We created an exquisite Pick ‘n’ Mix menu of >40 mind-blowing activities over 3 days for all tastes.
Let’s spice up your festival experience! These delicious activities are grouped according to different topics from which you can mix your most refined cocktail.
Check out the full program below.
Activities are kids-friendly and open level, unless specified otherwise.
you can now add extra Pick ‘n’ Mix credits to your Pass at the same price of €15/credit. Go to the Registration page to make it happen.
During the Festival you can also buy more credits – if capacity allows for it – for €20/credit.
We answer a bunch of questions you might have below. If anything is unclear, get in touch!
December 28th, 29th & 30th are jam-packed with activities across 5 different topics. You choose how many and which ones to do during the festival!
Read more about the topics here and discover the full Pick ‘n’ Mix program in detail below. Yes, the FOMO is real…
Upside Down Festival spotlights other arts forms you might not have explored before. Careful! Your boiling creativity might affect your dancing in unexpected ways.
One or two activities per day
Give some tender loving care to your body and soul through introspection and discovery of their hidden potential. These sessions will nourish and energize you. And you’ll feel like your shining self afterwards!
Two activities per day
Let’s dance! A nice selection of jazz-related dance workshops facilitated by a diverse group of inspirers will allow you to expand your dancing skills. Surprise your friends with new moves and insights afterwards!
Multiple activities per day
The Topical Talks are a deep dive into different intersectional topics. We’ll share experiences, good practices, thoughts, and doubts. These talks will benefit any curious dancer and community builder.
One talk per day
Discover the marvellous city of Ghent and its lovely people in a surprising way. Perfect to escape the dancing bubble for a couple of hours before diving right back in!
One activity per day
Browse the activities by clicking on the tabs.
📅 Sun 28 Dec, 14:45 – 16:15 @ Wisper Attic
👯Max. 20 participants
🪙 Counts as 1 Pick ‘n’ Mix credit
A creative zine making* workshop exploring your relationship with swing and jazz.
*Zine making refers to the process of creating by hand or printing at home a publication devoted to a certain topic. Have a peek at Korentema’s Zines here.
📅 Sun 28 Dec 10:30 – 11:30 @ Expeditie Studio
🪙 counts as 1 Pick ‘n’ Mix credit
Join Korantema and Stephen for a Lindy Hop workshop! Together, you will be building ideas around music with basics you are already familiar with.
📅 Sun 28 Dec 11:30 – 12:30 @ Expeditie Studio
🪙 counts as 1 Pick ‘n’ Mix credit
Ever wondered what really makes jazz swing? In this workshop we’ll dive into the rhythmic heartbeat of the music we all love to dance to. You’ll learn how to listen more deeply — to the groove, the phrasing, the layers of rhythm — and how to translate what you hear into your own movement.
Through playful exercises, clapping patterns, and small improvisations, we’ll explore how rhythm can travel from your ears to your body, and back into the music. Discover how to dance inside the music — not just to it.
No instrument needed, just open ears and a curious spirit!
📅 Sun 28 Dec 11:30 – 12:30 @ Wisper Theater
🪙 counts as 1 Pick ‘n’ Mix credit
🤸♂️ Kids from 10+ years old welcome to join; younger kids welcome in the room if supervised by parent(s)
A vibrant workshop exploring the grooves and choreography of New Jack Swing, the late ’80s/early ’90s style blending R&B, hip hop, and funk.
Participants will experience the joyful fusion of rhythm, style, and community that defines this cornerstone of urban dance and music culture.
📅 Sun 28 Dec 12:45 – 13:45 @ Expeditie Studio
🪙 counts as 1 Pick ‘n’ Mix credit
It’s time to spice up (and speed up) your swing dancing! Luckily for you, St. Louis Shag is always ready to help, and Balboa, oh and Collegiate Shag too, of course.
You are familiar with steps, kicks and triple steps in couple dancing. Now let’s explore them in a juicy 1930s St. ShagBoa Swing Smoothie.
📅 Sun 28 Dec 12:45 – 13:45 @ Wisper Theater
🪙 counts as 1 Pick ‘n’ Mix credit
🤸 challenging/advanced
Stepping is a powerful African-American percussive dance. Briana will introduce some fundamental rhythms, body-as-instrument techniques and group coordination. She will as well challenge you with complex sequences, layering, and performance intensity—pushing rhythm, precision, and stamina while exploring the cultural roots of stepping.
