Upside Down makes you move - every week again.
Upside Down offers weekly dance classes who appeal to new adventurers and experienced dancers alike.
In partnership with Shoonya Dance Centre you can join us on Wednesdays for classes Lindy Hop and Solo Jazz in a stunning building with beautiful dance floor in Ghent.
In collaboration with Shana Van Cauwenberghe every Tuesday there is tap dance class. Once a month followed by jazz cafe with live music!
Lindy Hop
Beginners & Intermediate
Lindy Hop is an energetic couple dance style born out of African-American jazz culture. Its popularity peaked in the 1930s, when big bands played swing music for dancers. To this day, the playful and expressive nature of the Lindy Hop appeals to many dancers.
Upside Down and its teachers spotlight the connection with each other and the music, improvisation with room for personal style and respect for the roots of this social dance. As guests in the culture, we celebrate Black American values such as creativity, freedom and a sense of community. Everything comes together in a rhythmic game in which your whole body swings along.
Level 1 (Beginners)
For absolute beginners! In the beginner series, you will discover your first moves. We practice communicating with your dance partner, developing musicality and a sense of rhythm.
In this series you will learn both roles, which means you will lead and follow in class, and be able to dance with everyone. Our instructors create a warm learning environment where the joy of dancing shines through. A social dance, that's guaranteed!
No need to register with a fixed partner.
16 Wednesdays 18:45 - 19:45 between 16 September 2026 and 27 January 2027, €198 (student & UiTPAS discount available) @ Shoonya Dance Centre (Stapelplein 41, Ghent).
Level 2 | Intermediate
Level 2 (Intermediate)
Series for Lindy Hop dancers who joined the Beginners classes with Upside Down or have approx. 1 year of Lindy Hop experience. You are familiar with swing out, tuck turn, change of place, charleston…
In this series, there is the option to learn both dance roles at the same time, but you can also stick to one role if you wish. We encourage you to change partners and dance with everybody. We create a warm learning environment where the joy of dancing shines through.
Individual registration possible, no fixed partner needed.
16 Wednesdays 19:45 - 21:00 between 16 September 2026 and 27 January 2027, €231 (student & UiTPAS discount available) @ Shoonya Dance Centre (Stapelplein 41, Ghent).
Level 2 | Intermediate
Bootcamp 9 September (Intermediate)
Refresh your Lindy Hop vocabulary before the new season of dance classes!
Together with Upside Down, you’ll drill swing outs, partnered Charleston, tuck turns, change of places and many more swing dance moves — with special attention for a comfortable connection, full body movement, clear rhythms and freedom in improvisation.
For dancers with 1 year of Lindy Hop experience. Everybody Leads, Everybody Follows approach.
Wednesday 9 September, 18:45 – 21:15, €35, @ Shoonya Dance Centre (Stapelplein 41, Gent)
Solo Jazz
Open level
Solo Jazz is a rich blend of dance styles and steps, popular in Harlem in the 1930s and emerging from African-American dance cultures such as Charleston and tap dance. Personal expression and improvisation are key. Jazz is a solo dance form, but a social one: we stay connected with each other throughout the dance.
From Apple Jacks to Tacky Annies, in this class series you will become familiar with a lot of movements and bits of classical routines. We dance to swing music, with ample attention to (syncopated) rhythms and personal flair.
16 Wednesdays 21:00 - 22:00 between 16 September 2026 and 27 January 2027, €198 (student & UiTPAS discount available) @ Shoonya Dance Centre (Stapelplein 41, Ghent).
Tap dance
Beginners & intermediate
As a tap dancer, you are not only a dancer but also a musician: you don't dance to the rhythm, you ARE the rhythm. This expressive art form has its roots in Afro-American culture, flourished in the 1930s and is still alive and kicking today.
Explore together with Shana Van Cauwenberghe this art form to the tips of your toes. Both for beginners (no tap shoes required yet) and for tappers with experience.
Once a month, we host a jazz cafe with live music after class. Dancers and musicians are welcome to jam together! Announced via Upside Down channels.
Beginners
Hou je van dansen en mag er wel wat meer ritme en muziek aan te pas komen? Dan is deze beginnerscursus iets voor jou. Vanuit danspassie en met respect voor deze traditie worden jou de aanstekelijke ritmes en traditional time steps in verschillende klikkende combo’s aangeleerd. Focus ligt op de logica van de beweging, het speelse aspect van de dans en z’n ritmes. Verwacht je aan speelse choreo’s, een portie techniek, muzikaliteit en improvisatie.
