EVENT QUICK LINKS
Event Schedule | Workshops | Line Dances | Instructors, DJs, and Performers | More Info
The 2026 Emerald City Hoedown will feature over 40 hours of dance workshops, featuring guest instructors from all over North America as well as our regular Rain Country Dance Association instructors and favorites from around the Northwest. We will have three tracks of workshops on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in ballrooms and meeting rooms on two floors of the hotel — Country Couples, Swing, Line Dance, Dance Technique, and more!
And this year, we will have a fourth room featuring panels, films, quiet space, and other sessions which don’t require a full-size dance floor! 1/3 more content to make this the best hoedown ever!
It’s never too late to help out with Friends! We have something for everybody!
Click here for info! Volunteering can be fun with someone you know, just spare an hour or so.
✨ Help us remember what you enjoyed most this year. Use this hashtag #ECH2026 ✨
SCHEDULE IN TABLES
(At this time, these are just showing the general outline of the event schedule. Some details will shift as we get closer to the Hoedown weekend.)
Dance Levels & What to Expect
| Level | What to Expect | Prerequisites |
|---|---|---|
| Beginner | No prior knowledge about the dance style needed. Learn basic steps, dance frame, floor etiquette, and partner safety. | • None — perfect for first-time dancers! |
| Improver | Dancers are comfortable with the basics and begin refining technique, improving frame, and enhancing partner connection. | • Ability to execute basic steps confidently and maintain timing |
| Improver/Intermediate | Dancers gain further confidence with the breadth of fundamental patterns and technique. | • Comfort with a variety of basic steps and techniques |
| Intermediate | Focuses on frame maintenance, hand-to-hand connection, and incorporating turns or step variations beyond the breadth of fundamental patterns and technique. | • Strong understanding of fundamental movements, good frame control, and ability to follow/lead turns |
| Intermediate/Advanced | Designed for dancers with fluid movement and mastery of fundamentals. Teaches sophisticated moves, styling, and adaptability. | • Strong execution of dance techniques, comfort with musicality, and ability to dance complex patterns |
| All Levels | Open to everyone! These classes provide foundational concepts for newer dancers while offering deeper refinement for experienced dancers. Instructors layer instruction to meet everyone’s needs. | • A willingness to learn, explore, and adapt — dancers of all backgrounds can participate |
| THURSDAY | |||||
| Time | 3rd Floor Foyer | 3rd Floor (South Room) |
Lower Level (Courtyard) |
Lobby Bar | Hospitality Suite |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3:30 pm | Registration 3:30–9:00 pm |
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| 4:00 pm | Welcome Social 4:00–6:00 pm |
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| 5:30 pm | Women’s Meet & Greet 5:30–7:00 pm |
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| Trail-In Dance | |||||
| 7:00 pm | Couples Dancing 7:00–9:30 pm DJ: TBD |
Line Dancing 7:00–9:30 pm DJ: TBD |
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| 9:30 pm | Couples Dancing 9:30 pm–12:00 am DJ: TBD |
Line Dancing 9:30 pm–12:00 am DJ: TBD |
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| 11:00 pm | After Hours 11:00 pm–2:00 am |
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| FRIDAY | ||||||
| Time | 2nd Floor Foyer | 2nd Floor (Madison) Country Workshops |
Lower Level (Courtyard) Line Workshops |
3rd Floor (South) Swing & Latin Workshops |
3rd Floor |
Hospitality Suites |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8:00 am | Registration 9:00 am–12:00 pm |
Eye Openers 8:00–10:00 am |
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| 9:00 am | Workshop Instructor: TBD |
Workshop Instructor: TBD |
Workshop Instructor: TBD |
Panel Instructor: TBD |
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| 10:15 am | Workshop Instructor: TBD |
Workshop Instructor: TBD |
Workshop Instructor: TBD |
Panel Instructor: TBD |
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| 11:30 am | Workshop Instructor: TBD |
Workshop Instructor: TBD |
Workshop Instructor: TBD |
Panel Instructor: TBD |
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| 12:30 pm | Lunch Break | BIPoC Social 12:30–1:30 pm |
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| 1:30 pm | Registration 1:00–4:00 pm |
Workshop Instructor: TBD |