📅 Sun 28 Dec 14:00 – 16:00 @ Doxtudio studio 2
🪙 counts as 2 Pick ‘n’ Mix credits
Step into the spotlight with “Mama’s Stew,” the show-stopping solo jazz routine made famous by Mama Lu Parks and her powerhouse Parkettes. This energetic piece captures the charm, precision, and flair of Mama Lu’s unforgettable performances.
Join us as we teach the choreography in its original style, celebrating history through movement. Everyone is welcome to dance and shine.
📅 Sun 28 Dec 14:00 – 15:00 @ Doxtudio studio 2
🪙 counts as 1 Pick ‘n’ Mix credit
We often think that more steps mean better dancing — but what if the magic hides in the quiet moments?
In this workshop we’ll go Upside Down and we’ll explore how pauses, stillness, and simplicity can bring out contrast, depth, and musicality. By doing less, you’ll learn how to say more — and let the groove breathe in the silence.
📅 Sun 28 Dec 15:15 – 16:15 @ Expeditie studio
🪙 counts as 1 Pick ‘n’ Mix credit
In this class, we’ll explore movements, rhythms, and partner interactions inspired by authentic Harvest Moon Ball footage — the legendary dance competitions of the 1930s–40s. We’ll break down key ideas from those clips, and adapt them to our social dancing today.
📅 Sun 28 Dec 12:45 – 13:45 @ Doxtudio studio 3
🪙 counts as 1 Pick ‘n’ Mix credit
Get out of your mind and into your body! Jazzy Workout is an invitation to move continuously to the rhythm of jazz music and related styles with African American roots. The focus is on building endurance, working those muscles and increasing body awareness – all while having fun. This workshop will make you swing, sweat and smile!
Everyone and every body is welcome. Ann-Sofie will offer options to tailor the dancing to your abilities. If you have health concerns, talk to her at the start of the workshop.
📅 Sun 28 Dec 16:30 – 18:00 @ Expeditie Studio
🪙 counts as 1 Pick ‘n’ Mix credit
🤸only for adults
🧳We dance barefoot. Please wear comfortable trousers and a long-sleeved T-shirt that allows you to move freely.
In this workshop, we go beyond the structure, technique, or style of the dance. We allow the body to guide us to express, connect and tune into our bodily sensations and emotions while moving and interacting with others.
Through individual practices, we explore the limits and possibilities of our bodies and gently challenge ourselves to move beyond those boundaries. Through playful partner and group exercises, we’ll enter more complex systems of interaction, where we need to adapt to new spaces while respecting both our own boundaries and those of others.
📅 Sun 28 Dec 14:30 – 16:15 @ Wisper music studio
🪙 Counts as 1 Pick ‘n’ Mix credit
In this session, Stephen Atemie — a British Nigerian dancer from London and a member of CVFC — will guide you through navigating deeper conversations around cultural spaces, such as jazz dancing and what we understand about the relationships to Black American culture and other cultures today. This session is intended for those who have already done some foundational work, or for anyone eager to dive into more nuanced conversations.
We’re grateful to welcome Stephen back — a gifted storyteller and experienced facilitator. The session will be interactive and include group exercises designed to encourage reflection, dialogue, and connection.
📅 Sun 28 Dec, 11:30 – 14:30
🪙 Counts as 1 Pick ‘n’ Mix credit
📍Meeting point to be decided
Description coming soon
Browse the activities by clicking on the tabs.
📅 Mon 29 Dec, 14:00 – 16:00 @ Wisper Theater
🪙 Counts as 2 Pick ‘n’ Mix credits
Fearless improv through clowning: join Andreas for a class full of playfulness, creativity and laughter. Together, we will tap into our intuition and imagination. Our inner fool helps us to discover the mesmerizing individuals we already are: unique, inspiring and authentic.
Imagine being able to express yourself without being afraid to be silly or judged. You are enough. Let’s connect and meet our inner fools!
Open to all levels of experience. No prerequisites required.
FAQs:
Q: I consider myself to be a shy person, should I attend?
A: This class is for you. You will undoubtedly benefit from it.
Q: What if I don’t feel creative?
