‘Speaking a secret language’: West Coast Swing as a community of practice of informal and incidental learners

Abstract

This study reports the findings of a qualitative study of competitive West Coast Swing dancers that incorporated both ethnographic and phenomenological techniques. A modern variation of the original Lindy Hop, West Coast Swing is typically learned in dance studios and non‐profit clubs. The West Coast Swing community can be considered a community of practice in which nonformal and incidental learning occurs for participants; this study explores the nature of the learning that occurs within this community. The nonformal nature of learning the dance itself creates the community of practice; in turn, dancers encounter incidental learning, especially regarding interpersonal communication, as they learn the dance.