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
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.
Available across the East Bay, San Francisco, and the Peninsula.
Weekly Classes
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
Tuesdays:
OmniSwing, Oakland
6:30pm- Level 3 West Coast Swing
7:30pm- Level 2 West Coast Swing
8:30pm- Deep Dive w/ Heather
Wednesdays:
Fusion Dance Academy, San Francisco
7pm- Fusion Concepts
8pm- Fusion Concepts
Events & Workshops
West Coast Swing Workshop
March 22nd, 2025
Motion Arts Center, San Mateo CA
Women's Spring Wellness Retreat
May 1st, 2025
San Damiano Retreat Center, Danville CA
Upcoming special workshops, retreats, and weekend events Heather is teaching at.
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
