4+

Swing dances

2.000+

Happy Jitterbugs

5.000+

Hours of teaching experience

Larissa 

- CEO - International Dance Teacher - Upcoming Events

When did you discover swing dancing for yourself?

Dancing has always been a part of my life. As soon as music was playing, I danced to it. I discovered swing dancing in 2012 at a Lindy Hop party in Basel. Since then, I've added other swing dances like Collegiate Shag, Solo Jazz and Balboa. I can't imagine my life without swing music and swing dancing. 

Why should everyone learn to swing dance?

Dancing makes you happy. The happy music, the movement and the interaction with other people, all this makes me happy and I am sure others too.  

What is your favorite swing dance? Why?

I like to combine all the swing dances because each dance gives me a different way to express myself, interpret the music and interact with my dance partner.  

Do you have a favorite band? Do you have a favorite song?

It varies over and over again. Sometimes I listen to a song over and over again because I just can't get it out of my head. Otherwise I think bands like Hot Sugar Band, Jonathan Stout and of course Count Basie are great.

What is your strength?

I have a lot of energy that drives me to try new things and tackle new projects. I also like to pass on my knowledge in dance classes, in private lessons, but also to other teachers.

What do you do besides your work as a dance teacher?

Walking in nature, swimming in cold waters, yoga for balance and delicious food or cooking.

Heiko 

- CEO - International Dance Teacher - Upcoming Events

When did you discover swing dancing for yourself?

2012 at a party in Basel. Larissa and I had already danced Boogie Woogie and then saw Lindy Hop and said - we want to do that! Since then we have discovered various other swing dances and we love to share our passion. 

Why should everyone learn to swing dance? 

Swing dancing stands above all for joy of life and for freedom! As in swing and jazz music, there are endless possibilities for individual interpretation and every dance is different, depending on the partner and the own body and feeling of day. Besides there is the sportive and the social aspect. This ensures the release of happiness hormones and keeps us healthy! 

What is your favorite swing dance? Why?

Swing! I love to combine all swing dances and to react flexibly to the music. 

How many times a week do you dance?

Every day - teaching, preparing lessons, training, social dancing or just for fun. 

Do you have a favorite band? Do you have a favorite song? 

Jonathan Stout and his Campus Five

What is your greatest strength?

I like to work a lot when something excites me. I like to learn, improve and share my knowledge. My ability to analyse helps me understand things quickly and explain them simply. I can spend hours on a subject and work on it until I understand the smallest detail. I love routines, structure, Excel, Squarespace and coffee.

What do you do besides your work as a dance teacher?

Year-round swimming in the Rhine (Cold Exposure), yoga, listening to lots of audio books and podcasts, and constantly developing myself. I love to philosophise about life and help others achieve their dreams.

NatALIE

- Dance Teacher - Video Producer

When did you discover swing dancing for yourself?

This was at a Lindy Hop in a Day workshop in early 2018. It was love at first hop!

Why should everyone learn to swing dance?

Because it makes you happy! The exuberant mood, happiness and playfulness of the dance leaves a permanent smile on your face.

What is your favorite swing dance? Why?

All of them!

How many times a week do you dance?

If mentally and at home also counts, every day. Otherwise, at least 3 times a week.

What's most important to you about swing dance parties?

The love of dance connects. You make new friends, travel together to festivals all over the world. I particularly like the openness and tolerance in the swing dance world. You dance with everyone, man with woman, woman with woman, man with man, big with small and so on.

Do you have a favorite band? Do you have a favorite song?

The Grabetown Grapple by The Hot Sugar Band and All the Cats Join In by Benny Goodman.

Aaron

- Dance teacher

When did you discover swing dancing for yourself?

I don't really remember how I got into swing. But I had already tried out various dance styles before. In 2017, I tried Lindy Hop and got stuck in.

Why should everyone learn to swing dance?

Because swing dancing is simply pure joy.

What is your favorite swing dance? Why?

That's hard to say and always depends on the mood and the music. Currently, I mainly dance Lindy Hop, Balboa and Collegiate Shag. However, I always enjoy learning new (swing) dances and also like to study the origins and predecessors of swing dance.

What's most important to you about swing dance parties?

The joy, the happy faces and the high pulse. I also find our open dance community incredibly great: all people are welcome and everyone dances with everyone!

Do you have a favorite band? Do you have a favorite song?

Many swing songs are reinterpreted and covered again and again. I don't have a particular favourite band, but versions of "Bei mir bist du schön" and "Moscow Nights" always draw me to the dance floor.

What is your greatest strength?

I am a very versatile dancer who would love to master all styles.

I try to be able to dance all roles in all dances.

I'm always up for dancing to even faster music.

I'm always up for a joke on and off the dance floor.

I always try to understand a dance in its basic structure and origin.

What do you do besides work as a dance teacher?

I am studying archaeology and already work in this field. I also work as a conductor for a mountain railway.

What is your favourite teaching moment?

When the joy of dancing is palpable and when you can see the exact moment when it "clicked" in the faces.

Megan

- Dance teacher

When did you discover swing dancing for yourself?

Swing music has always inspired me. Good friends of mine already danced Lindy Hop and took me to a party in 2018. I was immediately hooked on this dance style and signed up for a class soon after. 

Why should everyone learn to swing dance?

Dancing makes you happy and swing music makes you even happier=).
What I like most is that it "bounces" and expresses your own personal interpretation. 

What is your favorite swing dance? Why?

From Solo Jazz to Lindy Hop to Collegiate Shag! Best to combine them all together.

Do you have a favorite band? Do you have a favorite song?

I like almost all swing songs! But I especially like "Sing Sing Sing" - Benny Goodman, " Fly me to the moon" - Frank Sinatra, "It don't mean a thing" - Duke Ellington/ Ella Fitzgerald, 

What is your greatest strength?

