Radovljica Swing Festival
learn more about the event below ↓

About the festival

Coming back for our 3rd edition of crazy dancing, inspiring classes, fun performances, fierce competitions and – above all –  amazing live music by one of the hottest swing&jazz bands we’ve ever had the pleasure of dancing to, please put your hands together for Shake The Change Festival 2024! 

Mark your calendars for 21 – 23 June 2024 and come dance with us!

NEW! Beginner’s Track

Perfect starting point for newcomers with 4 hours of Lindy hop classes.

Concept

Shake The Change is an international dance festival that celebrates vernacular jazz dance and dances rooted in African-American culture through movement, music and community

The event aims to bring together dancers and lovers of dance from various personal, social and cultural backgrounds with a shared passion for discovering the historically and culturally rich world of swing dancing and jazz music, as well as other forms of dance and movement in general. 

We perceive dance as a powerful artform with the ability to help people (re)connect to their authenticity, their creativity and each other.

Teachers

Sonia and Hector

Sonia and Hector are professional dancers based on Jazz music -swing rhythm-. Lindy Hop is the dance in which they can openly evolve all techniques that they have learned through all their life. Argentinian tango, Latin rhythms, Classical Dance, and Contemporary dance are important disciplines that take part in their learning of the dance.

Francesc Bujosa Ribas

He has a deep love for vernacular jazz dances, their history, and culture. The moment he encountered Lindy Hop, his life changed completely. He was instantly fascinated by the rhythmic richness, the wide variety of movements, and the capacity for self-expression in swing music and dances. This led him to start his dancing journey, initially learning the Lindy Hop and soon expanding into Solo Jazz and Tap Dance.

In 2017, he had the opportunity to start teaching classes, which quickly became his way of life. Currently, he is fortunate to live out his passion for these dances in the most complete way he could have ever imagined. He trains and competes with his dance partner and other fellow dancers, shares his knowledge and enthusiasm in classes, performs with the company Cia. EnJazz, and, of course, enjoys social dancing regularly.

Špela Premelč

Špela started dancing at the age of 6 and hasn’t stopped since. Beginning with ballroom dancing, gymnastics and jazz ballet, she eventually found greater authenticity in contemporary dance and quickly became a teacher of this dance style herself.

Always searching for ways to expand her dancing experience and movement techniques, Špela discovered Lindy Hop in 2013 and immediately immersed herself in this rhythmical and expressive dance style. She began teaching locally in 2015 and has been upgrading and deepening her knowledge and love of the many swing dance styles at various festivals and dance workshops around the world. As a swing dancer and instructor Špela focuses on quality body movement as a fundamental basis for all dancing styles, rhythmically and musicality, and deeply values her relationship with her students as a co-creative two-way flow: going from teacher to student as well as student to teacher.

Maša Kagao Knez

Maša Kagao Knez is a dancer, choreographer and theatre practitioner. She first came into contact with the performing arts as a child through the work of her mother, Jasna Knez, a dancer and choreographer herself. Maša was educated by various international teachers, both in Slovenia and abroad, and in 2006 she completed professional training at Georges Momboye School of Traditional and Contemporary African dance in Paris. In 2013 she graduated from the Academy of Dance in Ljubljana and in 2021 she completed her Master’s degree in the Art of Movement at the AGRFT (Academy of Theatre, Radio, Film and Television) in Ljubljana.

As a dancer, actress and choreographer she collaborates with institutional theatres as well as independent producers (PTL, SNG Drama, Municipal Theatre Ljubljana, SNG Nova Gorica, SLG Celje, APT, Mini Teater). For the last few years she has been a regular collaborator of director Ivana Djilas. 

In 2009 Maša, together with dancer Dalanda Diallo and musician Damir Mazrek, co-founded the Baobab cultural and arts society, which operates in the field of dance, music and theatre. She is artistic director of cultural institution Studio 25 and  director of Diaspora, an artistic collective dedicated to the creation of dance and music productions.

Maša has received the Ksenija Hribar dance award in 2013. Three years later she won the third prize at the XX. Festival of choreographic miniatures in Belgrade as part of the duo with musician Murat.

Tina Božič

Member of Abismo crew, active hip hop artist. Dancer, choreographer, mentor, organizer. The love for hip hop has made a big impact on her life. Still learning and exploring the amazing culture and trying her best to give back by spreading the love and knowledge to younger generations.

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.

Jure Rus

Meet Jure, our dynamic swing dancer and this year’s Shake The Change Festival instructor hailing from Slovenia. Since 2011, Jure has been fully immersed in the vibrant world of swing, stepping into the role of a swing dance instructor in 2016. With a strong dedication to the craft, Jure regularly attends international festivals across Europe, continuously expanding his repertoire to include contemporary dance and jazz ballet.

In his teaching, Jure brings a unique blend of dance styles, drawing from his expertise in lindy hop and balboa, while also incorporating elements of solo jazz, tap, and blues. He firmly believes in the power of practice and emphasizes the importance of consistency to achieve mastery in dance.

When he’s not dancing, you’ll find him playing the drums. Music is a big passion of his, alongside dancing.

Workshops

4 levels

Intermediate, Intermediate/Advanced, Advanced and Teacher training (new!)

More about class levels

Workshop themes

Solo Jazz & Couple dance

More about our concept

NEW! Beginner’s Track

Perfect starting point for newcomers with 4 hours of Lindy hop classes.

Music & events

Swingwagon

Pickpocket swingers

DJ Yeamon Kemp

DJ Istvan

DJ Jure

3 evenings of crazy dancing, fun performances, fierce competitions and – above all – amazing live music!

Competitions

SINGLE SHAKE
‘Single Shake’ is our endearing way of saying ‘Show us your kickass solo!’

DOUBLE SHAKE
Our Double Shake competition is all about mixing and matching & partner dancing. In short, it is a classic MIX ‘N’ MATCH competition 😉

More competition details

Location

Radovljica, the sweetest Slovenian town, just a stones’ throw from Lake Bled & Triglav National Park Experience.

Radovljica’s wealth of cultural heritage, exceptional events, excellent cuisine and wonderful nature.

Learn more about Radovljica

Venue

Radovljica Manor

The architectural style of the manor in Radovljica old town is 18th century in character, whilst its interior is home to museums, music and events.

More about Radovljica Manor

Registration

2024 Festival Registration is open.

Prices

Full Pass

190 EUR

Early Bird – until February 29th

160 EUR

couples applications only

Teacher training

80 EUR

Group Discount

9 + 1 (Buy 9, get 10 passes)

discounts cannot be combined

Beginners track

55 EUR

4 hours beginner Lindy hop

Our partners and sponsors

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