Frida Segerdahl & Skye Humphries
Skye (US) and Frida (SWE) have inspired so many swing dancers for over 20 years! Both of them found the swing dance community in their early years and have shared their dancing since then through teaching, troupe performances and their own showcases as well as competitions. Taking classes with them gives you both a challenge for the body and mind as well as a warm feeling inside.
We have invited them to SiS 2023 because of their long and broad knowledge in swing dancing and its culture as well as their appreciated dance classes.
Bianca Locatelli & Nils Andrén
Bianca (IT) and Nils (SWE) is the most flying and fast dancing couple in the swing dance scene right now. They are performers and choreographers with a passion for both Lindy and Boogie Woogie. They love swing dancing because it brings people together and spreads joy, but also because it is more than just a dance. It has a powerful meaning and history. Bianca and Nils’ goal is to help you become the best dancer you can be and to understand the values of this dances if you are a student and to be entertained and moved if you are a spectator at one of their shows.
We have invited them for SiS 2023 because the way they spread energy in class as well as their personalities as teachers and people.
Marie N’diaye & Felipe Braga
Marie (FR) and Felipe (BR) are two appreciated dancers and teachers in the community. They have been deeply involved with making the international swing community more open through the non-profit organisation Collective Voices for Change (CVFC), where Marie is the founder, aiming to promote cultural appreciation and respect of African American Jazz Dances. Marie is also a board member of the ”Black Lindy Hoppers Fund”, whose mission is to support and promote Black artists in their practice, performance, and transmission of Jazz Dances especially Lindy Hop. She is also a choreographer, performer and educator as well as a dance researcher.
We have invited them for SiS 2023 because of their values and as well as their importance of making the international dance scene more connected to its roots.
Katja Završnik & Peter Winqvist Loggins
Katja (SLO) and Peter (US) are two dancers with their own indiviudal dance styles and dances a broad variation of swing dances such as Balboa, Charleston, St. Louis Shag, to name a few. Katja has knowledge of (almost) all swing dances and that allows her to adapt her dance to any type of dancer. She is an elegant dancer. At first, you’ll be seduced by her style based by subtlety and finesse. But if you look a little closer you’ll be surprised by her musicality and footwork. Peter is the foremost researcher on American Jazz Dances. Credited during the 1990’s for bringing back several dances that he learned from the original dancers of the 1920’s, 30’s and 40’s. He brings a first hand historical approach to his classes sharing what was handed down by legends of the past including National Charleston champions, Harvest Moon Ball Lindy Hop winners and 1930’s Swing Champions.
We have invited them for SiS 2023 because of their down to earth street approach to teaching, and expansive knowledge of the cultures, different dances along with the music.
Helena Kanini Kiiru
Helena (CRO) has been dancing various street styles in hip hop since she was a kid. As an early adult she started dancing lindy hop and quickly she found passion for solo jazz, and especially liked the raw style of the authentic jazz pioneers.
We have invited her for SiS 2023 because of her unique style in movement and way of dancing jazz.
Hanna & Mattias Lundmark
In 1997, Hanna and Mattias Lundmark began their dance journey and since then they have created dance and stage art in many different forms. Their specialty is swing dances from the 20s, 30s and 40s and they are pioneers in their genre. In 2003, they started Swing Kids Swing Teens in Herräng. They also run a dance collective, which primarily does performances and workshops for children and young people. Using historical dance styles as tools, they arouse people’s motivation to be part of and practice dance culture. Joy, participation and freedom can be found throughout the process.
We have invited her for SiS 2023 for their funny personalities as well as big hearts and knowledge.
BANDS
The Hop ’sh Bam Connection
This sextet plays the real swing from the period between the 20 ties and 50 ties. The biggest inspiration is the repertoire of the marvellous ballrooms of the thirties, as for example the savoy ballroom in New York. Hop – sh- bam plays tunes on which lindy hop dancers could go crazy.. As the bandleader, Marie – Anne, is a swingdancer herself, she knows how to put an inspiring and diverse setlist together ! She adapts to what s happening on the dancefloor … Let’s call it: an excellent band, full of energy, whit a big focus on the pure art of swingmusic. Nice to listen, nice to dance, … move and groove!
Maria Schilling Hot N’ Blue Trio
Maria is many shining qualities merged into one artist. She is raw, untamed blues and warm, seductive romance. She is high energy, sassy up- tempo ecstasy and heartfelt elegance. Her voice gives the swing jazz of the 1920’s, 30’s and 40’s a new renaissance, with a dose of cockiness, bringing these timbres into the new roaring twenties with no apologies.
MARIA SCHILLING HOT N’ BLUE TRIO a detailed distillate of high-octane swing and rhythm n’ blues in the smaller format. Roaring like a Bengal tiger and trills like a lark from the rooftops in Harlem.
Gentlemen & Gangsters
Gentlemen & Gangsters play hot jazz with all the flair and sophistication of true gentlemen, coupled with the ruthless brutality of hardened gangsters. Like a devious conspiracy from a bygone era, this shady syndicate of jazz kingpins plot for world domination from their secret location in a run down part of Gothenburg. Armed with drumsticks instead of knuckle dusters and trombones instead of tommy guns these deranged masterminds spread mayhem, joy, and decadence wherever they go.
