Perga Danse Wednesday Social Review: West Coast Swing in Lyon
Wednesday night West Coast Swing social at Studio Perga Danse, Lyon (France)
When I traveled to France for a close friend’s wedding, I couldn’t resist checking out the local West Coast Swing (WCS) European scene. Just a day before the big Rolling Swing weekend, I discovered that Studio Perga Danse hosts a weekly Wednesday WCS social, which was the perfect chance to experience the city’s dance community vibe.
Here’s my review of the night, covering the music, dancers, venue, and atmosphere that make this social a Lyon favorite:
Event Basics
📍 Venue & Location: The social is held at Studio Pergadanse in Villeurbanne near Lyon, can be easy to reach by metro but I woke up late from my dance nap and ordered Bolt, a European all-in-one mobility app like Uber.
📅 Schedule: Every Wednesday night. Social dancing from 9:30 pm until past midnight.
💲 Cost: Entry is €5. Free for school members.
Workshops & Instruction
They usually do not teach before the 9:30 pm social. It depends on their event schedule so please check with the venue organizers.
When I was in Lyon, they were offering pre-social practice class for their 2025 International West Coast Swing Flashmob Rally routine but following my day tour, I chose to nap instead. I wish I had dedicated time in the U.S. to learn it so I could jump right in while in France. Next year, maybe!
Did you know Lyon is where the WCS flashmob choreo comes from? I taught and organized the Seattle WCS flashmobs in 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019:
Video of dancers performing in public for the Seattle International West Coast Swing Flashmob Rally in 2019.
Atmosphere & Community
The WCS community in Lyon is really talented. At Perga Danse, dancers of all levels share the floor in a fun, low-pressure environment, from beginners to experienced regulars.
As a visitor, I was invited to dance by only some dancers who had no idea who I was, which speaks to how curious the community members can be. Around maybe 35–45 dancers attended the night I went, with the balance heavy with more follows more than leads which I’m used to in Seattle.
Music & Dancing
Music is a strong point of the Perga Danse WCS social. There wasn’t a DJ but the playlist solidly stayed WCS-friendly:
Contemporary pop and R&B hits.
Occasional French songs I’d never heard for local flavor.
A few well-known bluesy tracks for variety at the end but many dancers weren’t dancing by this time around 12:15 AM.
The dance floor is medium-sized, sprung, and well-kept. Peak energy hits around 11 pm when the crowd feels most connected, playful, and musical.
Venue & Amenities
Perga Danse is a classic dance studio: mirrors on one side, good acoustics, and enough seating for breaks (both in-studio, bar, and lobby).
✅ Lighting: Lowlight, cozy, and late-night vibes.
✅ Sound system: Clear and balanced.
✅ Food/drinks: Super affordable on-site “bar,” but you didn’t hear that from me. From the looks of it, there are some nearby eateries for pre-dancing snacks.
✅ Accessibility: It was really accessible and I love me an inclusive dance space! There was a dancer who uses a wheelchair there that night.
🚫 Comfort: Ventilation is okay but as with most of France, there isn’t any air conditioning, so it gets even warmer when crowded and moving. I was there in late-August.
Highlights & Challenges
⭐ Highlights
Talented dancers.
Good balance of experience levels.
Fun mix of familiar contemporary + new-to-me French music.
Common to request to dance more than once, if both dancers agree.
💡 Challenges
Floor gets crowded at peak hours.
No AC so studio can feel warm and muggy.
*I stood on the side for many songs before asking/being asked but I also didn’t mind because it was really hot.
Final Thoughts & Recommendation
If you’re a dancer visiting Lyon or a local looking for a weekly opportunity to practice and dance, the Perga Danse Wednesday WCS social is a must. It combines **French cultural cues, very affordable pricing, and quality music for an authentic West Coast Swing in Lyon experience.
Would I return? Absolutely, this social night was fun to experience WCS in a new city. Also a great way to pre-party for Rolling Swing.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Cultural Differences
*I want to acknowledge that I worked really hard to check myself on cultural expectations. In the U.S., I feel like I have built a positive rapport and extroverted reputation in the communities I’ve traveled to all across the nation and have the privilege of not standing on the sidelines for long.
**With that said, I also want to acknowledge the regional differences whereas U.S. dancers oftentimes compulsively over-emote their actual joy or true personality. French people are much more calmer and chill so I adjusted my extroversion.
West Coast Swing dancers at Studio Perga Danse Wednesday night social in Lyon, France
Have you danced West Coast Swing at Perga Danse or other socials in Lyon? If you know other great WCS socials in France, I’d love your recommendations below!
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Discover the Wednesday night West Coast Swing social at Studio Perga Danse in Lyon, France. Review of music, venue, dancers, and WCS community vibes.