A: You are invited to leave your inner critic behind and connect with the transrational joy of goofing around.
Q: What is clowning?
A: Come to the class and then let’s have a looooong chat over a coffee…
📅 Mon 29 Dec, 15:15 – 16:15 @ Doxtudio studio 3
👯Max. 20 participants
🪙 Counts as 1 Pick ‘n’ Mix credit
Join Soraya for a discovering moment, in connecting Poetry to different art forms.
Words can tell stories
Rhythms can tell stories
Movement can tell stories
Music can tell stories
As an artist now tell your own story and combine it with poetry. This session is an invitation to create your own interconnection between poetry and different art forms.
Specific clues will be given to explore & combine different types of rhythms and melodies related to jazz music, tap dance , jazz dance and poetry.
📅 Mon 29 Dec 10:30 – 11:30 @ Expeditie studio
🪙 counts as 1 Pick ‘n’ Mix credit
We focus on body movement drills and isolations, and we explore polycentrism & polyrhythm.
📅 Mon 29 Dec 11:30 – 12:30 @ Doxtudio studio 3
👯Max. 20 participants
🪙 counts as 1 Pick ‘n’ Mix credit
Deepen your own Artistic voice through improvisation & a mix of rhythm, movement & musicality of your body.
Specific exercices will be shared to help focusing on the interaction & the connection between rhythm, musicality and movement.
Experience different approaches to widen & explore languages of artistic improvisation, not only as individuals but as a group as well.
This open-level workshop is meant for all jazz Dancers, swing & tap dancers.
📅 Mon 29 Dec 11:30 – 12:30 @ Expeditie studio
🪙 counts as 1 Pick ‘n’ Mix credit
🤸 Some partner dance experience needed, kids are welcome in the room but can’t participate
We explore the question: “Is there more to connection than just to music and to your dance partner?” Using a diverse range of dance techniques, sound based exercises, sensory deprivation (with blindfolds), maybe using different spaces, we develop our understanding of connection in dancing.
📅 Mon 29 Dec 12:45 – 13:45 @ Expeditie Studio
🪙 counts as 1 Pick ‘n’ Mix credit
🤸Open level, minimum requirement: for dancers who are familiar with the most common shapes in 6 and 8 count in both roles.
Through games and challenges, we will explore concepts of presence and togetherness in switch dancing.
How can fluidity enhance our dancing, and give room for individuality and expression?
Let’s turn our switch dancing upside down.
📅 Mon 29 Dec 14:00 – 15:00 @ Doxtudio studio 1
🪙 counts as 1 Pick ‘n’ Mix credit
Description coming soon
📅 Mon 29 Dec 14:00 – 15:00 @ Expeditie studio
🪙 counts as 1 Pick ‘n’ Mix credit
Groove into David Butts’ original choreography set to “Watermelon Man.” This smooth, jazzy routine blends classic swing movement with modern flair, focusing on clean body isolations and smooth musicality. Come and join the rhythm, feel the funk, and let every note move you. All levels welcome.
📅 Mon 29 Dec 15:15 – 16:15 @ Doxtudio studio 1
🪙 counts as 1 Pick ‘n’ Mix credit
Description coming soon
📅 Mon 29 Dec 15:15 – 16:15 @ Expeditie Studio
🪙 counts as 1 Pick ‘n’ Mix credit
From basement parties to bright spotlights, street dance has always been a story of invention. Join us as we break down the cultural glow-up of movement, one legendary step at a time: the Hucklebuck’s pulse, the Madison’s line dance precision, the Hully Gully’s hype, the Twist’s revolution, the Bugalu’s funk and flavor, Chubby Checker’s Fly, the Mashed Potatoes and Uncle Willy, and the James Brown groove that set the stage for the Moonwalk.
This class connects the dots and the dance. Come feel the legacy flow through you.
📅 Mon 29 Dec 12:45 – 13:45 @ Wisper Photography studio
🪙 counts as 1 Pick ‘n’ Mix credit
A self inquiry into inspiration & movement.
📅 Mon 29 Dec 16:30 – 17:30 @ Expeditie Studio
🪙 counts as 1 Pick ‘n’ Mix credit
A gentle, relaxing, yet energizing journey to unwind, let your experiences settle, and your body speak. Through rhythm, voice, and music, Monika invites you to soften into presence and integrate the memories of the past days — one exhale at a time.
