Heather is well known for her ability to creatively fuse her classical training with her love of partner dancing.
She is a winner in the Nova Star Category in the California Swing Dance Hall of Fame, a two-time US Open Sophisticated Swing Champion, and a retired professional ballet dancer.
She has performed, competed, judged and taught across the country and abroad.
Locally, Heather teaches
West Coast Swing & Fusion
in the Bay Area.
Photo by Genevieve Parker
Heather Powers
Heathers Offerings
Private Lessons
Available across the East Bay, San Francisco, and the Peninsula.
Private lessons are a great way to get 1-on-1 personalized feedback and hone your technique at a pace that works for you!
Reach out for rate & availability details.
Private lessons are offered at all of the upcoming weekend events below.
Weekly Classes &
Office Hours
Heather teaches weekly classes at various studios around the Bay Area. Check out her schedule below!
Mondays:
Motion Arts Center, San Mateo
7-8pm Beginner West Coast Swing
8-9pm Intermediate West Coast Swing
Wednesdays:
(in October)
Fusion Dance Academy, San Francisco
7-8pm Performance & Choreo (Invitational)
8:15-9:15pm Linear Momentum
Allegro Ballroom, El Cerrito
7-8pm, Office Hours w/ Heather
$15 includes After Hours Social ($10 for Allegro Ballroom members)
Just like in college, sometimes we need a little extra help. This is the time we meet with our professor to discuss material we learned in class; and yet, we have further questions we couldn’t ask in the time allotted. With that in mind, drop-in to Office Hours with questions, quandaries and queries, or simply be an active participant. This bi-weekly session will compliment regularly scheduled classes and workshops from any instructor from the Bay Area and beyond.
Bonus prize: we will have an occasional Professor Emeritus join us! Stay tuned as special guests are arranged.
Prerequisites:
Mastery of Fundamentals including Whips. We will always revisit the basics as they are the foundation upon which advanced moves are structured; nevertheless, this will not be a beginner class. In fact, Heather’s Office Hours is not a class.
8-9pm After Hours Social Dance
$15 for just the social ($10 for Allegro Ballroom members)
A new bi-weekly social dance & if we have a crowd, we’ll stay later! All-Stars and Champions are always FREE!
*A note on the venue: Allegro Ballroom is centrally located just off of I-80 with plenty of parking, and is accessible from the El Cerrito del Norte BART Station.
Thursdays:
(2nd & 4th)
Events & Workshops
Find upcoming workshops, retreats, and weekend events Heather is teaching or judging at below. Message to schedule a private lesson at any of these events!
September 19th - 21st
Austin, TX
October 16 - 19th
Burlingame, CA
Wedding Dances
Available across the East Bay, San Francisco, and the Peninsula.
The first wedding dance is wrought with metaphor for newlyweds. Let's make this dance truly special for you and your guests. From choosing your first song, to teaching you how to feel the music together, Heather can help you improvise on the fly, or choreograph a complete first dance. Step by step, she'll guide you through each magical moment.
Reach out today to begin your dance journey together.
Testimonials
Hear What Students Have to Say
Heather is my favorite! Her presence, humor and mastery make learning dance fascinating and fun. She is incredibly warm and kind while also insisting we excel with the real foundational mechanics of the dance. Heather consistently advocates for the rights and smarts of the follow role as an active contributor in partner dance, and supports all students to embody confidence and receptivity. I would follow her around to all her classes if I had more free time!
- Rascal Roubos
Heather has encouraged me to move beyond "just following".
Now, I move with purpose and adapt my movement to match the leaders style. Heather is clear and practical. She makes every lesson valuable and directly applicable to real life dancing situations.
- Pat
I have adored Heather Powers’s dancing for several years. Finally, I got the courage to ask if I could have some private lessons with her and was thrilled when she accepted. Heather is super positive. In addition to clearly explaining ways I could improve my dancing, she also highlighted what I did well. My private lessons were fun. She brought me little gifts, like fresh herbs from her garden and we had fun chatting and getting to know each other. I consider her a friend and am looking forward to learning more from her.
- Nan Turner
Dancing was always intimidating for me—I felt like I had not two but three left feet, and my confidence was practically nonexistent. However, my first experience with Heather at the studio completely changed that. Her welcoming energy and unwavering support created an environment where I felt encouraged rather than judged, inspiring me to seek private lessons with her to build the confidence and skills I desperately wanted.
Since working with Heather, I’ve transformed my approach to dancing, gaining confidence, improving my technique, and even achieving breakthroughs I never thought possible. Heather’s teaching style is interactive, patient, and uniquely effective—she breaks down complex steps, practices alongside you, and provides constant encouragement. Every lesson is a perfect blend of growth and joy. Heather truly inspires you to believe in yourself and embrace the process.
- Nikki Song
