We offer two different tracks in Lindy Hop, Shag, Balboa and Solo Authentic Jazz that vary in topics, focus and level of experience. Please be honest with yourself when choosing a track as this could potentially hinder the learning experience for yourself and others in the classes. Despite the designated levels, the teachers will adjust their material to suit the group's abilities. The choice of track depends on your dance experience, modesty, ambition, and honest self-evaluation. Keep in mind that other workshop participants are having their own different or similar experiences and that everybody is responsible for creating a comfortable environment in the classes. Therefore, opting for the most challenging track might not always be the best decision. We also offer a bunch of Special Classes with phenomenal instructors from Stuttgart and Munich AND additional classes with the amazing Smile Trio from Mozambique.
Important: All our classes will start and end on time, so please make sure to arrive 15 min ahead in order to ensure being ready for dancing. You can combine different tracks and/or Special Classes but make sure to only book classes that don’t run parallel! Study our timetable and put your personal SwingKultur Festival experience together!
Lindy Hop
The Lindy Hop tracks will be taught by Marion & Sylvain!
Lindy Hop Track Intermediate
You’ve been dancing regularly at local socials and classes for quite some time and are keen to bring your dancing to a more individual, playful and confident level – rise and shine! You can easily lead/follow swing outs, charleston and switch between 6 and 8 count without overthinking everything. In this track the teachers will both work on the execution of fairly basic material, but also provide some fun, slightly challenging material regarding musicality and rhythms. This track is targeted at an Intermediate level. Classes take place Saturday and Sunday.
Lindy Hop Track Advanced
You’ll enjoy your time in this level if you’re 100 % confident social dancing with strangers to any tempo and have gathered lots and lots of social dance experience over the past years. You’re confident, technically experienced and pretty fluent in rhythmical variations that you can spontaneously weave into your dance. The material in this track will be challenging from all aspects: rhythmically, technically and tempo wise. This track is targeted at Intermediate-Advanced to Advanced dancers. Classes take place Saturday and Sunday.
Lindy Hop Special Class with Egle & Arnas
This class is an one-hour extra treat for all of you who can’t get enough and would like to add some Lindy fun with Egle & Arnas to their Sunday schedule. The level will be floating from intermediate and up and the class material will be juicy and fun!
Collegiate Shag
The Shag tracks will be taught by Egle & Arnas!
Collegiate Shag Track Intermediate
This track is for you, if you’ve been dancing Shag frequently for more than a year and have already participated in other workshops. You can dance the shag basics easily, feel comfortable dancing them to higher tempi and are familiar with some more complex variations. Take this track if you want to challenge yourself but prefer a slower pace of learning. This track is targeted at an Intermediate level. Classes take place Saturday and Sunday.
Collegiate Shag Track Advanced
This track will be challenging but not overwhelming for you, if you’ve been dancing Shag frequently for at least a few years already and you have participated in quite some international workshops. You dance the shag basics in your sleep as well as complex combos, feel comfortable dancing them to fast tempi. Adapting to the music and your partner is natural to you. This track is targeted at Intermediate-Advanced to Advanced dancers. Classes take place Saturday and Sunday.
Balboa
The Balboa tracks will be taught by Mette & Andreas!
Balboa Track Intermediate
You’ve been dancing Balboa regularly for quite some time and feel comfortable social dancing at a variety of tempos. You can smoothly combine fundamental and more complex footwork variations, adapting them to different partners and musical feels. In this track, you’ll refine your technique, improve flow and connection, and explore fun variations to enhance your dance. This track is targeted at an Intermediate level. Classes take place Saturday and Sunday.
Balboa Track Advanced
You’re a confident and experienced Balboa dancer who feels at home on the social dance floor, even at faster tempos. Basics are second nature to you, and you can seamlessly integrate variations with control and ease. In this track, you’ll challenge yourself with advanced rhythmical ideas, dynamic movement, and style refinement at high speeds. This track is targeted at Intermediate-Advanced to Advanced dancers. Classes take place Saturday and Sunday.
Balboa Special Class with Mette & Andreas
This class is an one-hour extra treat for all of you who can’t get enough and would like to add some more Balboa fun with Mette & Andreas into their Sunday schedule. The level will be floating from intermediate and up and the class material will be juicy and fun!
Solo Jazz
We offer two different tracks (targeted at a more beginner-intermediate/intermediate and an intermediate-advanced level) that vary in topics, focus, level of experience and pace of learning. Both Solo Tracks consist of two parts - Solo Jazz in Mozambican perspective taught by The Smile Trio on Saturday and Authentic Solo Jazz taught by Marion/Sylvain on Sunday!
On Saturday both Solo Tracks will get to learn the “Ngalanga Dance”, a traditional dance of the Chopi and Tsonga people in Mozambique. It is a vibrant and rhythmic dance performed during celebrations, especially at weddings and social gatherings.The dance is accompanied by traditional percussion instruments like drums and xylophones (timbila). It’s a communal dance, with men and women taking part together, representing joy, unity, and the celebration of life.
Solo Jazz Track Intermediate
This level is targeted at dancers that are rather new to the solo game and consider themselves beginner-intermediate/intermediate. You can move freely and improvise within the basic rhythms of swing music (Bounce, Single Time, On the Beat, Syncopations). You know the Shim-Sham, and are comfortable dancing the basic authentic jazz steps like Tackie Annie, Shorty-George, Fall-off-the-Log at a social. Maybe you’re even beginning to explore improvisation. Classes take place Saturday and Sunday.
Solo Jazz Track Advanced
This level is for experienced solo dancers who consider themselves solidly intermediate to advanced. You are confident in improvisation and can express yourself freely within the full range of swing rhythms, including intricate syncopations and complex variations. You are familiar with routines like the Shim-Sham, Tranky-Doo, and Big Apple and know most of the authentic jazz vocabulary. You pick up new choreographies quickly and enjoy refining your musicality, rhythm, and style. Classes take place Saturday and Sunday.
Special Classes
St. Louis Shag
Listen up, Shagsters! This is our special treat for each and everyone of you who’s into Collegiate Shag already (beg-intermediate and up) and wants to try this funny looking Saint Louis version everyone’s so crazy about lately. Tanja (Munich) and Franky Doo (Stuttgart) will teach you some energetic moves to step up your Shag game.
Soft Shoe Tap
Not tired yet? Perfect - let’s create some rhythms with our feet. This is an open level class - take in as much as you can. Janine Grellscheid (Stuttgart) studied theatre dance in Amsterdam and has been teaching various dance styles over the past decade.
The Smile Trio Classes
We will offer additional classes with the amazing Smile Trio from Mozambique. You can find more info about the group on their Trio’s website. For info about classes by The Smile Trio that are part of the Solo Tracks, please look in the Solo Jazz section!
Wadjaba - Initiation rites
Wadjaba Dance, It is a dance originally from the province of Cabo Delgado, in northern Mozambique. It talks about the Likumbi ceremony linked to female and male initiation rites, a very frequent practice in the traditions of the Makonde people. In Wajaba dance, we sing, dance and learn about the meaning of several dance steps based on the way of living of Makonde people.
Songs of Resistance - singing class
MAYEZANI is a song of resistance that has been a powerful tool for social movements, uprisings, and political struggles throughout history in southern Africa, from Zulu and Xhangane people. It inspires, unifies, and gives voice to people fighting against oppression, injustice, and tyranny.
Sound, Body and Drum - percussion class
"Sound, Body, and Drum" suggests a holistic approach to rhythm, incorporating not just drumming but also body movement and the connection between sound and physical expression.