Radovljica Swing Festival

20. – 22. June 2025

learn more about the event below ↓

About the festival

Shake the Change is back for its fourth edition—this time with a twist! This edition marks the beginning of a bold new chapter as we take time to reimagine and reshape the festival’s concept. One of the key elements of this new vision is the unification of Slovenian artists. While the metamorphosis unfolds, we are keeping the spirit alive with a special, smaller edition of the festival from 20th to 22nd June 2025. With that, we are thrilled to celebrate Gibarija, who has been part of the festival from the very beginning, and to welcome Bottoms Up to the Shake the Change team this year! This unique edition will celebrate the festival’s essence while giving you a taste of what’s to come.

Learn more about our concept

Teachers

Katja Završnik

Katja Završnik is a renowned professional dancer, swing dance instructor, and choreographer. With a passion for dance ignited at the age of five, Katja has dedicated her life to the art of movement. In 2010, she transitioned from a career in video and film editing to pursue dance full-time, a decision that has seen her travel the world teaching, performing, and inspiring others.

Katja’s dance education spans various disciplines learned throughout her childhood in multiple dance schools. She has honed her skills by attending international workshops specialising in swing dances. Her extensive training includes acrobatic rock and roll, ballet, modern jazz, gymnastics, modern dance, and ballroom dances. Since 2005, she has focused primarily on partner and solo dances from the jazz age and swing era, mastering styles such as Lindy Hop, Balboa, Charleston, St. Louis Shag, authentic (vernacular) jazz dance, and ragtime dances.

Known for her versatility and expertise, Katja is celebrated as one of the top followers in the swing dance scene. Her deep understanding of reactivity and connection sets her apart, making her a sought-after instructor and performer. Since 2010, she has been a fixture at swing dance festivals and special events worldwide, sharing her knowledge and passion with a global audience.

In addition to her dance career, Katja is a certified pregnancy and postpartum exercise specialist, and Organizer of Wellness services (a graduate of Wellness program studies, through which she gained a basic understanding of psychology, mental health, nutrition, movement and physical activity).

Her life is a testament to her love for dance and her dedication to enriching the lives of others through movement and connection.

Nejc Zupan

Nejc started swing dancing back in 2003 as a result of his contemporary dance experience and a strong love for jazz music. Because of this he became a main culprit for popularization of Lindy Hop and Balboa in Slovenia in the early 2000s. His Swing dance experience is a collection of endless research into different dance forms, many international workshops and his humble willingness to keep learning from anybody who is willing to teach him. In the past decade he has taught all over Europe with some of the most talented teaching partners around and has supported new growing swing scenes in numerous countries. He is known for his elegant and smooth style of dancing as he pays special attention to jazz movement, history and musicality, all quint-essential to any Swing dance form.

Xesc Bujosa

Xesc loves vernacular jazz dances, its history, and its culture.

From the moment he encountered Lindy Hop, his life changed completely. He was automatically fascinated by the rhythmic richness, the great variety of movements, and the capacity for self-expression of the swing music and dances, so he started his dancing journey by learning how to do the Lindy Hop and soon enough came Solo Jazz and Tap Dance.

In 2017 he had the opportunity to start teaching some classes and soon, he turned it into his way of life.

Currently, he is lucky to live these dances in the most complete way he could have ever imagined, training and competing with his dance partners and other fellow dancers; sharing the dance in classes; performing with the company Cia. EnJazz; and of course, enjoying the social dance regularly.

Petra Horvat

Besides being in love with discovering swing dances, she is also a physical actor and a professional clown. She met swing dance in 2015, and since then she was interested mostly in Lindy hop and Solo jazz movement. Since she was a kid, she was competing in hip hop and jazz ballet for 15 years. She was always curious about the development of movements, improvisation and dance pedagogy.

She is very eager to create and will continue to create a dance community in Radovljica, her home of dance.

Photo: Studio Dansa

Ana Vesel

Ana loves to explore movement in various styles and forms. Prior to joining the swing dance community, she trained, competed, and performed in modern dance, ballet, and contemporary dance. In 2013, she fell in love with swing dance and has been exploring it ever since. She has been teaching regularly for nine years now and enjoys traveling to swing festivals around the world. She loves working with different dance partners to share ideas and different approaches to teaching and dance. By education she is a professor of pedagogy and adult education.

