Masterclass 1 with Fernanda Dubiel

West Coast Swing Follower Styling Intensive — Technique, Body Movement & Syncopation

In this comprehensive 90-minute masterclass, Fernanda guides followers through a complete styling curriculum — from foundational technique all the way to an advanced syncopation pattern, building everything into a choreography you can practice to music.

The class begins with essential technique work: how to properly roll your foot, the correct step size for your walk, heel-toe versus toe-heel transitions, and the game-changing concept of keeping your inner thighs together for stability and control.

From there, Fernanda introduces a styling routine built on a sugar push foundation. You'll learn how to replace basic steps with intentional body movement — using shoulder rotation, elbow-initiated arm styling, and upper body isolation to create a polished look without sacrificing connection to your leader.

The class progresses through increasingly complex variations: a styled underarm pass featuring a dig with controlled weight transfer, a sugar push with hip rotation and pencil-line footwork, extending a 6-count sugar push to 8 counts using cross-back and staccato accents, a left side pass with sharp shoulder pops, and finally a syncopation technique on the anchor that you can apply to any pattern in your dancing.

Throughout the class, Fernanda emphasizes that styling should never compromise your connection — your leader shouldn't feel the difference on the hand. Every variation is practiced slowly, then drilled to music, giving you the confidence to bring these tools to the social floor.