Patty Vo

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR

I have spent much of my dance career exploring the connection between technique, musicality, creativity, and genuine partnership. Although I am best known for West Coast Swing, I also compete in and teach Carolina Shag, giving me the opportunity to draw from two dances that share deep roots while offering very different forms of expression.

My West Coast Swing career has taken me to major competitions and dance events across the country. Over the years, I have competed in Showcase, Masters, Sophisticated, Strictly, and Jack and Jill divisions with many exceptional partners. Some of my proudest competitive accomplishments include winning the Sophisticated Swing Division at the 2013 U.S. Open Swing Dance Championships with Barry Jones, placing second in the 2017 Showcase Routine Division with Jesse Lopez, and winning the Masters Routine Division at the 2023 Open Swing Dance Championships with Marc Heldt. 

I have also had the privilege of teaching, judging, performing, and sharing the floor with respected dancers from throughout the international West Coast Swing community. My dancing is often recognized for its musicality, versatility, energy, and ability to adapt to different partners and styles.  

Carolina Shag has become another important part of my dance journey. I enjoy the rhythm, footwork, heritage, and social character that make Shag such a distinctive dance. I have taught alongside National Shag Champion Steve Balok and have competed in the Professional Division of Competitive Shaggers Association events, including a third-place finish with Scott Campbell at Lynn’s Dance Club in 2024.  

As an instructor, I want students to understand more than a collection of patterns. I focus on connection, timing, body control, footwork, musical interpretation, and the ability to communicate clearly with a partner. My goal is to help dancers become more technically capable without losing the individuality and joy that make social dancing so rewarding.

Whether I am teaching West Coast Swing or Carolina Shag, I encourage students to remain curious, listen closely to the music, and become comfortable expressing their own personalities. Great dancing should be grounded in solid fundamentals, but it should also feel natural, responsive, and alive.

I am excited to share my experience through Dance Professor and help dancers build the technique, confidence, and musical awareness they need to enjoy every step of their journey.