Programme Overview

Sharing inspiration and new ideas, a dance and a chat, a drink and snack, moments to get surprised and to be turned Upside Down…

Are you ready for the next edition of Upside Down Festival?

see below for a details schedule of the afternoons

Afternoon Tracks

For all who are hungry for more we have some fine tracks available. These offer workshops during the afternoons of the Prefestival as well as the main Upside Down festival. 

Your chosen track is included in the prefestival ticket, but during the main festival tracks are optional (you can buy the main festival ticket without a track as well)

Join other dancers and work 8 hours during the pre-festival on a performance together. You’ll be shining on stage on Thursday evening, Dec 30th. The whole audience will cheer and encourage you. No previous stage experience required.

Have you only recently started on swing dancing? Have you been a fresh, rising star for the past months or for the past year and you feel like your self-confidence can use a little boosting? These classes will make you feel more at home during the parties at night. Come on and shine! 

In the Startrack you will have 2 afternoons of Lindy Hop classes in a small group with great international teachers. From basic technique to musicality and improvisation, you will cover plenty of material to practice on the dance floors. 

You can join the track during the prefestival, during the main festival or you can do both!

Want a bit of everything? Well you can have it in our Pick ‘n’ Mix Track! 

During the main festival, you can choose 4 hours, 6 hours  or 8 hours, depending on your energy or budget.

You can choose a different class each day depending on your mood. The options each day will be between:

Let’s get you turned Upside Down! Don’t expect a typical lindy hop class. We made a nice selection of dances with a swing era link that allow you to expand your dancing skills.

Every day, three teachers present you a different topic. You can decide on the spot which workshop you’ll attend.

Swing Expansion is part of the Pick ‘n’ Mix Track

Feel like looking from a different perspective? Why not try painting? Or singing? We will be inviting artists of all types to do workshops with you. It might affect your dancing in unexpected ways. 

Arts Discovery is part of the Pick ‘n’ Mix Track

Afternoons of Upside Down Activities

The afternoon has arrived but what’s there to do? Don’t worry, darlings, we’ve got you! Come and experience all the activities you like. The Upside Down activities are open for everybody. You feel like some more input? Join one of our tracks.  

Thé dansant

“Are you awake? Time to dance at our cozy afternoon dances ‘Thé Dansant’. Bands and DJ’s are ready for you. No need to rush breakfast at home to be in time for this social dance. We serve coffee, croissants, granola and other snacks to start your day here, in good company with beautiful music.”

Out of the box

Life is more than dancing? Of course! We’ve selected some nice non-dancing afternoon activities. Perfect to get out of the dancing bubble and be refreshed for the evening parties.

You’ll be able to register for Out of the Box activities at the festival.

Cozy @ home

We like ‘gezelligheid’. It’s hard to translate, but the the closest word in English would be ‘cozyness’. For one afternoon a dozen Ghentians open their living rooms. Different activities will be going on. At the festival, you have the possibility to choose one living room to hang out during this cozy afternoon.

Roundtable discussions

These open chats will be about topics that are close to our hearts.

You’re not afraid of challenging your own ideas? You like to question your own point of view? You like to listen to people sharing their own passionate ideas? Come and participate or just listen, hopefully you will feel empowered against the tiresome tide of miscommunication.
They will be guided but time limited so you might need to take them to dinner with you too!

Topical talks

These workshops are about festival management and the swing community. We’ll share experiences, good practices, thoughts and doubts. Perfect for everybody that’s involved, or interested in the swing community and organising swing dance festivals. Let’s activate our brains and commit our organizational skills to tackling ecological, economical and social problems.  

Private classes

We believe that a private class can help you more than any other class. You get personal feedback, at the right time. Half an hour is often enough to receive plenty of feedback.

Registration will be needed. We’ll open in December.

Afternoon Details

Evenings of Upside Down

What to expect when the sun goes down.

Parties

ROLL UP ROLL UP for 6 nights of parties, including New Year’s Eve! A fine selection of bands, DJ’s, competitions, cabaret and midnight encounters are waiting. It’s never over before 5 am strikes and often we’re dancing home into the sunrise.

Sure, we like competitions! But let’s do something a little bit different.

Every day we’ll hold one competition, with different formats, challenges, partners, etc. etc. For most competitions, you will be able to sign up during the festival or even on the spot.

Don’t be shy and don’t be late, our daily starters are always great! Before the lights turn out and the music begins we have Upside Down moments to provoke connections, inspiration and new ideas. Come feel the vibrations!