📅 Mon 29 Dec 14:30 – 16:15 @ Wisper music studio
🪙 Counts as 1 Pick ‘n’ Mix credit
Description coming soon
📅 Mon 29 Dec, 11:30 – 12:30
🪙 Counts as 1 Pick ‘n’ Mix credit
📍Meeting point to be announced
Ghent Upside Down? Admire our beautiful city in the reflection of the water!
We board a “whispering boat” (the Flemish word for an eco-friendly electric boat) in the heart of the old town and criss-cross the city by river.
Sit back, take in the view and learn more about the Ghentian past and present.
Browse the activities by clicking on the tabs.
📅 Tue 30 Dec, 14:45 – 16:15 @ Wisper Attic
👯Max. 20 participants
🪙 Counts as 1 Pick ‘n’ Mix credit
Moving Memories in Mixed Media
What does movement look like on paper? How does Jazz Music translate to cardboard? In this art class we draw inspiration from the rhythm and energy of dancers.
You‘ll get the opportunity to design a personal postcard or poster using the expressive and playful power of shapes, colours and letters. This class offers space for exploration and is open to people of all ages.
Create a personal memory and take away your piece of art or create something to send in someone’s envelope.
📅 Tue 30 Dec 10:30 – 11:30 @ Expeditie Studio
🪙 counts as 1 Pick ‘n’ Mix credit
In the 70’s, a legendary show started airing on American TV and became a pillar of african-american culture. Soul Train, directed and hosted by Don Cornelius, highlighted many aspects of what the community had to show, but the dance is the one element that defined its true impact.
Being a Soul Train Dancer wasn’t just about shaking your thanf to the music, it was about coming up with routines, signature movements and innovative creative ways to catch the eye.
In this class we’ll dive into some of the party grooves, dance styles and gimmicks that became worldwide known thanks to this show.
📅 Tue 30 Dec 11:30 – 12:30 @ Doxtudio studio 3
🪙 counts as 1 Pick ‘n’ Mix credit
Experience a class of Tap Jazz Fusion, blending the pulse, techniques, and rhythm of Tap with the flair of Solo Jazz. This class explores the shared roots of both styles while working on timing, musical awareness, and rhythmic confidence.
📅 Tue 30 Dec 11:30 – 12:30 @ Expeditie Studio
🪙 counts as 1 Pick ‘n’ Mix credit
A playful approach to vocabulary practice!
📅 Tue 30 Dec 12:45 – 13:45 @ Doxtudio studio 3
🪙 counts as 1 Pick ‘n’ Mix credit
Join this Blues workshop with Stephen! It’s all about finding connection to the music and your partner, while both becoming followers of the music.
📅 Tue 30 Dec 12:45 – 13:45 @ Expeditie Studio
🪙 counts as 1 Pick ‘n’ Mix credit
Description coming soon.
📅 Tue 30 Dec 14:00 – 15:00 @ Doxtudio studio 1
🪙 counts as 1 Pick ‘n’ Mix credit
🤸 Kids from 12+ welcome to join
Feel the rhythm, move with joy!
During the Afrodance Workshop, we’ll explore a fusion of different African dance movements through an energizing choreography.
You’ll get to know the names, rhythms, and flow of various African music and dance traditions — and most importantly, we’ll have fun and enjoy the experience together!
📅 Tue 30 Dec 14:00 – 15:00 @ Expeditie Studio
🪙 counts as 1 Pick ‘n’ Mix credit
Confrontation through dance is a practice that brought many dance styles together, and became a celebration of virtuosity, mastery and creativity. But diving in this field is no easy business. What we nowaday call The Battle scene is wide and holds many concepts and approaches.
Battle skills is about understanding this field, knowing how to adapt physically and mentally to it, and making sure you stay connected to yourself while getting down.
📅 Tue 30 Dec 15:15 – 16:15 @ Doxtudio studio 1
🪙 counts as 1 Pick ‘n’ Mix credit
Let’s dance to fast music!
María & Aurélien present some ideas for fast dancing, specific material to explore, and slow ideas for fast tempos without loosing the vibe.
