Classes

Winter Jump offers solo jazz and Lindy Hop tracks with 8 hours of workshop classes, several concept classes and a culture talk.

The Lindy Hop track has 6 levels, please read the level descriptions and choose wisely.

The solo jazz track has one level aimed at dancers with authentic jazz experience - please read the level description. Some of the main teachers will be teaching the solo jazz classes (in addition to Lindy Hop classes).

Rough schedule

- Note that classes start on Friday!
- Changes might occur, but this should give you a general idea of the festival schedule

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Class schedule

- Note that classes start on Friday!
- Changes might occur.

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Class venues

The class venues are all within walking distance.

BUL is about 500 meters away from BLS and Treningshuset (less than 10 minutes on foot).

Concept classes

Full pass holders have access to concept classes.

If you have a party/duo/family pass, you can buy single tickets to the concept classes - the spots are limited, and you can sign up HERE. Each class costs 200 NOK, and you will be able to pay by card at the registration desk when you come to register for the festival.

Family pass and full pass holders with kids have access to the bouncing babies class. Other dancers with kids can buy access to the class HERE or at the registration desk.

You can sign up via the website for concept classes, bouncing babies, culture talk and the side activities until February 18th. After that, you can sign up at the registration desk during Winter Jump if there still are spots left.

Concept classes are placed in between the classes with our main teachers, and you can choose which ones you want to attend. Some of the classes might have level suggestions, but most concept classes will have an open level. 

Culture talk

📆 Saturday at 13:15 in Storsalen @BLS.
Dr. Marie N’diaye will lead a conversation with some of the teachers addressing perspectives on culture, the current situation in the international Lindy Hop scene and how we can create more inclusive and diverse local Lindy Hop communities.

This will be a “sit on the floor” experience since there is a class in the same room directly after the talk. (But let us know if you have special needs!)


Bouncing babies

📆 Saturday at 15:00 in Blåsalen @BLS.
A parent friendly Lindy Hop class with Ursula. Bring your kids and come dance with them and your fellow dance parents!

This class is included in the Family Pass and Full Pass.

Other dancers with kids can buy a ticket for the class here or at the reception (200 NOK).

DJ workshop

For people with DJ experience
In this workshop you will be asked to share and exchange thoughts and ideas about DJing for swing/jazz dancers. You are encouraged to bring any relevant issues to this workshop, such as questions about equipment and technical aspects, music, genres, building a music library, planning a DJ set, reading the room, balancing playing popular songs vs challenging the dancers. Bring your questions and thoughts and settle in for useful tips and tricks!

Liane & Rija 1

Jam circle
Open level

Whatever your dance experience, to enter a jam circle you just need a little motivation. A Jam circle is first and foremost a place to share, play with the music and the dancers around you. Liane & Rija will give you their tips to find that little push and be confident to jam!

Liane & Rija 2

Easy airstep
Open level

Do you know how to fly? After this class, you will! Liane and Rija will teach you flashy but very safe and accessible air step(s) that you can put in your dancing.

‼️You need to come with a partner to this class since there will be no rotation.

Liane & Rija 3

Fancy moves
Upper levels: ❤️♾️💍

Get ready to groove and shine! Liane and Rija will teach you some of their favorite moves that you can use in your social dance.

TT & Romain 1

Play with rhythm
Upper levels: ❤️♾️💍

Spice up your basics with some new rhythms! Thanh Thanh and Romain will share some ideas on how to use classic rhythms and create new ones in Lindy Hop.

TT & Romain 2

Closed position
Open level

Crowded party? Not enough place for big swing out? Let's explore some ideas in close position - moves, footwork, and getting creative to make the dance even more enjoyable!

TT & Romain 3

Switch it up!
Open level

Double the fun with your dance partner in this switch class. Switch means you will learn both leading and following. Understanding the other role will enrich your connections and communication in the dance. Let’s switch!

Hip Hop with Yurleyley

Open level
Hip Hop is a subculture, lifestyle and artform that originates from Black American culture. It encompasses music, clothes, graffiti, DJing and MCing in addition to dancing. This class will focus on basic elements such as bounce, groove, basic-steps from the Hip Hop dance. And most importantly having fun! Come get your groove on in this intro class!

Afrofusion with Freddy

Open level
Add some sugar, spice and everything nice! Freddy Milanya will take you back to the roots of Lindy Hop by giving you a take on modern African street dance. Afrofusion serves a unique mix of various dance styles originating from the African continent, with a strong focus on rhythmical variations. Get ready to move and express!

Tap Dance with Janne

Open level
Join this tap dance class with your soft shoes and most rhythmic attitude! There will be groovy musicality and fancy footwork, in the smooth style of a proper soft shoe dance. Janne Eraker will help you connect to the rhythms you didn’t know you had in you! Come as you are, no tap shoes needed!

