Welcome to
Barcelona Shag Festival
20th - 22nd September 2024
Lindy LA style 3h class
Intermediate level
You are already a jitterbug dancer! You want to improve your balboa or want to learn lindy LA style from the best teachers!
TEACHERS
BLAKE & FANCY
FANCY & STEVE
BLAKE & GRACE
MUSIC
Hot Swing Sextet
HOT SWING SEXTET invites you to go back in time for a trip in the frenetic atmosphere of jazz clubs of the 30s.
Between Paris and Harlem, between Django Reinhardt and Duke Ellington, through Louis Armstrong, The Hot Swing Sextet organized for you, a trip “made to measure” direction: “Swing”.
Embark with these six young musicians bursting with energy. “Swing”, “swaying” and good humor are on the program of this great crossing of “middle-jazz”
Martin Burguez & His Rhythm Combo present: “Stompin’ the Beat,” a repertoire of Swing music specially dedicated to dancers, influenced by icons like Count Basie, Cab Calloway, Fats Waller, Johnny Hodges, among others.
Their rhythm ensemble, consisting of talented musicians, captures the essence and energy of classic Swing, creating an ideal atmosphere for dancers and music enthusiasts. From lively rhythms to smooth melodies, their repertoire is carefully selected to inspire dancers to excel on the dance floor.
Mixing respect for tradition with a spark of innovation, Martin Burguez and his combo are the perfect soundtrack for an unforgettable night of dancing.
An explosion of Swing, capturing the essence of the fiery nights at the Savoy Ballroom. The group is led by the eloquent guitarist and singer.
We will offer 3h of Balboa during the weekend. You can add those hours to your collegiate shag track or just add it to your party pass in case you do not want to do many hours of class.
Balboa – Intermediate – Adv dancers.
STRICTLY
This division is for Collegiate Shag.
Every dancer is gonna dance with their own partner.
For prelims, dancers have to dance all together in groups depending on how many couples we will have.
Finals: are going to start with a short warm up song, then 2 couples each time for 16 eights spotlights.
There will be several rounds.
Prizes: 1st-5th place medals
Cash prizes 300€ in total, broken down 1st-3rd place + Prizes for Swing Festivals
Price: 15€ per person
JITTERBUG
This division is for any style of swing.
For prelims, dancers have to dance all together in groups depending on how many couples we will have.
Finals: are going to start with a short warm up song, then ONE couple each time for 16 eights spotlights.
Prizes: 1st-5th place medals
Cash prizes 300€ in total, broken down 1st-3rd place + Prizes for Swing Festivals
Price: 15€ per person
GOSIA
When not fine tuning plans to take over the world, Gosia can be found on the dance floors all over Europe ( …and abroad ) , realising her new projects and creating dance adventures. Gosia found Swing dancing whilst looking for a way to express her love of music and vintage style.
Starting with Tap and Authentic Jazz, she quickly came to discover Lindy Hop, Balboa, St Louis and Collegiate Shag. From these days she has continuously trained, seeking inspiration by traveling around the world.
When teaching Gosia focuses on connection, a strong foundation from which the character of each partner can find expression in individual style.
Marcus Koch and Bärbl Kaufer are from Munich (Germany) and are now dancing together since 1991. They both started with ballroom dancing in 1984 with Boogie Woogie and Swing. They have a lot of experience in competing and teaching all around the World.
They studied and worked a lot with the “old” swing masters like Frankie Manning, Norma Miller (Hellzapoppin’), Gil Bradey (Don’t Knock The Rock), Jean Veloz (Swing Fever, Groovie Movie) or Ray Hirsch (Blondie Meets The Boss). They were pioneers at a time when Swing was hardly known anymore. In all those years they unrestless have been passing on their enthusiasm and their knowledge. They have build up those dances in Germany, but also around the globe, traveling to teach and perform.
Their hard work was rewarded with many decorations and competition titles.
This division is for Collegiate Shag (Advanced dancers).
Every dancer is gonna dance with random partner.
Same as all-in but for advanced dancers.
For prelims, dancers rotate partners randomly drawn in two heats to four 1 minute songs.
Finals will consist of 3-5 rotations of one heat of music of varying tempos and lengths, including a 16-eights battle style dance, where each couple gets one 8 eight section, you will be judged as individuals, not as couples.
There will be several rounds.
