ARTISTS
Lindy Hop Teachers
Elice & Nils
Based in Stockholm, Elice and Nils are members of The Hot Shots Swing Dance Company, bringing energy, musicality and a love of swing to the floor. Elice combines her background in elite gymnastics and modern dance with a passion for Lindy Hop and aerials. Nils draws on tap dancing, acrobatic Lindy Hop and his experience as a jazz drummer. Their dancing celebrates personal expression, playful rhythms and the joy of movement.
Lizette & Patrik
Lizette and Patrik are Stockholm-based dancers and teachers who have been members of The Hot Shots Swing Dance Company since 2015. Their main inspirations are the Savoy Ballroom, Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers and the spirit of the swing era. They combine a deep respect for the original dancers with a strong belief in individuality. For them, swing dance is about keeping that spirit alive while letting each dancer’s personality shine.
Louise & Max
Louise and Max are Brussels-based dancers and members of The Old Soulz, united by a love of jazz culture and bebop. Louise brings a historian’s curiosity and a passion for Lindy Hop, solo jazz and the creativity of the original dancers. Max draws inspiration from tap legends, exploring rhythm through spins, slides and splits. Together, they share an approach rooted in jazz history, improvisation and playful self-expression.
Julia & Lonel
Julia and Lionel are Brussels-based professional musicians and dancers whose love of jazz connects music and movement. Both draw inspiration from archival footage and the African American dancers who shaped Lindy Hop. Julia’s teaching centres on musicality, connection and finding your own voice, while Lionel brings a passion for rhythm, swing history and DJing. Through their work with the Jazz Maniacs, they keep exploring the relationship between music and dance.
Astrid & Sander
Astrid and Sander are Brussels-based dancers who explore Lindy Hop through its history, music and freedom of expression. A theatre director and actress, Astrid is fascinated by developing a personal dance language while learning from the original dancers. Sander brings a love of swing-era style, fashion and early bebop. Through their work with The Old Soulz, they draw on archival footage while keeping improvisation, curiosity and discovery at the heart of their dancing.
Irene & Anders
Irene and Anders bring backgrounds in ballet and jazz dance to their passion for Lindy Hop. Based in Athens, Irene is a visual artist and dancer who explores jazz history, rhythm and personal expression through her project, Athens Authentic Jazz Dance. Anders teaches and performs around the world and at Stockholm’s Chicago Swing Dance Studio. With extensive international teaching experience, both share their curiosity about movement and their love of dance with students.
Pınar & Semih
Based in Istanbul, Pınar and Semih combine a love of jazz tradition with a playful, individual style. Pınar draws on gymnastics, ballet and House dance, while Semih brings infectious energy, creativity and a passion for bebop. Inspired by footage from the Harvest Moon Ball and The Spirit Moves, they explore the roots of Lindy Hop. In class and on the social floor, they share their love of rhythm, expression and dancing together.
Solo Jazz Teachers
Josette
Josette Wiggan is an internationally acclaimed dancer, choreographer and educator dedicated to tap, solo jazz and American social dance traditions. Her career includes the national tour of 42nd Street, Cirque du Soleil productions and collaborations with Dorrance Dance. Through her company, Josette Wiggan Presents…, she creates works celebrating rhythm, expression and Black joy. Her teaching draws on a lifelong love of dance and extensive experience on stages around the world.
Alex
Alex brings a background in breaking and street dance to his passion for Lindy Hop and jazz. Inspired by vintage films such as Hellzapoppin’ and The Spirit Moves, he has been exploring these dances since 2013. His teaching focuses on strong foundations, giving dancers the tools to develop their own style. He also trains with The Old Soulz and loves jamming to everything from fast bebop swing and mambo to slow blues.
Extra Class Teachers
Sophie
Sophie, also known as Toffee, is a Brussels-based dancer who discovered Lindy Hop and jazz dances in 2018. She teaches at the Brussels Swing Dance Club and dances with groups including the Jazz Maniacs and The Old Soulz. Inspired by archival footage, she places rhythm, style and personal expression at the heart of her dancing. Her ongoing exploration of jazz culture and its African American roots shapes the way she learns, dances and shares her passion.
Hammer & River
Hammer and River bring a love of jazz improvisation, storytelling and personal expression to their dancing. A teacher and filmmaker based in Shanghai, Hammer co-founded Women’s Jazzination, a solo jazz festival supporting female dancers in China. River has taught and performed across Asia, drawing on experience in theatre and film to explore the expressive possibilities of authentic jazz. Both celebrate individuality, emotion and the freedom to find your own voice through movement.
Nina Rulié
Nina Rulié (she/they) is a French dancer based in Brussels, with a background in dance and improvisational theatre. Since discovering African American Vernacular Jazz at Herräng in 2017, they have explored its history and learned from dancers of the African diaspora. Their approach combines curiosity, reflection and care, connecting jazz’s cultural heritage with their own experiences. Through workshops, cultural talks and conversations, Nina shares their research and invites others to exchange ideas about the dance.
Kalina & Miro
Kalina and Miro share a love of Lindy Hop, jazz music and the expressive freedom of these dances. Miro values rawness, fluidity and dancing in the moment, grounded in rhythm and the art form’s Harlem roots. Kalina brings a background in tap and a thoughtful approach to each student’s development. Inspired by archival footage, they encourage students to develop their own style while staying connected to jazz traditions, making individuality an essential part of their classes.
Bands
Shirt Tail Stompers
Shirt Tail Stompers bring the energy of Harlem swing and hot jazz from the 1920s, 30s and 40s to the dance floor. Their repertoire celebrates the music of Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman and Count Basie. With infectious rhythms and a lively stage presence, they capture the spirit of vintage jazz and the joy of swing dancing. Expect plenty of swing, a touch of cabaret glamour and music that keeps your feet moving.
Hornsgatan Ramblers
Hornsgatan Ramblers are a swing jazz octet from Stockholm, formed by swing dancers in 2009. Inspired by the small bands of Duke Ellington, Count Basie and Benny Goodman, they combine the sound of the 1930s and 40s with their own arrangements of big band classics. Several members also dance with The Hot Shots. With performances across Europe and Asia, they bring a dancer’s understanding of rhythm, energy and swing to every stage.
The Hop 'sh Bam Connection
The Hop ’sh Bam Connection bring the music of the 1920s to the 1950s to life with energy and a love of swing. Inspired by legendary ballrooms such as New York’s Savoy, their repertoire spans swing standards, big band favourites and Charleston-inspired New Orleans jazz. Bandleader Marie-Anne, a swing dancer herself, shapes each set around the dancers and the atmosphere on the floor. Their lively performances offer plenty to enjoy, whether you’re dancing or simply listening.
Siberian Hot Heads
Siberian Hotheads are a Swedish septet whose sound draws on the rich mix of jazz styles heard in the late 1940s. Hailing from Stockholm’s “Siberia” neighbourhood, they blend traditional jazz, swing, early bebop and Latin American influences. Their inspirations range from Roy Eldridge and Illinois Jacquet to Duke Ellington and Machito. Since 2021, they have developed a distinctive musical voice, bringing vibrant rhythms and swinging arrangements to Sweden’s dance floors.