House with Mathias Jin

Open level
Introduction class to “clubbing” as it’s called originally. Referencing the essential crew, Dance Fusion, from New York, and House dance pioneers from Paris, Mathias Jin will guide you through his approach to House dance for beginners. We will touch upon grounding, grooves, basic vocabulary and foundational knowledge.

Norwegian folk dance

Open level
Come join Sikia and Ånund for an intro class in Telegangar! Telegangar is a couples dance from Telemark in Norway. It is one of the oldest forms of folk dancing that is still alive and thriving today, and competition wise, it is one of the more popular dances to participate with. The wonderful thing about telegangar, is how easy it is to learn the basics of it (although mastering it takes years of practice). 

African American line dance with Tyedric

Open level
You might have heard of the Electric slide - Join Tyedric to learn that and/or other African American line dances. Fun guaranteed!

Levels

Since there are no auditions, we trust that you read the level descriptions thoroughly and choose wisely. Please make sure you sign up for the level you feel is the best fit for you. We believe it is better to sign up at a level where you can master all aspects of the level descriptions. This way the teachers can plan for the best possible output of the class.

If you are not sure what level to register for, you can ask your local teachers or regular dance partner about their opinion. It will not be possible to change levels during the festival.

We want to emphasize that level placement is not a way of validating you as a dancer or person. You are an awesome person and dancer no matter what level you sign up for!

And we believe that all dancers can benefit from training and social dancing with each other, no matter what level they are at. So if you feel the level in your group is more uneven than what you are used to, see this as a wonderful opportunity to dance, connect and learn with different dancers from around the world.

Level descriptions

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Crushing on Lindy Hop

🔥

You recently started dancing and feel excited to go to your first international swing dance event. You are familiar with triple steps, groove walks and some basic figures such as Lindy Circle, I go - you go, Tuck turn and Swing Out. You can’t wait to learn new skills and dance as much as possible!

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Dating Lindy Hop

🌙

You are starting to fall in love with Lindy Hop, and feel ready to take it further. You know the basics, such as Tuck turn, Swing Out, Circle, and Charleston/Kick steps. You can dance 6 counts and 8 counts in the same song without problems. Sometimes you might feel uncertain on the dance floor, and find it challenging to dance to fast tempos on a crowded floor. You need some guidance to grow further, and can’t wait to learn from the amazing teachers at the festival.

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Crazy in love with Lindy Hop

⭐️

You are absolutely in love with Lindy Hop, and want to learn all there is to know! You're familiar with most of the basic vocabulary, but some pieces are missing. You still want to expand your knowledge on basics, but you are eager to learn new moves too. You need more guidance around body awareness and improvisation, but you're ready to push yourself outside of your comfort zone. You have probably been to dance festivals before, and had such a great time, so you really can’t wait for Winter Jump!

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In a relationship with Lindy Hop

❤️

You are an active dancer in your scene and have been to several international dance events before. You are comfortable with learning new material quickly and without much explanation. You are happy to look at the teachers executing a move, and then try it yourself without further explanation. You have probably watched your own dancing on video and are committed to growing as a dancer. You would like to feel more comfortable around improvisation, work on rhythms and refining your technique.

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Lifelong partner with Lindy Hop

♾️

You have been dancing for a long time, and appreciate working on the small details. You might be a local teacher and/or travel to international dance events regularly. You probably practise concepts, moves and styles on your own. You feel very comfortable improvising, playing with rhythms, making musical choices and reacting to phrasing and dynamics in the music, and you would like to work more on various techniques and bringing your own personality into the dance. You highly appreciate the social aspects of Lindy Hop, and are motivated by working on communication with your dance partners.

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Married to Lindy Hop

💍

You too have been dancing for a long time and you have a strong sense of rhythm and body awareness. You regularly practice dance on your own, and you are aware of the choices you make when you dance, and how you add your own personality into the dance. You travel to international dance events regularly, probably compete, and if you teach, you are one of the more experienced teachers in your local community. You are comfortable with all the tempos, from super slow to super fast, and you want to be challenged to keep evolving as a dancer and are ready to push your limits.

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I´m focusing on myself right now

👑

You have taken solo jazz classes before, and know authentic jazz steps such as Half break, Full break, Fall of the log, Applejacks, Suzie Q etc. You feel comfortable learning pieces of choreography, and would like to work on body awareness, movement through space, improvisation, styling and rhythm variations. You would like some more guidance on bringing your personal style and taste into your solo dancing.

Stay tuned!
More information about levels, audition and classes will be posted closer to the event.