What she loves about swing dance is the opportunity for self-expression, freedom and the two-way communication with a partner. She values musicality, natural body movement, connectivity, creativity and the understanding of the rich culture behind the dance. In her classes, performances and on the social dance floor, she strives to spread playful energy, build meaningful connections with others and to showcase the above values.

Photo: Studio Dansa

Metod Javornik

Metod began swing dancing in Ljubljana in 2012 and quickly fell in love with jazz music and the dances of the jazz era. Just a year later, he was already teaching local swing classes.

Inspired by old-school swing dancers, he enjoys blending raw energy with elegance in his style. He is an active member of various dance groups, loves social dancing, and performs regularly.

Metod is passionate about sharing his enthusiasm for Lindy Hop, Balboa, Charleston, and many other swing dances. His mission in dance is to encourage others to move freely, listen deeply, find the sparkle in the music, and simply enjoy the dance. Always eager to learn—whether as a student or teacher—he constantly explores new teaching approaches and experiences.

Nóra Ágoston

Nora began dancing at the age of 6 in a folk dance group in Hungary and continued for 15 years. She discovered swing dance in 2010, and a few years later, she started teaching lindy hop and balboa in Budapest. Over the years, Nora has been involved in many dance projects and has traveled across Europe, immersing herself in festivals and workshops, always eager to teach or learn and grow. In 2021, she moved to Ljubljana, quickly connecting with the local swing dance scene, and continued to inspire others through her teaching and performing. Today, you can find her leading regular balboa and lindy hop classes at Bottoms Up in Ljubljana. A true jazz enthusiast, Nora finds pure joy in dancing to live music and cherishes the sense of community that comes with it.

Jure Rus

Jure’s been swing dancing since 2011 and sharing his moves as a teacher since 2016 in Slovenia. He’s a regular at international festivals across Europe. He also explores new dance horizons with contemporary dance and jazz ballet. Jure loves mixing up different styles in his teaching, and he’s a firm believer that practice makes perfect. Alongside Lindy Hop and Balboa, he’s got a soft spot for solo jazz, tap, and blues.

Tanja Ferčej

Tanja has been dancing for as long as she can remember. Starting with ballet before even entering primary school, she later explored a variety of mixed dance styles. Over the years, her passion expanded to include hip hop and eventually grew into a deep love for belly dance. In 2016, she discovered swing dancing and has been hooked ever since.

Since 2017, she has been a regular teacher at Vintage in Ljubljana and has also taught at international dance festivals. Known for her curiosity and dedication, she constantly seeks to improve her skills, never taking anything for granted. She draws inspiration from dancers of all levels and brings that energy into every class she teaches.

Dror Speiser

Dror got into swing dancing after a few years of salsa dancing, finding a home in jazz music and culture. He enjoys teaching and dancing to dynamic tunes, rhythm, and movement.

Workshops

Dance workshops

Movement is a fundamental expression of dance—a way to explore, connect, and grow.

This year, our dance workshops focus on both depth and variety, helping you refine the quality of movement while embracing new styles and experiences. And the best part? You’ll be learning from the heart and soul of our swing dance community—the incredible teachers from Slovenian dance schools whose knowledge and energy shape our vibrant scene.

With this approach, we’re strengthening connections, creating a space where schools, dancers, and swing enthusiasts come together to share, inspire, and evolve. Whether you want to refine your technique, try something new, or simply immerse yourself in the joy of dance, Shake the Change festival is your place to move, groove, and celebrate! This year’s focus will be on Lindy Hop and Solo Jazz.

3 class levels

Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced

More about class levels

Musicality workshop: from Musicians to Dancers
with Julien Gillain

In this workshop, led by a real jazz musician, you’ll dive into the heart of swing and learn how to understand and feel it more deeply. We’ll explore key elements like different song structures, rhythm, and syncopation, and how these interact with the way we move. We’ll listen to tunes, clap along, scat and engage with the sounds to help you connect more fully with the rhythm and structure.

This class will give you tools to improve your timing, musicality, and overall connection to what’s happening inside the music, helping you dance in greater harmony with the songs.

There will also be time for you to ask questions and explore any aspects of musicality, rhythm or swing music that you’re curious about.

Get ready to deepen your understanding of swing music and take your dancing to the next level!