I can inspire and motivate others to try something new and to grow beyond themselves. 

What do you do besides work as a dance teacher?

Besides dancing, I am a kindergarten teacher, enjoy hiking in nature, baking and teaching yoga.

What is your favourite teaching moment?

I love the warm-up. You start to forget everyday life and worries and let the music guide you. And it makes me happy when I see the smiling faces of the dancing participants. 

Nicole

- Dance teacher

When did you discover swing dancing for yourself?

I guess that was in 2015.

Why should everyone learn to swing dance?

It bounces, it swings, it moves, it laughs and it hearts. Fantastic!

What is your favorite swing dance? Why?

The combination makes it - from Lindy to Charleston to Shag and back!

How many times a week do you dance?

In a normal week two to three times - even better are the abnormal festival weeks: Every day! 

What's most important to you about swing dance parties?

Happy hearts, smiling faces and dancing feet, who are simply carried away by varied, gripping (if possible live) music.

Do you have a favorite band? Do you have a favorite song?

The variety makes it and keeps fit and flexible! Whereby, Reverent Juke as well as "Shake that Thing" still bring me to early hours again to dance and wonder.

Gabriel

- Dance teacher

When did you discover swing dancing for yourself?

I had my first contact with Lindy Hop in the summer of 2014, when a couple of friends persuaded me to take a crash course. That's when it grabbed me and at the next opportunity I enrolled in a class.

Why should everyone learn to swing dance?

Great music, open people, wonderful atmosphere, joy, fun, laughter...I don't even know where to start!

What is your favorite swing dance? Why?

Shag...Lindy...I can't say that at all. That is influenced by the respective dance partner, the music, the rhythm and my mood.

What's most important to you about swing dance parties?

Varied music, a cheerful mood, the joy of dancing.

Do you have a favorite band? Do you have a favorite song?

When I think of all the great songs I've heard since my first dance step, it's hard to choose. But, if I put on my headphones right now, I'd probably have "Last Call" by Gentlemen & Gangsters playing on them.

Delia

- Dance teacher - DJ

When did you discover swing dancing for yourself?

I always liked to listen to swinging music, but I didn't know that people still dance to it today. I read about Lindy Hop for the first time in 2008, but because the photo next to it showed an aerial, I thought it was acrobatics and didn't pursue the matter any further. Thanks to a friend's tip, I took my first crash course at the dance festival in 2012 and was immediately hooked. But I had to wait until 2013 until the next beginners' course started.

Why should everyone learn to swing dance?

It simply makes you happy and also exhilarates your everyday life! For me it is much more than just dancing: It's uncomplicated, you just go and meet your circle of dance friends, get to know great people, after a day at the office the exercise does you good and if you feel like it, the beautiful clothes are carried out. Simply perfect!

What is your favorite swing dance? Why?

Lindy Hop! Because you can dance to very different music and there is room to interpret it together. Or is it Shag? Because it is danced with so much energy. Or Balboa? Because it creates a feeling of carousel and floating.

How many times a week do you dance?

Twice, actually, always. With workshops and parties it can also be 3x, 4x, 5x....

What's most important to you about swing dance parties?

Seeing all the smiling faces, feeling the positive vibes and of course the beautiful dances with playful communication.

Do you have a favorite band? Do you have a favorite song?

The Speakeasies' Swing Band. The list of favourite songs keeps changing and is long by now!

What do you do besides teaching dance?
I work as an assistant director at the Historisches Museum Basel.

What is your favourite moment in class?
The moment towards the end of the lesson: everyone is "warmed up", the new things they have learned start to work and everyone is trying out and dancing with smiling faces.

Leonie

- Dance teacher -

When did you discover swing dancing for yourself?

I have been fascinated by swing dancing for about four years. And fortunately it has come about that I can deal with swing more intensively since one year.

Why should everyone learn to swing dance?

The relaxed way to connect with your body, the other person and the music is a super balance to everyday movements and other forms of movement and above all it is incredibly fun!

What is your favorite swing dance? Why?

I like to dance Lindy Hop a lot, but I hope to expand my skills in Balboa and Shag to be able to mix all dances flexibly.

How many times a week do you dance?

I dance about 5x a week.

What's most important to you about swing dance parties?

At swing parties I enjoy seeing new and familiar faces, dancing to good music, with nice people, and always learning something new.

What is your strength?

I am enthusiastic about dance and movement to music, especially in exchange with a counterpart! And if I can reach others with it, that makes me very happy!

What do you do besides teaching dance?
I study philosophy and art history at the University of Basel.

What is your favorite moment in class?

I'm happy every time a certain relaxation and smile creeps in after a mental knot while dancing.

laurent

- Dance teacher -

When did you discover swing dancing for yourself?

Ca. 2013.

Why should everyone learn to swing dance?

The reasons for this are as varied as the individual styles of the community members: Everyone has their own.

What is your favorite swing dance? Why?

Boogie, because I started with it and the music won't let me go. Shag, because easily accessible and incredibly diverse

How many times a week do you dance?

I incorporate some dance step somewhere every day. Especially reserved for dancing are currently at least 3 evenings during the week, plus occasional parties at weekends.

Do you have a favorite band? Do you have a favorite song?

As much as I like to swing dance, my "everyday music taste" is only danceable to a certain extent. My favorite canned dance songs are currently"Jim Dandy" by LaVern Baker and"Dynamo" by Sid Cranstoun. Otherwise whatever is on, preferably live.

What is your strength?

My interest in the learning success of the dance students*.

What do you do besides work as a dance teacher?

High school chemistry teacher.

What is your favorite moment in class?

When students independently derive new things from what they have learned