Vous à Tu: West Coast Swing in Aix—two hours of French listening (and 87 partner changes)

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Reader, I went to West Coast Swing last night and rediscovered two things:

  1. my triple step had been in witness protection since the 90s, and

  2. beginner dance class is basically a sweaty French listening lab.

When I signed in, a student heard my accent and quipped, « Donc, nous sommes internationaux maintenant ». Same energy as “oh wow, we’re global now”—and suddenly I’m the exchange program. There were ~50 folks in the Level 2 and another crowd for Level 1 after; the instructors rotated partners constantly, which is perfect for meeting people and battling the eternal tu/vous question without overthinking it. (If you’re curious where to find dance lessons in Aix: the association Rock’Caliente runs loads of dance classes locally, and big social events sometimes happen out at Z5 in Les Milles. (Rock'Caliente)).  They also host weekly dances, which is a great way to meet people and practice your French.

Why dance class is language gold

  • Instructions are short, real, and repeated: “changez de partenaire”, “reculez”, “tournez”, “plus souple”, “garde le cadre”. 

  • After an hour of partner dance, you will never confuse left and right again. My feet now answer to their French names like well-trained baguettes: gauche steps in, droite steps out, and my brain just tries to keep up without yelling “WAIT—other left!”

  • You practice polite micro-conversations 30+ times: greeting, name, level, quick feedback, merci/au revoir.

  • Low stakes: if you blank on vocab, just… keep the beat. Your feet can buy your mouth a second.

Mini phrasebook for the dance floor

  • Bonjour/Bonsoir, enchanté(e) — Hi/Good evening, nice to meet you.

  • Je débute / Je reprends (après 30 ans 😅) — I’m a beginner / I’m getting back into it.

  • On essaie ? / On change ? — Shall we try? / Shall we switch?

  • Plus lent / plus doux / pas trop tiré — Slower / gentler / don’t pull too much.

  • C’était super, merci ! — That was great, thanks!

  • On se tutoie ? / Je peux vous tutoyer ? — Shall we use “tu”? / May I use “tu” with you?

Tu or vous… on the dance floor?

Start with vous. In many French dance communities, partners drift to tu quickly, especially in class. A friendly bridge is: « On se tutoie si tu veux ? » If they say yes, switch gracefully; if not, no harm done. Teachers may address the group with on (“on garde l’ancrage”)—that’s normal French teacher-voice, not a grammar trap.

Level-by-level tips

A1

  • Learn 10 essentials: bonjour/bonsoir, enchanté(e), je m’appelle…, je suis débutant(e), on essaie ?, merci, au revoir, gauche/droite, en avant/en arrière.

  • Count the music quietly: un-deux, trois-et-quatre, cinq-et-six. It helps your ear.

A2

  • Add requests: « On refait ? », « Plus lent ? », « Tu peux m’expliquer ce pas ? »

  • Practice the switch line: « Je peux te/vous tutoyer ? » and listen for their answer.

B1

  • Catch instructor verbs: garder, ralentir, enchaîner, pivoter, lâcher, connecter.

  • Small talk script: « Tu viens souvent aux soirées ? Tu danses d’autres styles ? »

B2

  • Listen for nuance: « sois plus disponible », « accompagne-la », « laisse passer » (soft, collaborative language).

  • Try micro-feedback: « J’ai perdu le timing ici, on recommence ? »

Advanced/C1+

  • Notice register shifts (teacher “on”, peer “tu”, front-desk “vous”).

  • Play with humor that isn’t creepy: « Si je t’écrase le pied, c’est mon accent. »

  • Debrief in French after class—two minutes of “what clicked/what felt weird” with your last partner.

Where to try (quick pointers)

  • Rock’Caliente lists WCS classes across Aix with clear levels and schedules. (Rock'Caliente)

  • Z5 Aix (the big sports complex founded by the Zidane family) sometimes hosts workshops/soirées; the complex is at 205 avenue du 12 juillet 1998, 13290 Aix-en-Provence. (z5sport.com)

  • Keep an eye out for Aix on West, the local WCS festival—great for immersion (and foot creams). (aixonwest.fr)

Your turn 🫶

Did a class help your French—or did French help your dance? Drop your funniest tu/vous moment, your best beginner tip, or a link to a friendly WCS/partner-dance night around Aix. If you’re shy, start with: « J’ai oublié le basic moi aussi… mais je n’ai pas oublié de dire bonsoir. » Go on—add a comment and help the next nervous newbie feel welcome.