Prices: 1st-5th place medals
Cash prizes 300€ in total, broken down 1st-3rd place + Prizes for Swing Festivals
Price: 15€ per person
Additional information
Version
Waiting List – Couple, Waiting List – Follower, Waiting List – Leader, Couple, Follower, Leader
For prelims, dancers rotate partners randomly drawn in two heats to four 1 minute songs.
Finals will consist of 3-5 rotations of one heat of music of varying tempos and lengths, including a 16-eights battle style dance, where each couple gets one 8 eight section, you will be judged as individuals, not as couples.
There will be several rounds.
Prices: 1st-5th place medals
Cash prizes 300€ in total, broken down 1st-3rd place + Prizes for Swing Festivals
Price: 15€ per person
Additional information
Version
Waiting List – Couple, Waiting List – Follower, Waiting List – Leader, Couple, Follower, Leader
For prelims, dancers rotate partners randomly drawn in two heats to four 1 minute songs.
Finals will consist of 3-5 rotations of one heat of music of varying tempos and lengths, including a 16-eights battle style dance, where each couple gets one 8 eight section, you will be judged as individuals, not as couples.
There will be several rounds.
Prizes: 1st-5th place medals
Cash prizes 300€ in total, broken down 1st-3rd place + Prizes for Swing Festivals
Price: 15€ per person
M&M Advanced
This division is for Collegiate Shag (Advanced dancers).
Every dancer is gonna dance with random partner.
Same as all-in but for advanced dancers.
For prelims, dancers rotate partners randomly drawn in two heats to four 1 minute songs.
Finals will consist of 3-5 rotations of one heat of music of varying tempos and lengths, including a 16-eights battle style dance, where each couple gets one 8 eight section, you will be judged as individuals, not as couples.
There will be several rounds.
Prices: 1st-5th place medals
Cash prizes 300€ in total, broken down 1st-3rd place + Prizes for Swing Festivals
Price: 15€ per person
DJ LORD ARNAS
A traveling swing dance instructor and jazz enthusiast, driven by the pure joy and power of swing, widely known as DJ Rhythm Lord or just One O’Clock Jump DJ.
Arnas is selecting tunes as if he were dancing non-stop on the dance floor.
Many big name events like Herräng Dance Camp, Rock That Swing Festival, Balkan Lindy Hop Championships cover his reputation as a great competition, social dance, party party DJ and DJ-coordinator with professional work ethics and great taste in dance music.
You are already a jitterbug dancer! You want to improve your balboa or want to learn lindy LA style from the best teachers!
Additional information
Role
Couple, Follower, Leader
SHOWCASE
30€ per couple
Show us what you can do! Couples or Double couples.
If there are more dancers, go to the team division.
Songs to be sent the latest on September 4th at shagbcn@gmail.com
Prizes: 150€ for the winners!
BLAKE & FANCY
As a naive Southern California college student, Blake discovered swing dancing with a whimsical New Year’s resolution to try learning the dancing he saw in Swing Kids (1993). Little did he know, SoCal was one of the world’s largest scenes, with a rich history and dozens of the world’s best dancers and instructors. Immediately hooked, he developed a relentless obsession for Lindy, Balboa, and CollegiateShag.
He’s since gone on to win in a variety of international competitions and has taught around the world in places like Europe, Korea, Japan, Australia, and the US. In his free time, Blake loves to study vintage dance clips. He has a deep reverence for the original dancers and loves to teach classes that focus on particular styles and techniques they used.
As an instructor he also focuses on imparting his values of partner connection, tasteful musicality, and developing beautiful basics. While he loves practice, competition, and performance, his favorite thing about dancing is just having a simple, deeply-connected social dance with a like-minded partner.
ARNAS & EGLE
Eglė Nemickaitė is a swing dancer from Vilnius, Lithuania where she is dancing, performing, teaching and inspiring the community at What a Jazz dance studio everyday. Dance followed Eglė through all her life, but she found the real passion for Lindy Hop and later on for Collegiate Shag too. Dance has always felt like a big liberation for Eglė. Liberation from routines, thoughts, work, limits. Dancing makes her feel true to herself, music and partner. It gives her the power of total freedom and also a peace to the mind, body and heart. Her rich teaching experience is being increasingly appreciated at the international workshops as well. She shares her enormous passion towards a dance with great joy and commitment.
