Well - it's Landy Hop Time again! All of you who know the Landy Hop know what to expect! Everything can happen, from cozy workshop classes and great parties, or holding the old party tent in thunder storms trying not to get completely soaked with water. Anyway, all is fun, and what happens at Landy Hop, stays at Landy Hop!
The Teachers
Elle Brenecki (Australia)
From a young age Elle was already exploring various dance styles from Modern Jazz to Ukrainian Folk Dance. However, when she stumbled upon Lindy Hop in her hometown of Adelaide, Australia, there was no turning back. Committed to fostering individual expression and improvisation in both Lindy Hop and Solo dance, Elle empowers her students to embrace their unique qualities through movement. Her greatest source of inspiration is the conversational nature of jazz and she continuously strives to deepen her connection to and awareness towards the African American roots of the dance and the music.
Joris Focquaert (Belgium)
Joris Focquaert comes from Belgium, and is currently living in Berlin, Germany. While he has a background in physical theater (The Commedia School, Copenhagen, 2007), his road evolved towards dancing and more specifically African-American Jazz dances like the Lindy Hop, and a dance we often refer to as 'Authentic' Jazz, mixed with the Charleston. As a dance instructor, he gives his best, always seeking answers in the roots of Jazz. Learning to play the clarinet and trombone has developed his understanding of Jazz as movement. Founder of Crazy Legs Dance School in Ghent (Belgium), the city where he honed his skills, he looks forward to seeing what’s there for him around the corner, curious for new projects.
The Venue
The entire workshop weekend happens at the wonderful Zachersmühle!
The Zachersmühle, an old mill, is a place where nature and culture come together and where kids and families are always welcome. An open air dance floor in an open tent, children’s playground just next to it, donkeys, goats, bunnies and a small brook on the other side, something to offer for everyone. During breaks between dance classes, you can enjoy a ‘wild herbs hike’ and discover the nature around. The restaurant in the mill offers dining, the dining times are organized to be suitable for families. There will also be a Tipi set up next to the children’s playground where kids can hide in an unlikely case of nasty weather. The harmony with nature will be perfect if you decide to stay overnight in a tent on a meadow a few meters behind the mill. In a place like this it is very enjoyable and relaxing to stay for the whole weekend. Overnighting on the meadow is free of charge and open air shower is included. Restroom in the mill restaurant can be used.
Welcome kids!! Welcome families!!
Accommodation possibilities: Camping on the meadow free of charge with cold water open air shower possible. Rooms from 20 Eur pro person in the near vicinity. For more information contact Geli Holzer, Zachersmühle: Phone: +49 7166 255, zachersmuehle@zachersmuehle.de
Address: Zachersmühle, 73099 Adelberg (40 km away from Stuttgart). You can find information on how to get there and whatnot on the homepage of the Zachermühle: www.zachersmuehle.de
The Party
Live music by The Gramophoniacs!
We are very happy to welcome the Gramophoniacs to this year’s Landy Hop! The young swing band from Saarbrücken has become a well-known name in the Lindy Hop scene throughout the southwest of Germany and beyond. Since 2015, the musicians have been bringing their energetic mix of classic swing, dirty swing, blues and early jazz to dance floors, festivals and ballrooms with enormous joy and unmistakable style. With a great love for the music of the 1920s to 1940s, sharp arrangements, spontaneous humor and an infectious stage presence, the Gramophoniacs know exactly how to keep a dance floor alive all night long. Whether elegant jazz standards, driving rhythm sections or wild shout choruses - every set is full of energy, playfulness and pure swing spirit. And yes, the tweed suits are real. Between the band sets you won’t be able to stop dancing - because DJ Elle will keep all hooves and feet busy.
Just before the party Elle and Joris will host a free party starter for you: “Solo jazz Party” - some fun ideas and exercises to bring solo jazz to the party and get everyone dancing together.
Of course you can register just for the party, if you cannot make it to the workshop classes. You can find all other information regarding times, registration and whatnot further down on this page!
What about classes and all that other stuff?
We put together a bouquet of classes with different topics.
Class 1: Breaks and Phrasing (beginner/intermediate)
In this class, we'll explore breaks and phrasing, learning how to hit accents, pauses, and better adapt to the musical structure to make your dancing more dynamic and playful.
Class 2: Into the music (open level)
Less obvious songs by the great bandleaders. What are they and how do we approach these as dancers? We’ll dive into different atmospheres and take the ride to see how it influences dance and movement.
Class 3: Solo Jazz in Lindy Hop (intermediate/advanced)
Taking classic jazz steps and finding different ways to mix them into our social dancing. Playing with call and response and conversations in the dance.
Class 4: Riffs (open level)
What are riffs? What are they in relation to swing music, how do we recognise them and how can we use them to drive our dance?
Class 5: Into the 32 bar chorus (Open level, not complete beginners)
We will approach one of the most common song structures in swing music; the 32 bar chorus. We will use a basic choreography as foundation & use common ingredients to add our own.
Class 6: Styling and Variations in Lindy Hop (intermediate / advanced)
Inspirations from the OG jazz dancers to explore style and rhythm within classic Lindy Hop steps
Free Party Taster: Solo Jazz Party
Some fun ideas and exercises to bring solo jazz to the party and get everyone dancing together
What is when?
Things to know about the Dinner on Saturday and Breakfast on Sunday
The Zachersmühle offers a dinner buffet saturday evening between the classes and the party and a breakfast sunday morning. You can reserve a "seat" for the dinner and/or the breakfast, when you register for the classes, but you will pay on site at the Zachersmühle during the workshop. So do not wonder if we do not collect the money from you during registration ;-).
When can you register?
The registration starts here on June 11th, 8:00 pm.
How much is it?
Class 1 - 6: 20 € regular / 17 € reduced* per class and person (1,25 h of teaching)
Party with live music: 20 € regular/ 17 € reduced*
Breakfast: Prepared rolls (belegte Brötchen) 4,50 € each and cereals 1,50 € per bowl. Only reservation. You will pay the money on site at the Zachersmühle.
Warm Dinner Buffet: 18 € (Only reservation. You will pay the money on site at the Zachersmühle)
*We are happy to offer you that discount, if you are still going to school or are a student, if you volunteer in social projects or own the Stuttgarter Bonuscard (or a corresponding card). In case you do not apply to any of these, but are in need of financial support to make the workshop happen, please get in touch with us.