The Inner Game of West Coast Swing

How To Become Your Own Coach

A West Coast Swing inner game retreat for dancers who want to train smarter, not harder.

Three days to understand your inner game, build your personal practice system, and leave with a concrete coaching plan you can actually stick to. No more random drills, no more guessing what to work on – you’ll know exactly how to coach yourself.

General Information:

  • Dates: 10th-12th of April, 2026

  • Location: Hep Cat Club Munich, Tumblingerstr. 34a

  • Language: English (with German support if needed)

  • Group Size: Extremely limited to ensure an environment for depth & safety.

  • Pricing: Early Bird: 159€ (until 15th of February) / Regular: 179€ / Limited capacity to keep the space intimate.

Is This You Right Now?

  • You leave events motivated… and then lose your routine two weeks later.

  • You’re not sure what to practice – technique, mindset, connection, musicality?

  • You’re hard on yourself, especially on video or after a “bad” dance.

  • You wish you had a coach on speed dial – but you’re not sure how to coach yourself.

What You’ll Walk Away With

  • A clear “Dancer Profile” – your strengths, growth zones, and unique inner game.

  • A personal practice & coaching plan (with drills, mindset tools, and reflection prompts).

  • Tools to handle nerves, setbacks, and plateaus like an athlete.

  • A simple method to observe yourself without judgment (video, journaling, body feedback).

  • A support structure: peer contacts & accountability so you don’t go back to “I’ll do it someday”.

Meet Your Coaches

Hélène Mickle

West Coast Swing Instructor, competitor & Psychologist. Curious and playful, she likes to explore other spaces to inspire her understanding of movement and the parallels between dance and psychology.

Thomas Bachmann

Swing Dance Instructor, competitor & dance school business owner. His  immense curiosity about dances, technique, and the history of the Swing era led him to devote himself to teach students to become the best all-around version of themselves: including the mindset behind it all.

Vanessa Bachmann

West Coast Swing instructor, competitor and Health & Wellness Coach. For years she's been obsessed with what truly creates growth in dancers: not just drills and technique, but the inner game behind it.

Your Journey:

From Observer to Coach to Athlete

Block 1 – The Observer: Unpacking your Inner Game

We start by slowing down and looking honestly at where you are now – without shame, without comparison. You’ll map your dance life, discover your current mindset, and connect to a clear “North Star” for your dancing.

Key elements to list:

  • Dance Life Map: where you feel strong / weak in technique, mindset, partnership.

  • Review pre-retreat homework (questionnaire + 1:1 insights, if you use them).

  • Crafting your guiding intention.

  • Intro to the Inner Game of WCS and your Dancer Profile (strengths, resources, growth zones).

  • Reflection: discovering your “Big Why” as a dancer.

Block 2 – The Coach: From Awareness to Action

Now that you see yourself more clearly, it’s time to build your inner coach. You’ll learn how to work with your thoughts, your body, and your practice time – so you can train with purpose instead of random repetition.

Key elements to list:

  • Mind–Body Connection – how thoughts show up in your body (tension, timing, balance).

  • Toolbox: Self 1 & Self 2 (from The Inner Game of Tennis) adapted for WCS.

  • Mindful Movement exercise & Self-observation tools

  • Strategies from sports psychology

  • Partner feedback practice: how to ask, how to give.

  • Co-Development Circles (small groups): focused deep dives into one specific challenge.

  • Optional: Guest speaker session + Q&A on a real-world WCS challenge.

Block 3 – The Athlete: Building a Sustainable System

Finally, we translate everything into a system you can actually live with. You’ll leave with a step-by-step coaching plan and a support net to keep you accountable long after the retreat ends.

Key elements to list:

  • Sustaining Motivation & The Mental Toolbox

  • Guided workbook session: Craft Your Own Coaching Plan for the next month.

  • Structure for a practice session

  • Creating your support net: accountability pairs / pods for after the retreat.

Weekend Schedule

Friday

  • 20:00 Welcome Session (mandatory!)

  • Setting your compass for the weekend & Intro to the Inner Game of WCS.

  • Optional: Social Dancing possibility at Tanzschule Neubeck (separate entry fee)

Saturday

  • 9:30 Arrive & Coffee

  • 10:00 Work Sessions & Group Sessions

  • 12:30-14:00 Lunch Break

  • 14:00 Work Sessions & Group Sessions

  • 18:00 Dinner Break

  • 20:30 Evening Get together

Sunday

  • 9:30 Arrive & Coffee

  • 10:00 Work Sessions & Group Sessions

  • 12:30-14:00 Lunch Break

  • 14:00 Closing Session

  • 16:00 Farewell

Who This Retreat Is For:

  • West Coast Swing dancers who want to take responsibility for their own growth.

  • Dancers who already invest in classes / privates but feel their progress is slower than their effort.

  • Competitors and non-competitors who want to feel calmer, clearer, and more confident on the floor.

  • Teachers who want better tools to support their students’ mindset and practice.

  • Not a fit if: You only want new patterns and tricks & you’re not willing to look at your own habits and mindset.

What’s Included?

  • 2 days of in-person coaching, theory & guided practice sessions.

  • Pre-retreat questionnaire + optional 1:1 call to prepare your Dancer Profile.

  • Coaching Workbook to design and track your plan.

  • Daily Base Camp support (small group support circle & accountability).

  • A support structure: peer contacts & accountability so you don’t go back to “I’ll do it someday”.

Practical Information:

  • Dates: 10th-12th of April, 2026

  • Location: Hep Cat Club Munich, Tumblingerstr. 34a

  • Language: English (with German support if needed)

  • Group Size: Extremely limited to ensure an environment for depth & safety.

  • Pricing: Early Bird: 159€ (until 15th of February) / Regular: 179€ / Limited capacity to keep the space intimate.

FAQs

Is this workshop weekend more mindset-focused or technique-focused?

This weekend is primarily mindset-focused—with a very practical goal: helping your technique actually stick.
A lot of dancers absorb great information in class, but struggle to translate it into consistent practice and real change on the floor. That’s why we’ll dive into the learning side of the mind: how you process input, build habits, stay focused, and train in a way that supports long-term progress.

Do I need a partner to sign up?

Since this weekend is more mindset-focused, you’re absolutely welcome to sign up solo. We do recommend registering with a partner if possible, because we’ll also be dancing together during parts of the weekend.

Will we also dance/practice physically, or is it mostly talking?

Yes, we'll be also practicing physically, so please bring a notebook but don't forget to put on comfy dance-wear too.

Is this retreat for competitors only?

No, this retreat is for competitors and non-competitors who want to feel calmer, clearer, and more confident on the floor.

What if I’m introverted / nervous sharing in groups?

Yes—introverts are welcome! You’re not required to share in front of a big group.
We’ll do a 1:1 check-in pre-retreat and place you in a small “base camp” group during the weekend. You choose how much you want to share.

How does the application process work?

Please click the Apply button on the website and fill out the questionnaire. This helps us understand where you’re at right now and how we can best support you during the weekend.
Once we’ve reviewed your application (this can take a couple of days), we'll send you all payment details. Following that, we’ll get in touch to schedule a 1:1 call—so we can get to know you and set you up for your pre-retreat homework.
We can’t wait to work with you!

Ready to become your own Coach? Hit apply & let's do it!