Learn more about Julien

Belgian pianist and violinist, earned his master’s degrees at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels in both instruments, before furthering his studies in New York City with private lessons. As the pianist of the renowned band Reverent Juke, he has performed across Europe and even Asia, bringing lively swing music to Lindy Hop festivals. Julien has significant experience playing directly for dancers, which has given him a deep understanding of the connection between musicians and dancers. His experience as a Lindy Hop dancer also allows him to connect music and dance, providing insight into what dancers need to feel and understand. Julien has taught musicality and jazz history to dancers, in addition to his work teaching instruments and theory at music schools. Alongside his swing music work, Julien is an active member of several other musical projects, playing a variety of styles. As a member of various string quartets, he skillfully blends classical and jazz music.

Music & events

Music is the heartbeat of Shake the Change, bringing people together through rhythm, melody, and shared experiences. It drives the energy, fueling every dance, performance, and shared moment. This year’s festival bridges the past and present by integrating local musicians and artists, uniting our community in a truly meaningful way. Our lineup features incredible Slovenian musicians alongside talented artists from neighboring countries such as Italy, Hungary, Croatia, and Austria.

By showcasing regional talent, we cultivate an atmosphere that is both authentic and dynamic—one that celebrates tradition while embracing new creative expressions. Through these cross-border collaborations, we strengthen connections, inspire new artistic exchanges, and keep the swing spirit alive.

Join us for an unforgettable celebration of rhythm, culture, and community!

Artists

photo: David Poul

Steven Coombe

Musician, dancer, educator, speaker and many more things.. Steven is based in London and has been dancing Lindy Hop for over 15 years. Band leader of the Shirt Tail Stompers, he has led bands and danced all over the world playing for Lindy Hop festivals and competition weekends. He has also led big bands and collaborated with some of the best musicians in the world. His knowledge of musicality is unparalleled and has taught classes and workshops at hundreds of events.

After deciding to compete for a year, his competition wins include Dragon Swing, Korean Lindy Hop Championships, Lindylicious and Lindy Szau Birthday Jam.

He is now booked all over the world applying his experience and knowledge in his work as a band leader, Lindy Hop teacher, MC and DJ.

Jaka Kopač

Jaka Kopač is recognized as one of the leading jazz alto saxophonists of the younger generation of musicians in Slovenia. He is mostly known for his musical expression, which he compliments with a warm sound and a lot of energy. His playing also reflects in his compositions that are musically both challenging and simple, and carry a certain depth, which he fully establishes in improvisation.

Aljaž Draškovič Bračun

Starting out as a dancer and blues guitarist, his love for jazz led him to the style of Django Reinhardt. Over time, he shifted toward late 1930s big band swing and formed a band specifically for dancers. He now leads the Icy Isabella Jazz Band, where he arranges and plays rhythm guitar.

Attila Korb

Attila Korb began his musical studies on violin and piano. He graduated from the Academy of Music in 2007 with a major in music theory and conducting. At the same time he was studying trombone at the jazz faculty. He came first in the Hungarian Radio’s Zsoldos Ernő Jazz Trombone Talent Contest and as a reward he gained the opportunity to publish his first solo album. In 2009, he was invited to play at the Breda Jazz Festival and the Japanese Kobe Jazz Street Festival. He also plays the piano, the cornet, and the bass saxophone and regularly arranges and composes music.

Zoltán Mátrai

Zoltán Mátrai is one of the prominent Ambassadors of Jazz in Hungary. A skilled musician on the tenor saxophone and clarinet, he is an accomplished soloist and session artist, actively performing at jazz festivals both in Hungary and abroad. His passion for swing and dance music has taken him across Europe, with performances in countries such as Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, England, Finland, Sweden, Turkey, France, and more.

Gašper Bertoncelj

Gasper Bertoncelj is a internationally acclaimed drummer from Slovenia. He established himself as a professional jazz musician as he lived and worked in different centers of the jazz scene: Linz, Austria; New York City, USA; Tel Aviv, Israel and now Ljubljana, Slovenia.

His ability to groove and swing hard, together with melodic playing of the drums, made him sought after drummer throughout the jazz scene. Vincent Herring, Lew Tabackin, Deborah Brown, Kevin Mahogany are some of the names Gasper performed with.

Gasper recorded 4 albums as a leader and he wrote a Brush book: How to play drums with brushes. He is also the main drum professor at the Jazz department in Music Academy in Ljubljana.

Jan Galia

Jan is an upright bass player based in Brno, Czech Republic. A graduate of the jazz department at the Janáček Academy of Music and Performing Arts, he loves playing music that gets people dancing. You can catch him on stage with Heart of Dixie, Swingalia, Cotatcha Orchestra, or performing solo with a looper and a variety of instruments he loves to play.