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

Alice Mei

I started dancing at the very young age of 4 years old and have done numerous types of dances until I fell in love with Lindy Hop and solo jazz. I have now been swing dancing for 21 years and keep being fascinated by the art of improvisation. I enjoy expressing who I am and what I hear in the music within the framework I share with my partner. I have been spreading my passion for lindy hop and authentic jazz in more than 30 countries through teaching, performing, competing and social dancing. I love the diversity of movement and the freedom of expression this dance brings to the world. I hope to keep learning things and keep on inspiring people for as long as possible.

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.

Soon to be revealed

Soon to be revealed

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.

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.

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.

Aljoša Möderndorfer in Jaka Nardin

Dancers and DJs united by their love for dance and music.

They are the organizers of All Around The House, which they founded with the wish to bring greater visibility to house dance in Slovenia. What began as a single event has grown into a movement and community that offers workshops, parties, and educational programs. Their goal is to spread house culture, build community, and create a safe environment for growth and inspiration for new generations.

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.

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

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!

Steven Coombe and his Swing Mates

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.