has now taught dance for more than 14 years. She teaches
WCS, Hip-Hop, stretching, pole dance. She also choreograph and performs. Before starting dancing WCS, she was the Israeli salsa
champion.
Karin started her WCS career in 2014 and from the first moment she fell in love. She is now competing both in All Star and Champion divisions and
teaching in Israel, where she directs a West Coast Swing line of classes.
She actively travels and teaches all around Europe.
Rolf Hegrand discovered West Coast Swing online in late 2015 in Norway. Since taking his first West Coast Swing class in 2016, Rolf quickly rose up
the ranks. He has been teaching the dance since 2017 while working full time in the Norwegian armed forces. As of 2020 he has been teaching the
dance full time.
Rolf was the first male WCS dancer from Norway to compete in the WSDC All-Star Division.
Together they live in Israel where they run a WCS school and WCS team that competed in the US Open.
Check them out here:
Rolf Eirik Hegrand & Karin Kakun - 1st place Strictly Open - Baltic Swing 2019
… and if you still haven’t had enough…
Rolf Eirik Hegrand & Karin Kakun - ProShow - Citadel Swing 2019