Autumn Swing Challenge
2025 - WSDC event
7-9 November 2025
Daniel Pavlov & Irina Puzanova Kyle Fitzgerald & Melodie Paletta Miguel Ortega & Maïna Vila Cobarsi Philipp Wolff & Ekaterina Wolff
Join the greatest Hungarian west coast swing party of autumn 2025. Maximum 350 attendants, gender balanced event.
Our staff
West coast swing professionals, who will make your weekend unforgettable!
Teachers
Kyle Fitzgerald & Melodie Paletta
Teachers
Daniel Pavlov & Irina Puzanova
Teachers
Miguel Ortega & Maïna Vila Cobarsi
Teacher
Philipp Wolff & Ekaterina Wolff
MC
Piotr Lenart
Head Judge
Marta Nita
Head DJ
Kevin Town
DJ
Tana Abeni
DJ
Olga Ruban
Guest Teacher
Léo Lorenzo
Guest Teacher
Fernanda Dubiel
Guest Teacher
Igor Pitangui
Guest Teacher
Coleen Man
Guest Teacher
Karin Kakun
The Organizing Team
We are a team of West Coast Swing enthusiasts and close friends who have been running this weekend event together for over 10 years. Feel free to reach out to us if you need any help during the event – we want you to have the best time possible!
Zsigmond Máriás
Event Director
Attila Pártos
Event Coordinator
Melinda Máriás-Szanyi
Co-Event Director
Andrea Pártos
Event Coordinator
Robert Tóth
Event Coordinator
Eszter Koltai
Event Coordinator
Gabriella Madarász
Event Coordinator
Verdi Budapest Aquincum
The Verdi Budapest Aquincum (Formerly: Aquincum Hotel Budapest) located in a charming area alongside the River Danube, adjacent to Margaret Island, on the Buda side. The hotel offers an excellent base for exploring Budapest but more importantly has a very nice ballroom with wooden floor and multiple other rooms where workshops and private classes can be held. Altogether it is the perfect place for hosting a west coast swing event.
The main feature of our glorious hotel is the renowned thermal spa, that's therapeutic water comes directly from Margaret Island. With its 310 guestrooms, a restaurant and bar, 14 versatile meeting rooms and Spa & Wellness Center, the hotel caters for both business and leisure guests alike.
Rooms can be booked at the hotel from Wednesday at the earliest until Monday at the latest at the rate provided by the event. Half board means that the hotel will provide dinner in addition to breakfast.
Address: Budapest, Árpád fejedelem útja 94, 1036
Room for 2 people (with breakfast)
128 €/night
Room for 1 person (with breakfast)
113 €/night
Hotel booking link will be up before the registration starts.
Workshop levels
Workshop level descriptions are approximate, and the given time intervals are estimations. Every individual needs a different amount of time to achieve a certain level, which depends on their dancing background, dedication, motivation, etc. We want everybody to join the group which suits them the best, from which they can profit the most. If you are unsure about your level, please ask your teachers or consult with us via email.
Level 2
You have learned the basics of West Coast Swing, but you still need to improve your technique. You want to learn more footwork and pattern variations. You need detailed explanations for leading or following new movements. You need ideas for styling and musical interpretation.
If you compete, you enter the Newcomer division or have just started to enter the Novice division, typically after a minimum of 6 months, usually 12-24 months, of active West Coast Swing practice.
Level 3
You have rock-solid West Coast Swing basics, know a lot of footwork variations and complex patterns, and lead/follow well. You are able to social dance with dancers of any level. You want to improve your own style, master your technique, and understand the mechanics of the dance.
If you compete, you enter the Novice division with a good chance of reaching the finals (usually making at least the semifinals). You have a minimum of 1.5 years, typically 2-4 years, of active West Coast Swing experience.
Level 4
You are an advanced dancer, with international event and competition experiences. You have no problem to lead/follow, you can adapt your dance to your partner from newcomer to rockstar level. You are taking workshops to learn advanced styling, musical interpretation, technic and your goal is to develop your own style.
The level is available for dancers with WSDC intermediate points and above or via pro teacher decision.
Advanced & Allstar
We offer a few dedicated classes for higher levels. As the name suggests, you may enter these classes if you are at the respective levels according to your WSDC points.
Extra Track - Musicality
50 EUR
Three themed classes with three different professional couples, focusing on musicality - one of the most beautiful aspects of West Coast Swing. Each class covers a unique theme, introducing the teaching couple's individual approach.
Your teachers will be:
Daniel & Irina, Kyle & Melodie, Miguel & Maina
This is a couples' class with individual registration. To maintain gender balance, we may decline registrations as needed. To secure your spot, please register with a partner and list each other in the "partner" field on the form.
