The Average Nomad was once again on hand to shoot video at the 2026 South Bay Dance Fling — and this event made UCWDC history, becoming the first domestic U.S. regional event to be live-streamed, with viewers tuning in from as far away as Belgium, Spain, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Argentina, Canada, and Germany; more than 47 hours of live coverage. The growth in entries tells its own story too — Country-entry numbers were up 31% over last year and have doubled since three years ago, while Swing entries climbed another 11% on top of last year’s already impressive 45% jump.
The event’s traditional Winchester Jack and Jill Mystery Dance was, as always, the most hilarious session of the weekend. The Masters divisions didn’t disappoint either, with magnificent performances from Ronnie Debenedetta & Bernadette Carmichael, Eric Nava & Rachel Mercedes, and Anthony Moeller & Victoria Tatum.
The attention to detail from event directors Maryann Harvey and Stuart Palmer was superb — they made sure everyone felt welcome from start to finish. The Saturday night ice cream social added a sweet, relaxed touch to the weekend, and from a staff perspective, the level of care, respect, and appreciation shown was beyond any other event. The event took care of dietary needs throughout and checked in often with the DJ booth, emcees, and judges’ tables to make sure everyone’s needs were met. Full event details are always available on the South Bay Dance Fling website.
For all of this, The Average Nomad is proud to give the 2026 South Bay Dance Fling a 5-star review. Watch highlights from the weekend on The Average Nomad’s YouTube channel.
This is such a fun event! Definitely on the schedule for next year!