Total Beginners Track

An intensive track to move from scratch to catch, for every one who has never danced Lindy Hop before. We’ll get you ready to party, by immersing you in the world of swing dance, music, and its culture. Everything is possible when you go Upside Down!

In the Total Beginner track you will have 9 hours of Lindy Hop classes over 3 days in a small group with great inspirers. They will gently accompany you in your first jazz steps and fire you up with the magic of the African-American culture.

You will learn Lindy Hop according to the ELEF principle: everybody leads, everybody follows. This means you will learn both dance roles. In the class, you will switch roles, as well as dance partners so you will dance with everyone else.

Why ELEF?

  • it is more inclusive and gender-neutral
  • you explore Lindy Hop in its full richness by dancing in both roles
  • you develop a deeper understanding of your dance partner’s experience
  • you can dance and spend time with everyone in the group (it’s a social dance, after all!)

Your inspirers:

  • Rein Robberecht (she/her)
  • Victor Hristoskov (he/him)
  • Korantema (she/her)
  • Stephen Atemie (he/him)

 

De lessen zijn in het Engels omdat het festival heel wat internationale dansers aantrekt. Heb je vragen, mail op voorhand of stel die ter plaatse gerust in het Nederlands: de organisatoren en inspirer Rein spreken Nederlands.

Rein Robberecht

Rein Robberecht (she/her) discovered Lindy hop in Sweden in 2008, only to find that her home city, Ghent had a very lively jazz music scene which sparks dancers to express themselves in a creative way. She got hooked ever since.

Rein has been teaching in her local scene for many years. Since 2022, she has been teaching according to Everybody Leads and Everybody Follows (ELEF) locally and in international workshops.

Switch dancing enriched her own dancing and fun on the dancefloor. She especially appreciates this new realm of dynamics and flow, which she loves to transmit to her students in switch classes for beginner and advanced dancers. In her teaching, she pays attention to communication, equality and community. She aims to integrate the values of this Black American art form in her own dancing, classes and the scene.

victor hristoskov

Victor Hristoskov (he/him) has been immersed in the magical dance universe for almost 14 years. His journey began as a Ballroom dancer, and he has expanded his expertise by working with one of the top Ballroom teachers and taking classes in classical ballet, contemporary, hip-hop, and broadway jazz. As a multi-style dancer, Victor has a wealth of experience performing on big stages for dance and musical performances.

Blues and Lindy Hop have become his new affair. He fell in love with the freedom of the dance and the jazz music which makes you feel, connect and give you the space to express yourself. Victor has been teaching Lindy Hop for 7 years as part of the instructors’ team at Lindy Hop Bulgaria.

Korantema

Korantema (she/her) is a dancer from London. After performing in, and co-leading a chorus line troupe for six years, she has been training with Cookie and Her Black Mambas (@blackmambasjazz) a collective led by Lindy Hop legacy holder, Angela Andrew.

Korantema also works as a community dance artist with young people and elders in London.

When she’s not dancing, Korantema is a curator of Anthropology and a zine maker, usually exploring the cultural experiences of Black women.

stephen atemie

Stephen Atemie (he/him) has been teaching Lindy Hop for many years in the UK and abroad. He is also engaged in charity projects, such as working with local kids & youth in South Africa, and has performed in multiple films.

Stephen is a  board member of Collective Voices For Change, an ngo that advocates for cultural and racial equity within the Lindy Hop and Jazz scene. For CVFC, he organizes talks and webinars, and advocates for cultural appreciation within the Lindy Hop and Jazz Dance communities.

DOK Noord, specifics will be announced later.

Info about the venues here.

You can add this track for €135 to:

✨ the “I go Upside Down” Festival Pass (€265 standard price – sliding scale available)

  • 5 evening parties (December 27th till 31st)
  • 3 afternoons of jazz cafe with live music after your classes (December 28th, 29th and 30th)
  • 3 Daily Shakes (December 28th, 29th and 30th)
  • a pre-party (Dec 26th) & after-party (Jan 1st)
  • Cozy @home afternoon (Dec 31st)

 

✨ the “I go Upside Down” 4-day Pass (€215)

  • 4 evening parties (December 27th till 30rd)
  • 3 afternoons of jazz cafe with live music after your classes (December 28th, 29th and 30th)
  • 3 Daily Shakes (December 28th, 29th and 30th)
  • 1 pre-party (Dec 26th) 

 

✨the “I go Upside Down” Afternoon Pass (€50)

  • 3 afternoons of jazz cafe with live music after your classes (December 28th, 29th and 30th)
  • 3 Daily Shakes (December 28th, 29th and 30th)

 

👉 You can add Pick ‘n’ Mix credits (€15/credit) for activities as you wish.

Check out the full program for details.

 

🤝 Heb je recht op UiTPAS kansentarief in regio Gent, dan bieden we 80% op je festival of afternoon pass, in samenwerking met Stad Gent. Mail ons jouw naam en UiTPAS kaartnummer.

Registration opens August 6th at 8pm CET on this page.

If you have questions, don’t hesitate to contact us.