Saturday May 2 is the Next Generation Swing Dance Club monthly dance at Allegro Ballroom in Emeryville. Dance starts at 6:00pm with DJ Randy Krul. Please note that Next Generation gets to stay in the main ballroom for the entire evening from 6pm until late! It helps Next Gen if you arrive before 9pm. There is a WCS lesson with Yvonne and Jason Wayne from 7pm -8pm in the back room. There will be a final qualifying contest. Come enjoy an evening of social dancing!! Details and directions at www.nextgenswingdance.com . Remember WCS Dancing in the front ballroom from 6:00pm until late night.

Sunday May 3, is the Northern California Swing Dance Challenge Progressive Jack and Jill Finals at Kodiak Jacks in Petaluma. Contestants will be qualifying at venues all around Northern California from April 20 - 30 in the newcomer, novice and open division. There will be a last chance qualifier on May 3rd. The day also includes West Coast Swing Pro-AM as well as dancing and workshops by Melissa Rutz, Miguel & Mana De Sousa, Kurt Sensor, Nicholas King, Rob “I”, Michelle Kinkaid and more…. There will also be top professional West Coast Swing dancers in Northern CA (Allstars & Champions) competing in the First Annual Gene Kashack Top Dog Derby. This is a collective effort by many of the teachers and top dancers in Northern California to provide a venue to inspire and encourage the growth of West Coast Swing competitive dancing in a non intimidating, supportive setting. For more information Yvonne & Jason Wayne : 707.694.3428 or www.wcsstars.com.

Friday, May 8, Bay West Ballroom presents an evening of west coast swing with owners Andrea Nelson-Novak (Co-Director), Mark Nelson-Novak (Director). They will teach a West Coast Swing workshop on cool moves from 8-9 p.m in the main ballroom. There will be an all west coast swing dance from 9pm – 11pm. This venue has a great sprung wood floor. Bay West Ballroom is located at 1133 E. Francisco Blvd. #D (second floor) in San Rafael. Details and directions at www.baywestballroom.com or 415-457-4619

Saturday night, May 9, is the Doc Kraft Band at the Big 50th Birthday Party for the Presidio Yacht Club at Fort Baker in Sausalito under the Golden Gate Bridge from 8:30pm-1:00am.   Doc’s music ranges from Jazz, Blues, Country, Funk, Latin, Rock, to Oldies.  They play a selection of the best classic standards from the 1930’s to the 1980’s for your listening and dancing pleasure. Admission is $5.  This is not a strictly west coast swing venue so good to bring a dance partner with you.  Details and directions at www.dockraft.com and  www.dockraft.com/yacht_club_directions.htm

Sunday, May 10 is Kelly’s Swing Dance Party on the second Sunday of the month dance at Ellington Hall in Santa Rosa with Kelly Casanova as the DJ and the instructor. The beginning lesson is from 5-6pm followed by an intermediate lesson from 6:00-6:30pm. Open Dancing from 6:30-10:00pm with DJ Kelly. Details and directions at http://www.kellydance.com/party.htm or call 707-838-0388

Saturday, May 16 at Warren and Yenni’s Warehouse in Novato there will be a Country 2 Step Workshop for WCS dancers with Richard Kear from 2:00-4:00 pm followed by open dancing from 4:00-5:00 pm. For more information or to pre-register, contact Yenni at dance@wnywarehouse.com, 415.828.3408 or check the website www.wnywarehouse.com . Location is WnY Warehouse, 64 Digital Drive, Novato, CA 94949, Enter from the front of the building, the door to the warehouse is on the left hand side next to the roll up door/loading dock.

Saturday night, May 16, is the Doc Kraft Band at the Presidio Yacht Club at Fort Baker in Sausalito under the Golden Gate Bridge from 8:30pm-1:00am.   Doc’s music ranges from Jazz, Blues, Country, Funk, Latin, Rock, to Oldies.  They play a selection of the best classic standards from the 1930’s to the 1980’s for your listening and dancing pleasure. Admission is $5.  This is not a strictly west coast swing venue so good to bring a dance partner with you.  Details and directions at www.dockraft.com and  www.dockraft.com/yacht_club_directions.htm

Sunday, May 17 is Mike Pyle’s Bayside Swing at the Just Dance Ballroom in Oakland which will be held every third Sunday of the month from 7:00-10:30 pm. DJ is Mike Pyle. Intermediate WCS lesson from 6-7pm. This is a large wood floor for WCS dancing. Details and directions at www.baysideswing.com or http://audiopyle.com/dances.html or www.justdanceballroom.com. Just Dance Ballroom is located at 2500 Embarcadero, Oakland, CA 94606.

Saturday night, May 23, will be the Redwood Empire Monthly Swing Dance at Odd Fellows Hall at 545 Pacific Avenue in Santa Rosa. Included at the dance is a free beginner lesson from 7:00-8:00 pm. Dance also starts at 7:00 pm and continues to 11 pm. For information, please go to www.resdc.org or call (707) 762-8928.

Saturday night, May 23, is the new regular fourth Saturday WCS dance at Cheryl Burke Dance in the Drew Lachey room located at 1500 16th Street @DeHaro, San Francisco (one block away from the old Metronome). Dance will be upstairs on the left. There is a beginner/intermediate lesson from 7:00-8:00 pm with Kim Sifter. Dance from 8 to 11 pm to a DJ. Lesson and dance is $14. Dance only will be $8. For information, please call (415) 252-9000 or contact info@cherylburkedance.net.

Sunday, May 24, is Lakeside Swing at the Veterans Hall at Lake Merritt in Oakland . Please look for it in its regular spot as the fourth Sunday of the month from 7-10:30 pm going forward! There will be an intermediate WCS dance lesson from 6-7pm with Kelly Casanova. DJ Mike Pyle then presents a great mix of swing, hustle and more for general dancing. This is a great room and floor for WCS dancing! Details and directions at www.lakesideswing.com. If you would like to be on Mike’s list directly, please contact him at mike@audiopyle.com . Oakland Veterans Hall, 200 Grand Ave. at Lake Merritt in Oakland.

May 29-31 brings Mario Robau Jr back to the Bay Area for his Intensive WCS Workshops. Mario is a West Coast Champion dancer, an inductee in the Swing Dancers Hall of Fame, and one of the most sought after authorities in the Swing Circuit. Hailing from Texas, he is always informative and entertaining. Friday May 29 Mario will be at Bay West Ballroom in San Rafael, Saturday May 30 Mario will be at the WnY Warehouse in Novato and Sunday May 31 will be in conjunction with a special Lakeside Swing at Lake Merritt in Oakland. Please contact Kelly Casanova for information or reservations at 707-838-0388 or Kellycdancer@aol.com.

Sunday, May 31, is a special Lakeside Swing at the Veterans Hall at Lake Merritt in Oakland with Mario Robau. Mario teaches an intermediate WCS workshop from 6-7pm followed by Lakeside Swing from 7-10:30 pm! DJ Mike Pyle then presents a great mix of swing, hustle and more for general dancing. In addition, This is a great room and floor for WCS dancing! Mario will teach three workshops on Sunday afternoon at Lake Merritt Dance Center. At 2pm is Techique for Every Level, at 3pm is Musicality 101 and at 4pm is Footwork Variations. If you are interested in the afternoon workshops, please contact Kelly Casanova for registration. Information on the workshops is available at www.kellydance.com . Details and directions at www.lakesideswing.com. If you would like to be on Mike’s list directly, please contact him at mike@audiopyle.com . Oakland Veterans Hall, 200 Grand Ave. at Lake Merritt in Oakland.