12 Tuesdays 19:10 - 20:20 between 15 September and 15 December, €198 @ Trefpunt Concertzaal (Walter De Buckplein 5, Ghent).
Tap dance shoes are not required for beginners.
Inschrijven:
Intermediate
IN this series, we are deepening our technique, musicality & improvisation skillsThink about new rhythms and funky moves to which authentic jazz moves are related. You will learn to improvise more. We approach tap as a dance and as a musical instrument, and invite a guest teacher from time to time to inspire you.
12 Tuesdays 20:20 - 21:30 between 15 September and 15 December, €198 @ Trefpunt Concertzaal (Walter De Buckplein 5, Gent). Inschrijven:
About Shana
Since the age of 3, Shana Van Cauwenberghe has been unstoppable on the dance floor. As a result, she has now 15 years of experience in teaching dance. When tap dance crossed her path, it literally sounded like music to her ears. Shana took a professional tap dance course at Luthier Escola de Dansa in Barcelona. She has her own music band in which she tap dances and founded the tap dance collective RiFFF CollectiFFF. She also collaborates in dance and educational projects for Upside Down. Shana loves improvising and “playing” on the dance floor, and values the individuality of each dancer. Fun and passion as a starting point!
Taking classes prepares you for the real thing: dancing together! We organize social dance events (called “socials”), parties with live music and festivals. Discover what’s on the Upside Down program below.
Monthly Jazz Cafe
🗓️every 2nd Tuesday of the Month
2025: 14 October, 11 November, 9 December
2026: 13 January, 10 February, 10 March, (not in April), 12 May and 9 June – NEW DATES COMING SOON
🕛 from 21.15 till 23:30
📍Trefpunt Concertzaal (Walter De Buckplein 5)
Monthly CorriHop
Upside Down is als dansende partner betrokken bij de werking van Corridor, een open leer- en speelplek voor jongeren onder het viaduct in Gentbrugge.
We organiseren er regelmatig dansactiviteiten voor alle leeftijden op de nieuwe skate- & dansvloer. Inclusief muziekinstallatie!
Elke maand is er Corrihop, een namiddag vrij dansen.
Graag maken we het een evenement voor en door de dansgemeenschap: steek je graag een handje toe? Mensen verwelkomen, een taartje voorzien, de muziek kiezen, mee helpen opruimen, de bar bedienen… De max!
Kinderen en families zijn meer dan welkom.
Corridor wordt gesteund door de Europese Unie via WSE Europe.
🗓️ Telkens op zondag!
2025: 12 oktober, 9 november, 14 december
2026: 25 januari, 22 februari, 29 maart, 26 april, 31 mei, 28 juni, 9 augustus, 30 augustus, 4 oktober, 1 november, 29 november
🕛 14u – 17u
🧒🏽vanaf het najaar met kids uurtje om 13:30 and workshop op 14:30
📍 Corridor: Driebeekstraat, 9050 Gent (of met de fiets via het Dwergvleermuispad).
Big City Blues Festival
6 - 8 March 2026
THE blues festival in Ghent, and well known far beyond.
At daytime, we explore in-depth workshops that are facilitated by (inter)national inspiring talent.
At night, we dance to the beat of top-notch Belgian and international blues musicians.
Blues at its fullest, in its true colors.
The 9th edition happened 6 – 8 March 2026.
Thanks for joining!
Upside Down Festival
27 - 31 December 2025
Our signature festival. A cozy swing music, jazz dance and arts festival that is dripping with magic, amazement and quirkiness.
With the slogan “Rise Up and Shine” , we emphasize equal rights, respect for the African American art forms and a sustainable world.
The festival offers a variety of tracks, workshops and activities. Everyone can create their own menu.
The 7th edition was a blast!
Thanks for joining.
And there is more! Ghent has a vibrant, active community of dancers, musicians and organizers.
Check out the Calendar on the Gentse Hoppers website to plan your dance life.
They went Upside Down:
Hi Leni,
Thank you for your time and keynote yesterday!
Internally we talked about this morning that we thought it was a good talk and that you guys should be more than proud of how you look at things.
Elena, project support Danspunt
Upside Down is a partner of the European project Swinging Europe Network in strenghtening the European swing sector. This project is co-financed by Creative Europe by the European Union.
We take on a leading role on the topic of sustainability, which resulted in a sustainability strategy and sustainability charter..
Social dance calendar