Arnas Razgūnas is a devoted swing dancer and teacher. True social dancer and explorer who often gets lost to surprise himself and discover things he didn’t think he could do. Acknowledged jazz enthusiast inspired mostly by African American vernacular jazz art forms and energetic effortless swinging music Arnas is actively seeking for deep understanding of what’s swing in music and dance. Rich experience in teaching weekly local classes grants quality and fun with clear explanation of his material by expressing music and yourself in it. Arnas is a co-founder of What a Jazz Dance Studio and co-organizer of Balboa & Shag festival in Vilnius, Lithuania – Swing Paradise.
As a naive Southern California college student, Blake discovered swing dancing with a whimsical New Year’s resolution to try learning the dancing he saw in Swing Kids (1993). Little did he know, SoCal was one of the world’s largest scenes, with a rich history and dozens of the world’s best dancers and instructors. Immediately hooked, he developed a relentless obsession for Lindy, Balboa, and CollegiateShag.
He’s since gone on to win in a variety of international competitions and has taught around the world in places like Europe, Korea, Japan, Australia, and the US. In his free time, Blake loves to study vintage dance clips. He has a deep reverence for the original dancers and loves to teach classes that focus on particular styles and techniques they used.
As an instructor he also focuses on imparting his values of partner connection, tasteful musicality, and developing beautiful basics. While he loves practice, competition, and performance, his favorite thing about dancing is just having a simple, deeply-connected social dance with a like-minded partner.
FANCY & STEVE
Fancy Dougherty
Hailing from Los Angeles, California, Fancy (a birth name) fell in love with Lindy and Shag in 2008, with Balboa trailing not far behind. She’s been hooked ever since, constantly endeavoring to improve her technique on a never-ending quest for connection, improvisational freedom in social dancing and the true jitterbug spirit. She has performed, competed and taught all over the world, was nominated for the California Swing Dance Hall of Fame in 2014 and is a five-time winner of the National Jitterbug Championships in the shag division. She loves to dance with new people and beginners, so be sure to ask her to dance!
Stephen Sayer
Steve Sayer is an award-winning swing dancer, instructor, and choreographer based in Los Angeles, California.
Originally from Dayton, Ohio, Steve began dancing in 1998 at the age of 16. Falling in love with Lindy Hop and other dances of the swing era, he traveled all across the U.S. to dance and to learn the different styles of swing dancing.
Steve is a 6-time Collegiate Shag champion and 4-time Lindy Hop champion at the National Jitterbug Championships, where he has also choreographed and coached multiple teams to 1st place victories. He is a 2-time inductee in the California Swing Dance Hall of Fame and has also been inducted into the Camp Hollywood Hall of Fame.
Steve has traveled the world teaching and performing at dance festivals, with symphony orchestras, and even with Aretha Franklin! He has been featured in movies such as Babylon and Gangster Squad, in TV shows such as A League of Their Own and Dancing with the Stars, and in music videos for Adele and LeAnn Rimes.
Since 2006, Steve has taught weekly classes at Madilyn Clark Studios in North Hollywood.
HEIKO & LARISSA
Larissa and Heiko have been dancing and teaching together for more than a decade.
They love to spread the joy of swing dancing in their local dance school Basel Jitterbugs and all around Europe. Both dance various swing dance styles and mix them based on the tempo and energy of the music. We would have loved to ask them to teach not only Collegiate Shag, but since they need to sleep and we can’t multiply them, we had to set some priorities.
In class, Larissa and Heiko share their immense passion for swing dancing to help you grow as a swing dancer and develop your own voice on the dance floor. You might have seen them in the teachers’ line up of many festivals like Rock that Swing, the Barcelona Shag Festival or Swing Paradise. They are also the hosts of their own Festival Jitterbugs Delight in Basel.
Cherry and Filip met in 2013 on a Lindy Hop course in SWINGOUT.PL dance studio. They started to dance Collegiate Shag in 2014 among a bunch of enthusiasts who brought it to Warsaw, and partnered up while performing with the Warsaw Shag Team.
Cherry, do You want to be the best in the world one day?
Yes, why not…
Me too, so let’s do it!
With this frivolous conversation they started to work together and train regularly. After 3 moths they won the Strictly Shag competition during Warsaw Collegiate Shag Festival and after 6 months they became instructors in SWINGOUT.PL.
Their dance is full of energy. Cherry dances with a wild Latin temperament, elegance and open head, playing with the rhythm and shaking things out. She loved to dance since she remembers. At the age of 6 she started with ballet and contemporary, then switched to ballroom and lyrical jazz for a while. Filip is a musician for many years, playing on the guitar, trombone and mandoline. He’s one of the founders of The Cajun Spices – a Polish gipsy jazz band. His passion reflects the way he dances and makes it a fine form of expression. They are full of enthusiasm, looking for new ideas and challenges. The first class they gave together was held in a Zoo for a group of children 🙂
PATRICK O’BRIEN
Patrick is at the forefront of Europe’s vintage dance scene, teaching and promoting dancing around Europe.