Workshop Instructor: TBD |
Workshop Instructor: TBD |
Panel Instructor: TBD |
|
| 2:45 pm | Workshop Instructor: TBD |
Workshop Instructor: TBD |
Workshop Instructor: TBD |
Panel Instructor: TBD |
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| 4:00 pm | Workshop Instructor: TBD |
Workshop Instructor: TBD |
Workshop Instructor: TBD |
Panel Instructor: TBD |
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| 5:15 pm | Dinner Break — Performance rehearsals in Madison | Wizard’s Reception (VIP Social) 5:15–6:45 pm |
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| “Welcome to Oz” Dances | ||||||
| 7:00 pm | Registration 7:00–10:00 pm |
West Coast Swing Explosion! DJ: TBD |
(room closed) | Line Dance Review DJ: TBD |
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| 8:00 pm | Exhibitions and Announcements DJ: TBD 8:00 pm–8:30 pm |
(room closed) | (room closed) | |||
| 8:30 pm | Couples DJ: TBD |
West Coast Swing DJ: TBD |
Line Dancing DJ: TBD |
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| 10:00 pm | ||||||
| 10:30 pm | Couples DJ: TBD |
West Coast Swing DJ: TBD |
Line Dancing DJ: TBD |
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| 12:00 am | After Hours 12:00–3:00 am |
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| 1:00 am | ||||||
| 3:00 am | (room closed) | (room closed) | (room closed) | (room closed) | ||
| SATURDAY | ||||||
| Time | 2nd Floor Foyer | 2nd Floor (Madison) Country Workshops |
Lower Level (Courtyard) Line Workshops |
3rd Floor (South) Swing & Latin Workshops |
3rd Floor |
Hospitality Suites |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8:00 am | Registration 9:00 am–12:00 pm |
Eye Openers 8:00–10:00 am |
||||
| 9:00 am | Workshop Instructor: TBD |
Workshop Instructor: TBD |
Workshop Instructor: TBD |
Panel Instructor: TBD |
||
| 10:15 am | Workshop Instructor: TBD |
Workshop Instructor: TBD |
Workshop Instructor: TBD |
Panel Instructor: TBD |
||
| 11:30 am | Workshop Instructor: TBD |
Workshop Instructor: TBD |
Workshop Instructor: TBD |
Panel Instructor: TBD |
||
| 12:30 pm | Lunch Break | Men’s & Women’s Socials 12:30–1:30 pm |
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| 1:30 pm | Registration 1:00–4:00 pm |
Workshop Instructor: TBD |
Workshop Instructor: TBD |
Workshop Instructor: TBD |
Panel Instructor: TBD |
|
| 2:45 pm | Workshop Instructor: TBD |
Workshop Instructor: TBD |
Workshop Instructor: TBD |
Panel Instructor: TBD |
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| 4:00 pm | Workshop Instructor: TBD |
Workshop Instructor: TBD |
Workshop Instructor: TBD |
Panel Instructor: TBD |
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| 5:15 pm | Dinner Break — Performance rehearsals in Madison | Trans/NB Social 5:15–6:45 pm |
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| Emerald City Hoedown Ball | ||||||
| 7:00 pm | Registration 7:00–10:00 pm |
West Coast Swing Explosion! DJ: TBD |
(room closed) | Line Dance Review DJ: TBD |
||
| 8:00 pm | Exhibitions and Announcements DJ: TBD 8:00 pm–8:30 pm |
(room closed) | (room closed) | |||
| 8:30 pm | Couples DJ: TBD |
West Coast Swing DJ: TBD |
Line Dancing DJ: TBD |
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| 10:00 pm | ||||||
| 10:30 pm | Couples DJ: TBD |
West Coast Swing DJ: TBD |
Line Dancing DJ: TBD |
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| 12:00 am | After Hours 12:00–3:00 am |
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| 1:00 am | ||||||
| 3:00 am | (room closed) | (room closed) | (room closed) | (room closed) | ||
| SUNDAY | ||||||
| Time | 2nd Floor Foyer | 2nd Floor (Madison) Country Workshops |
Lower Level (Courtyard) Line Workshops |
3rd Floor (South) Swing & Latin Workshops |
3rd Floor |
Hospitality Suites |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8:00 am | Eye Openers 8:00–10:00 am |
|||||
| 10:45 am | Registration 10:45 am–5:00 pm |
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| 11:00 am | Workshop Instructor: TBD |
Workshop Instructor: TBD |
Workshop Instructor: TBD |
Panel Instructor: TBD |
||
| 12:15 pm | Workshop Instructor: TBD |
Workshop Instructor: TBD |
Workshop Instructor: TBD |
Panel Instructor: TBD |
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| 2:30 pm | Workshop Instructor: TBD |
Workshop Instructor: TBD |
Workshop Instructor: TBD |
Panel Instructor: TBD |
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| “Click Your Heels” Dances | ||||||
| 2:45 pm | Couples DJ: TBD |
West Coast Swing DJ: TBD |
Line Dancing DJ: TBD |
(room closed) | ||
| 5:00 pm | Floor Teardown & Load Out | |||||