Affinity Swing

Swing Content - A West Coast Swing podcast

Arts EN ↓ 6 episodes

A West Coast Swing podcast. Real conversations with real dancers. Welcome to Affinity Swing's first podcast - where Harold dive's deep into the minds, methods, and journeys of the people shaping West Coast Swing. From rising stars to seasoned pros, from innovative teachers to community builders, we explore what makes dancers tick and what drives the evolution of our dance.

Author

Affinity Swing

Episodes

From "Let's NOT Date" to West Coast Swing US Open Glory: The Ben and Cameo McHenry Story 07.08.2025 1:00:41

What happens when you spend 3 hours choreographing a routine and place 2nd at a major competition? When you try desperately NOT to date your dance partner? When an Emmy Award winner marries a guy who got manipulated into the Champions Division by event directors lying to him? Join Harold Baker for the most candid conversation yet with West Coast Swing power couple Ben and Cameo McHenry. Recorded a...

Queen of support Casey Margules: Building Healthy West Coast Swing Communities 03.08.2025 23:31

Queen of support Casey Margules: Building Healthy West Coast Swing Communities Join Harold Baker for an inspiring conversation with Casey Margules, Minnesota's most enthusiastic all-star level West Coast Swing dancer and community champion. Recorded live at Swingsota 2025, this episode dives deep into what makes the Minnesota WCS community one of the most welcoming and supportive scenes in the...

"Everyone Was Happy - That's The Only Metric I Need": Swingsota's Joy Over Competition Philosophy 02.08.2025 16:28

What happens when an event director spills his pre-event anxieties and post-event relief? When toilet paper becomes a weapon of war? When a dance weekend prioritizes joy over competition results and accidentally creates magic? Join Harold Baker for a raw, honest conversation with Hieu, the mastermind behind Swingsota 2025. This before-and-after interview captures the emotional rollercoaster of eve...

Emily Huang and Christopher Dumond - Champions After Dark: The 5AM Tell-All 02.08.2025 1:21:32

What happens when you stay up until 5 AM spilling tea about the dance community? When a “Schwimmer Kid" explains he wants to be Keanu Reeves? When Emily Huang admits her dog might be a better influencer than she is? Join Harold Baker for a late-night conversation with West Coast Swing champions Chris Dumond and Emily Huang. Recorded at Swingsota 2025 at an absolutely unreasonable hour, this episod...

Meech Souliotes: From LA Clubs to China's First WCS Scene 02.08.2025 56:05

Every dance scene has that one person who changed everything – but what if their story involved starting a West Coast Swing music revolution in LAV, teaching in Communist China, and literally making enemies to save an art form? Meet Demetre "Meech" Souliotes, the champion dancer who refused to accept the status quo. When Meech couldn't find anywhere in LA worth taking three professional backup dan...

I Can't Hear Music, But I Can Predict Every Beat - Here's How. But This Isn't My Identity. 24.07.2025 41:12

Trinity refuses to be reduced to one trait - and her approach to West Coast Swing will completely change how you think about dancing. While most dancers rely purely on what they hear, Trinity has developed a method for connecting with music that involves studying song structures, memorizing lyrics, and treating each dance "like a complex calculus problem."In this conversation, discover:H...