Dancing since 2011, he is mostly inspired by the original dancers and the old-school scene in LA from the 90s. He is known for his smooth, elegant, but fast style.
Patrick will be guiding you through your nights to celebrate the annual Shag gathering in Barcelona!
When he’s not MCing, you can find Patrick dancing, singing or DJing in Blues, Jazz, R&B or Rockabilly clubs.
ENDURANCE 2024
RULES
Couples will be dancing a song that will start slow and will end very quick.
Judges will tap out in case of losing the rhythm, or dancing lazy! Go give it all you got!
Last couple standing wins!
You do not have to sign up. We expect everybody to join this competition!
It will be held on Friday.
Winners win Full Pass of a European Swing Festival.
TEAM
TEAM Contest for FREE!
This is not a competition.
We want as many performances possible! Minimum of 2 couples to perform a routine to their own music, song length to be between 3 and 4 1/2 minutes.
For ease of performance, please send your information and name of the team to Shagbcn@gmail.com.
Song should be sent up until September 4th.
Please, gather all your friends and show us what you can do! Songs to be sent before September 4th to shagbcn@gmail.com
BANANA LEVEL
You have taken some collegiate shag classes.
You know the basics and some movements.
You want to get more inspiration to start feeling comfortable dancing shag.
So far. Less than 1 year approximately.
Out of stock
The Shag & Vermouth Quiz ticket – Pre-booking – 2023
Were you wondering if this year you have an opportunity to experience Catalonian culture activities? Your prays and wishes have been answered – get ready for a Shag & Vermouth Quiz!
Last year was fun, yes? But this year will be even more entertaining – we made an interesting mixture of question about history of Shag, dancers and music as well as about vermouth history and definitely about Catalan culture.
OF COURSE, there will be some cool prizes
P.s: there will be some tapas with vermouth (bread + olives and something else)
Cost of 20€ in total – 5€ prebooking via website and then bring 15€ at the door that day.
16:30-18:00 – Friday October 13th, Aliança Poblenou. POBLENOU Area.
Who is in for this adventure?
Cost of 20€ – Pre.booking of 5€ via website / 15€ at the door
What does include:
Tasting of several vermouths paired with olives and variety of snacks.
Introduction to the world of vermouths
BSF does not make any profit from this activity.
We organize this activity to share our local culture with all of the participants, and also start the festival in an extra good mood. Have fun!!
Catalunya has a longstanding love affair with vermouth. Come try a short vermouth tasting and sip your way through some very special vermouths from Catalonia and other parts of Spain. You’ll learn how to drink vermouth like a local and leave understanding why this drink has captured the hearts of the Catalans and visitors alike.
STRICTLY ALL IN
This division is for Collegiate Shag.
Every dancer is gonna dance with their own partner.
For prelims, dancers have to dance all together in groups depending on how many couples we will have.
Finals are going to start with a short warm up song, then 2 couples out at a time for 16 eigth counts.
There will be several rounds.
Prizes: 1st-5th place medals – cash prizes 300€ in total, broken down 1st-3rd place.
Price: 15€ per person
JEN & JEREMY
They will be in charge of our balboa track this year.
Jenn Lee (She/Her) is a respected swing dance instructor with an approachable nature and dynamic style that have made her a popular presence at dance events and workshops.
Jenn’s passion for swing dancing is evident in her performances and classes. While acknowledging the deep roots of swing dancing in Black culture, she strives to create a collaborative and supportive learning environment that encourages students of all levels to develop their unique style. With a strong music background, Jenn focuses on integrating rhythmic concepts and musicality into her classes, helping dancers connect with the music and express themselves through dance.
As a professional follow without a dedicated partner, Jenn has developed a versatile dance style that adapts to various partners and teaching collaborations. Her commitment to providing equal attention to leads and follows contributes to an inclusive atmosphere that sets her apart as an instructor.
Jenn has earned numerous accolades, including 1st place titles at prestigious events such as the California Balboa Classic, All Balboa Weekend, Eastern Balboa Championships, Hot Rhythm Holiday, the Snowball, and Lindy Focus. Her film “One Girl and Two Boys” won the top prize at the Jazz Dance Film Festival. Jenn Lee’s experience, passion, and energy provide a valuable and enriching experience for attendees at any dance event.
