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 the detailed schedules of daily activities. See on the track pages for the detailed schedules of the bonus tracks.

Our Bonus Tracks

For all who are hungry for more, we have some fine tracks available. 

You’ve never danced Lindy Hop what even is Lindy Hop? You’d like to join our parties and want to learn how to move energetically to this wonderful music? We’ll get you ready to party with us and we immerse you in the world of swing dances, music, and its culture. 

Have you only recently started 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! 

We’ll be exploring the thrilling fun or absolute challenge of deconstructing and reconstructing jazz and swing dancing. What is being an authentic jazz dancer? What is free and unconventional? And where do we take responsibility for jazz dance qualities and Black African American roots and context? Let’s rock this. 

Join a group of dancers to work 12 hours over 4 days during the festival on a performance together. You’ll be shining on stage for a whole audience to cheer and encourage you on. No previous stage experience required.

Feel the beat – music workshop

A two wonderful bonus workshop for everybody with interest in live music and for our established swing bands and musicians. One workshop will be demonstrative and informative on the evolution of the swing beat over the time. In the master class we invite more experienced players to actually explore how to play it. 

We dive into this topic on Friday afternoon with Steven Coombe and Nicholas Ball from The Shirt Tail Stompers. You can still add this as a bonus to your registration!

Pick ‘n’ Mix Track

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

You can choose between 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, or 16 hours of classes, depending on your energy or budget. You can choose a different class each day depending on your mood.

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

You can choose between 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, or 16 hours of classes, depending on your energy or budget. You can choose a different class each day depending on your mood.

Upside Down Daily Activities

You’re out of class or have opted for a less intensive festival? 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. 

Jazz Café

You want to recover from the busy program and want some quality time with others. Let’s enjoy our jazz café where it’s all about hanging out with other dancers, catching some nice food and drinks, and hopefully enjoying some sun.

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.

Topical talks

These workshops are deeper sessions with a focus on growing the community on different intersectional topics. We’ll share experiences, good practices, thoughts, and doubts. These sessions are suitable for any participants and almost a must for involved people who are organizing or very active in the swing dance community.

Upside Down Shake

This is a 2022 highlight. We are inspired by Pearl Primus who was a master educator. We will happily ‘shake’ you Upside Down in these super inspiring and cozy sessions where we want ALL participants and crew of Upside Down to gather for a drink, snack, and ideas worth spreading. In these three sessions, we will use different methodologies and group interactions to touch on different topics such as community, our relationship to the Black African American roots of the dance, sustainability, and social themes.

Daily and Bonus track Schedules

Evenings of Upside Down

What to expect when the sun goes down.

Parties

ROLL UP ROLL UP for 5 nights of parties! A fine selection of bands, DJ’s, competitions 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! 

You can choose to join us for dinner, next to the party venue. You won’t have to worry about finding restaurants in Ghent and we offer dinner value for money. And above all, you’ll have the opportunity to chat and hang out with your (new) dancing friends.