📅 Tue 30 Dec 15:15 – 16:15 @ Expeditie Studio
🪙 counts as 1 Pick ‘n’ Mix credit
🤸challenging/advanced
A fun and fast-paced solo jazz workshop with Korantema.
📅 Tue 30 Dec 10:30 – 12:30 @ Wisper Photography studio
👯Max. 20 participants
🪙 counts as 2 Pick ‘n’ Mix credits
🤸 Only for adults
Are you curious about what movement can do for you? How body-oriented therapy can influence your mental well-being?
Sometimes it can feel difficult or uncomfortable to express ourselves verbally. During the Healing Movements workshop, we explore — through movement, music, and silence — what our body wants to tell us and how it can support us in our daily lives.
We will cultivate a self-caring, compassionate, and creative attitude, learning to witness ourselves and others in a non-judgmental way and without expectations.
You will also learn how to surrender to movement and bodily sensations, allowing them to guide you. Through this process, your body awareness and sense of embodiment will deepen, which can have a positive impact on your self-esteem and overall well-being.
Brenda Anyango is a clinical psychologist and founder of SemaNami, offering talk and movement therapy (Healing Movements). As a Black clinician, she is passionate about the intersection of mental health and social justice, and is committed to breaking the stigma around mental health, especially within the African Diaspora.
📅 Tue 30 Dec 16:30 – 17:30 @ Expeditie studio
🪙 counts as 1 Pick ‘n’ Mix credit
Strengthen and balance your body by working on your posture, stability, and core muscles to support your dancing.
In this session, we’ll start with a slow warm-up, continue with core and stability exercises, and then raise the energy with a cardio moment through dance.
Finally, we’ll slow down the mind and breath during stretching with yoga elements. Recharge your energy and take care of your body during the festival.
📅 Tue 30 Dec 14:00 – 16:00 @ Wisper music studio
🪙 Counts as 1 Pick ‘n’ Mix credit
Mama Lu Parks changed lives. She inspired young dancers to chase big dreams, jump higher, shine brighter, and take up space like they belonged on every stage.
In this talk, David & Deena will share why her story matters so much to them. We’ll explore the joy, drive, and community power behind Mama Lu and her Parkettes through stories, video clips, and the legacy that continues to move our own feet.
Join us for a celebration of a woman who lifted up the next generation and made space for them to sparkle.
📅 Tue 30 Dec, 11:30 – 14:30
🪙 Counts as 1 Pick ‘n’ Mix credit
📍Meeting point to be decided
🧳What to bring: Swimwear, towel(s), flip-flops or comfortable pool shoes, a valid ID (no driving licence)
⚠️ If you join this activity, you need to bring your passport or Id to show at the entrance. No ID = no entrace.
Frederik has been a fixed value to the Ghent Exploration program and behold: he’s back this edition with a beloved activity!
Join Frederik for the most relaxing afternoon of the festival, a visit to Ghent’s swimming paradise and spa. At Lago you will find 3 waterslides, a wave pool, outdoor pool, water & air massages, 3 saunas, an olympic pool and much more.
The full Pick ‘n’ Mix program with details is above. For each activity, it is shown how many credits it costs to participate. Some Pick ‘n’ Mix activities overlap with tracks or the Jazz Cafe. Have a good look so you don’t double book yourself.
You can add Pick ‘n’ Mix credits on top of your Festival Pass, 4-day Pass, Afternoon Pass, Single Ticket or Weekend Ticket. Without a Pass or a Ticket, it is not possible to join these activities. With a Single or Weekend Ticket, you can also join Pick ‘n’ Mix activities on other days (28, 29 or 30 Dec).
You can choose which activities to join at the festival. For most activities, you can walk in without reservation, as long as the venue is not too crowded. Some activities have a limit for the number of participants. For a few activities which we need to know the number of participants in advance, we will ask you to reserve your spot the day before, in an online document.
Important: Be on time. In case the venue is already too crowded or the balance is off in dance workshops, we might ask you to go to another Pick ‘n’ Mix activity.
The credits are charged onto your personalized, digital bracelet. They are not refundable, but you will be able to transfer credits to someone else at the festival. Come both to the registration booth at the Jazz Cafe or party venue.
1 or 2 credits. This is indicated in the description.
We close the doors of the venue 10 minutes after the start of the activity. If you are late, you will not be able to join this activity.