After last year's success, I am sure you are all excited for the second edition of Oslo Collegiate Shag festival, The Shag Thing! Both beginners, those who have been dancing Shag for a while and those who just can't stop shagging will learn many new techniques and moves that you can use to LEVEL UP your Shag skills.
Instructors:
SANDY LEWIS AND MICHAŁ OBLACIŃSKI
Based in Barcelona, Sandy Lewis was born and raised in south Louisiana dancing to Cajun and Zydeco music. After moving to Spain, she began swing dancing and immediately fell in love with Collegiate Shag. Her style is joyful, free-spirited, and a little rascally when the mood strikes. She believes in empowering dancers to be themselves and encourages people to let their inner dancer shine on the dance floor. Sandy is one of the founders of the Barcelona Shag Society, which seeks to bring Collegiate Shag dance (swing) and culture to the community through monthly dances and lessons. She’s also the founder of the Shag Train, a weekly online community-based training session that brings people together from all over the world to dance and learn about the history and culture of swing dancing.
Michał Oblaciński's love affair with Lindy Hop began back in 2005. By 2009, he had the incredible joy of helping Warsaw's swing dancing scene come alive - and it's been quite the adventure ever since! For years, he's been bouncing around Europe - first as an eager student, then as a teacher of what he truly believes is the happiest dance on earth. When Collegiate Shag caught his heart in 2014, he couldn't help but share the excitement! He's been teaching classes, running workshops, and organizing fun events like the Warsaw Collegiate Shag Festival to help this fantastic dance style thrive again. You'll usually find him at SWINGOUT.PL, his dance studio in Warsaw, where he teaches weekly Collegiate Shag and Lindy Hop classes.
CHERRY MORENO AND FILIP GÓRSKI
Cherry and Filip met in 2013 on a Lindy Hop course in SWINGOUT.PL dance studio. They started to dance Collegiate Shag in 2014 among a bunch of enthusiasts who brought it to Warsaw, and partnered up while performing with the Warsaw Shag Team.
– Cherry, do You want to be the best in the world one day?
– Yes, why not…
– Me too, so let’s do it!
With this frivolous conversation they started to work together and train regularly. After 3 months they won the Strictly Shag competition during Warsaw Collegiate Shag Festival and after 6 months they became instructors in SWINGOUT.PL. Since that moment they teach regular Lindy Hop and Collegiate Shag around Poland and abroad.
Their dance is full of energy. Cherry dances with a wild Latin temperament, elegance and open head, playing with the rhythm and shaking things out. She loved to dance since she remembers. At the age of 6 she started with ballet and contemporary, then switched to ballroom and lyrical jazz for a while.
Filip is a musician for many years, playing the guitar, trombone and mandoline. He’s one of the founders of The Cajun Spices Jazz Band. His passion reflects the way he dances and makes it a fine form of expression. They are full of enthusiasm, looking for new ideas and challenges. The first class they gave together was held in a Zoo for a group of children.
Schedule (preliminary):
Friday party: 19:00-00:00
Classes Saturday: 11:00-16:00
Saturday party: 20:00-01:00
Classes Sunday: 11:30-16:00
Sunday tea dance: 16:00-20:00
Three levels of classes:
Never shagged (beginner):
This level requires no previous shag experience. Experience with other dance styles is an advantage as this level will move fast and take you from shag zero to shag hero over the weekend. Also suitable if you are currently doing Shag beginner at Bårdar Swing Club.
Would shag again (improver):
You have danced shag before and are eager to learn something new. You wish to improve your understanding of the music, your technique and your partner dancing. Also suitable if you are currently doing or have completed Shag improver at Bårdar Swing Club.
Can’t stop shagging (advanced):
You have been dancing shag for a number of years and wish to take your dancing to a new level. You understand the importance of improvisation and communication and are eager to push yourself. You are actively working on improving your dancing outside of classes and often social dance.
Also check out other Festivals in Oslo.
