Three Rivers Swing
ABOUT
3RS.
01 — Our story
The Idea.
There's no single way to have a great dance weekend. You might come to learn something new, challenge yourself in competition, spend the night on the social floor, or a bit of all three.
We created Three Rivers Swing because each of those experiences deserves care and attention. Focused teaching, well-run competitions, and time to social dance/connect shouldn’t have to compete with one another.
Our job is to put the thought into the details. Yours is to choose what feels right: follow Core, drop into Explore, compete, cheer, or stay for one more song.
However you spend it, we want you to feel welcome here.
— Kendra & Ward
02 — The experience
What Makes Three Rivers Swing Different?
Three experiences. One thoughtfully designed weekend.
Rather than building our event around a single type of dancer, we've focused on creating three exceptional experiences that work together while giving you the freedom to decide what matters most to you.
LEARN
Next Level Begins Here.
We wanted to offer something beyond the traditional collection of unrelated, hour-long workshops.
COMPETE
Challenge Yourself. Have Some Fun.
Competition is an important part of West Coast Swing, but we believe it should offer both meaningful challenges and opportunities to simply enjoy the experience.
DANCE UNTIL SUNRISE
The Best Nights Are Shared.
For many dancers, the social floor is the heart of a dance weekend.
LEARN
Two ways to learn.
That’s why we’ve created two complementary ways to learn: Core and Explore.
Core is our structured learning experience, designed for dancers who want to make meaningful progress. Each featured topic is taught at three skill levels, allowing dancers to work on the same essential concepts with instruction tailored to their experience. With longer, focused sessions, there’s more time to understand, practice, and apply what you’re learning.
Explore is about curiosity, discovery, and challenging yourself. Follow your interests, try something outside your comfort zone, or dive into topics that spark your curiosity. With a variety of standalone workshops, you're free to shape your learning experience around what excites you most.
Explore class levels are suggested guidelines to help you find the right fit. Choose the classes that match your experience, interests, and goals—levels are not enforced.
The two experiences are designed to complement each other. You can follow Core for focused improvement and add Explore workshops that interest you, choose Explore on its own for a more relaxed learning experience, or skip workshops altogether.
Take Core, Explore, both, or neither. Your weekend, your goals.
COMPETE
Competition with room for fun.
Our WSDC Jack & Jill competitions give dancers the opportunity to test their skills, pursue points, and celebrate their progress. Rather than filling the schedule with numerous additional contests, we’ve chosen to focus on providing a quality WSDC competition experience while preserving time for learning and social dancing.
We’re also bringing a just-for-fun tournament to the weekend—a chance to embrace the playful side of competition, share some laughs, and remember that not every contest needs to be so serious.
Whether you’re chasing your next competition goal, joining the fun, or cheering from the sidelines, there’s a place for you.
03 — Your hosts
Kendra & Ward.
Kendra Zara and Ward Roberts met at a Pittsburgh West Coast Swing dance in late 2012. A few years later, they discovered they were practically neighbors. When Kendra talked Ward into a night of dancing to live music in Morgantown, WV, it became one of many dance adventures they would share as friends.
Kendra brings thoughtfulness, creativity, and an enthusiastic supply of ideas, with the occasional detour she calls ‘squirreling.’ Ward is always ready to take on a challenge or lend a hand—including when one of those ideas takes an unexpected turn.
Their conversations come with plenty of laughter and a collection of personalized sound effects, mostly Kendra’s. They balance each other, share an eye for detail, and care about making people feel welcome. Now, as friends and co-owners, they’re bringing that same care and personality to Three Rivers Swing.
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Kendra Zara
Co-owner & Event Director
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Ward Roberts
Co-owner & Event Director
Thoughtfully Designed.
Uniquely Yours.
A great weekend can look different for everyone. We want you to find what makes it yours.
We bring the teaching, the competitions, and the time to dance. You choose the mix that feels right for you.
DANCE UNTIL SUNRISE
Time for the social floor.
We wanted to protect that experience—not squeeze it into whatever time remains after workshops and competitions.
That means making social dancing a priority, with time to dance, reconnect with friends, meet new people, and simply enjoy the music.
Regardless of level, experience, or competitive goals, everyone shares the same dance floor.
And whether you stay until sunrise or spend the evening relaxing with friends, you’re experiencing Three Rivers exactly as intended.