Meet our founder
Allison Brown
Allison's vision for Syracuse Social grew from watching our local Syracuse Dance Community struggle with finding and retaining new beginner dancers. Post-Covid, we lost many of our regular dancers to new hobbies and new homes. We needed something fresh to jump-start our community's growth, to bring back that feeling of belonging we were all looking for. Syracuse Social is designed to encourage people with no experience to branch out and try something new. By combining an inclusive, nonjudgmental atmosphere with a fun, stress-free lesson, we have found the perfect recipe for Social Dance Success!
Background
Allison's love of Dance started at the age of five. She danced for 13 years with The Dance Experience and Let's Dance Studios, located in Horseheads, New York, for most of her childhood. She has trained in the styles of Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Pointe, Irish, Clogging, Lyrical, and Acro. She was also part of her high-school Cheer team, and assisted in cheer/dance choreography.
Allison currently teaches our beginner West Coast Swing Crash Course, as well the workshop before our Monthly Social Dances. She has been invited to Westie Night in Solvay, NY as a guest instructor several times in the past 2 years. She is also teaching all levels of Irish Dance at Scoil Rince Branwen Irish Dance in Baldwinsville, NY. Allison runs a Cardio Fitness Program based on the concept of Irish Dancing, called Jigs and Swigs™️.
West Coast Swing Experience
Allison found West Coast Swing in 2018, and it quickly became her passion. Her first lesson was at Westie Night, with Jeff and Maria Wormald. After one night of social dancing, she was hooked! Only a few months after discovering WCS, Allison joined a West Coast Swing Performance Team, JT Swing, participating in JV and Varsity Levels, as both a Lead and a Follow. She participated in her first competitive event in October of 2018, Swustlicious, leaving with a 1st Place Follow Win in the Newcomer division. Since then, Allison has been to many WCS Weekend Events along the U.S. East Coast. During these events, she competes, takes several hours of lessons from West Coast Swing Champions, and of course, her favorite part, social dances all night long. Allison is now the Director of the Upstate NY JT Swing Team. She is currently competing in both roles (Follow/Lead), at the Intermediate Level. Some of her more recent competitive accomplishments are; June, 2024 - 2nd Place Novice Lead, January, 2024 - 1st Place Novice Lead. Find a full compilation of any competitor placements here searching by name or WSDC competitor number.
Allison is currently offering Private and Group Lessons in Beginner West Coast Swing. You can schedule a lesson with her HERE.