Extra Track - Solo Technique&Styling
50 EUR
Three styling & technique classes with three exceptional dancers each offering a session filled with styling variations to enrich and elevate your dance to the next level.
Your teachers:
Igor Pitangui, Karin Kakun, Coleen Man
This is a solo class. Leaders and Followers can register.
The Leo & Fernanda Intensive
50 EUR
Join Champion dancers Léo Lorenzo and Fernanda Dubiel for a 2-hour intensive exploring their unique approach to West Coast Swing.
What to expect:
Two back-to-back 60-minute sessions diving deep into their dance concept. Known for their competition success and global teaching experience, Léo and Fernanda excel at breaking down complex ideas in accessible ways. They’re approachable, knowledgeable, and genuinely invested in helping dancers grow.
Details:
Duration: 2 hours (two 60-minute workshops) Price: €50 Most suitable for intermediate to advanced dancers
This is a couples' class with individual registration. To maintain gender balance, we may decline registrations as needed. To secure your spot, please register with a partner and list each other in the "partner" field on the form.
Rising Star Choreography Division at Autumn Swing Challenge 2025!
This year, we’re thrilled to bring back our rising star division for its second year! All competitors can showcase their best routines under the rising star rules in a single, open category.
We want to keep encouraging our community and dancers to prepare and participate. Creating and performing a choreography is a fantastic way to elevate your dancing skills to the next level. Watching great choreography will inspire the next generation of dancers.
Plus, there’s a cash prize! The top 3 placements will win 600, 400, and 200 euros, respectively.
Get ready, get creative, and let’s make this another memorable event!
Passes and prices
Prices stand for Quick Bird / Normal Bird / Late Bird respectively.
Workshop pass
Learn, compete and social dance!
155 / 170 / 185€
  • 6 levelled workshops
  • 3 parties
  • Competitions
40 Quick Bird, 80 Normal Bird and 50 Late Bird Workshop Pass tickets are available until sold out.
We accept couple registrations only.
Party Pass
Compete and social dance
115 / 125 / 135
  • No workshops
  • 3 parties
  • Competitions
40 Quick Bird, 80 Normal Bird and 50 Late Bird Party Pass tickets are available until sold out.
We accept couple registrations only.
Allstar pass
Get the show on, get paid
50% off [60/80€]
We provide heavily discounted passes for WDSC Allstars dancers. Workshop passes with 6 levelled workshop are 80 EUR, Party Passes are 60 EUR.
If you register for this pass, you have to enter Allstars J&J.
We accept individual registrations for Allstar Pass.
J&J competitions
15€ / competitor
Strictly competitions
30€ / couple
Rising star choreo
40€ / couple
Competition registration and payment is handled separately on site.
Quick bird: first 80 (40+40) registrations until 15th of August or until sold out
Normal bird: the next 160 (80+80) registrations until 15th of September or until sold out
Late bird: the next 100 (50+50) tickets after the 15th of September until 1th of November or until sold out
WSDC Allstar level dancers get a special discounted price for passes. The Allstar discount is 50% off the initial party / workshop pass prices: 60 / 80 eur. If you reach the Allstar division before the event, we will reimburse you the difference.
WSDC Allstars above 100 ALS points automatically get a free pass. They also don't need a partner, just register for the waiting list and we'll register you.
WSDC Champions automatically receive a free pass and hotel room reimbursement. Contact us for details.
Levelled workshops: 4 workshops are single level workshops, 2 workshops are mixed with other levels.
Registration
00
days
00
hours
00
minutes
00
seconds
00
days
00
hours
00
minutes
00
seconds
Solo Registration for Certain Passes
You can solo register for the following pass types:
  • Allstars Workshop & Party Pass, Leader & Follower [4 passes left / role] - It is very likely that we will hit ⭐⭐⭐ TIER 3 ⭐⭐⭐ comps!
  • Workshop Pass - Advanced & Allstars level - Advanced Leader & Follower - Late Bird [3 passes left / role]
  • Workshop Pass - Level 4 - Follower - Late Bird [2 passes left!]
Numbers are very limited, you can see the actual number above - hurry up!
Extra Tracks
Extra intensive tracks to open very soon!
WAITING LIST - Single leader / follower Party Pass
NO PAYMENT
Individual signup for single Leaders and Followers for Party Passes. We will partner you up, as soon as someone registers for the other role.
Draft Schedule
The public draft of the detailed event schedule is online. This draft schedule is subject to change without notice. However, major structural changes are unlikely.