Jeremy Otth amassed a great amount of knowledge on the historic essence of vintage swing dances and personal stories and interactions with some of the original jitterbuggs and swing dancers. His interest has focused on the Lindy Hop, Balboa, Jazz and Collegiate Shag. Along with his seemingly inexhaustible amount of energy, Jeremy’s natural talent and dedication led him to accumulate championship titles at many acclaimed dance competitions such as the International Lindy Hop Championships, National Jitterbug Championships, American Classic Balboa Championships, California Balboa Classic and the US Open Swing Dance Championships. Jeremy is now able to share that breadth of knowledge and passion for these classic partner dances by entertaining and educating feet from Southern California to around the world.
FANCY & JEREMY
For the second we have this amazing couple teaching together! We are proud and excited!!!!
They will be in charge of our balboa track this year.
JULIE & ZACH
Julie Roman and Zach Lockett-Streiff are always excited to share their love of collegiate shag and talk about things they value in the dance! These values center around the improvisational magic of collegiate shag as a social dance and the importance of creating space for individual voices in every partnership. You can see this on display in their recent win in the Hot Rhythm Holiday Shag Invitational Mix and Match.
Julie is a Phoenix-based artist who runs swing dance teams, youth programs, and performance training opportunities for people interested in vintage jazz dances.
Zach helps lead the Austin shag scene and enjoys spreading the word about the African-American dance values that give swing dancing life.
TEAM
This is not a competition.
We want as many performances possible! Minimum of 2 couples to perform a routine to their own music, song length to be between 3 and 4 1/2 minutes.
For ease of performance, please send your information and name of the team to Shagbcn@gmail.com.
Song should be sent up until September 15th.
Thanks for your cooperation!
FOR FREE
Minn and Moe
GUMBO LEVEL
We offer 3h St Louis Shag Intermediate level as Tasters but not as a full track.
You use st louis shag when you social dance.
You want to learn steps and technique in order to start integrating the dance in your social life more and more and start challenge yourself also for competitions.
REGISTER
If you want to get the last news, new teachers in the line-up, etc. You can follow the festival viaFacebook or Instagram.
Stephen Sayer and Chandrae Roettig are dancers/instructors who specialize in LA/smooth style lindy and collegiate shag.
While they have a love for all things that swing, their primary influences and inspirations come from the Los Angeles Jitterbugs of the 1940’s and 1950’s.
Their partnership began in late 2010 and together Steve and Chanzie have taken First Place titles in several national swing competitions. In 2011 they won 1st place in the Lindy Hop divisions at the National Jitterbug Championships and US Open Swing Dance Championships.
In 2012 they took 1st Place in the Lindy divisions at Camp Jitterbug and again at the US Open. In 2014 they regained their 1st place title at the National Jitterbug Championships and also took their LA Shag team to a 1st place victory in the team division.
In addition to those titles, Steve is also the 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2014 National Collegiate Shag Champion. In 2012 Steve was inducted into the California Swing Dance Hall of Fame. Steve and Chanzie are based out of Los Angeles where they teach weekly in North Hollywood, but you can find them teaching and performing all over the United States, Europe, Canada and Australia.
They are committed to improving and pushing the limits of their own dancing as well as those who take their classes, while keeping their regional style of swing alive.
More info:http://www.Lajitterbug.com
This year it will be first event without them since 2014 but they will be present with an online class on Friday before the party.
KATARZYNA & MICHAL
Michal Oblacinski and Katarzyna Dybowska fell in love with Lindy Hop in 2005, successfully launching the scene in Warsaw in 2009.
From the very beginning they spent most of their spare time travelling around the world first learning and later also teaching the happiest of all dances both locally and internationally.
Since they came across Collegiate Shag in 2014 they are spreading their love for it all around Poland and Europe supporting its global revival everywhere they go. Alongside their students and with great support from Arnas and Egle from Vilnius – they started the Collegiate Shag fever in Poland.
On a day-to-day basis Michał and Kasia teach weekly Lindy Hop and Collegiate Shag classes and run the Warsaw Shag Team dance troupe in their Swingout.pl • Studio Tańca Swingowego.
They are initiators of one of the biggest Collegiate Shag festivals in Europe – the Warsaw Collegiate Shag Festival.
In swing dancing they are looking for a perfect balance of a general dance technique, natural and functional movement, leading and following skills but also some childish craziness, musicality, improvisation, fun and raw energy.
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