Upside Down @ Gentse Feesten
18 - 26 juli 2025

Een nieuwe zomer, een nieuwe editie Gentse Feesten!

Upside Down zet opnieuw de boel op stelten met een vet programma aan Swing, hot jazz, Blues en meer.

Houd alvast deze data vrij:

vrijdag 18 juli

zaterdag 19 juli

woensdag 23 juli

vrijdag 25 juli

zaterdag 26 juli – showtime in de namiddag

Zoals altijd kan je je verwachten aan proevertjes solo- en koppeldans, steengoeie live muziek, verrassende dansvoorstellingen, swingende DJs, spraakmakende MCs en bovenal: een goei feestje.

Uren, locatie en line-up worden binnenkort aangekondigd.

Week voor Gentse Swing Kids

Dit jaar organiseren we in samenwerking met Sportaround vzw een specialleke: kinderen en jongeren (10 – 16 jaar) met diverse achtergronden kunnen tussen 21 juli en 25 juli elke namiddag proeven van dans, muziek en spel.

De Gentse Swing Kids sluiten de week af met een show op de Gentse Feesten, op zaterdag 26 juli!

📅21 – 22 – 23 – 24 – 25 – 26 juli

🕛van 13u – 17u, op 26 juli show in de namiddag

📍buurt van Gent-Dampoort

Steun jij dit project? Jouw donatie maak deelname aan de week toegankelijk voor elk kind. 💪Merci! 🙏

Meedraaien als begeleider? We zoeken vrijwilligers om de Gentse Swing Kids te ondersteunen, voor één of meerdere namiddagen. Geen ervaring vereist! Interesse?

Jouw kind laten meedoen? Dat kan! Inschrijvingen verlopen via Sportaround. Om zeker op de hoogte te blijven, kan je ons al een mail sturen. Dan contacteren we je vanaf de inschrijvingen openen.

A new summer, a new edition of Gentse Feesten!

Upside Down once again sets the scene with a bold program of Swing, hot jazz, Blues, and more.

Block your calendar on

Friday July 18th

Saturday July 19th

Wednesday July 23rd

Friday July 25th

Saturday July 26th – showtime in the afternoon

What’s on the program? Tasters solo and couple dancing, badass live music, surprising dance performances, swinging DJs, mouthy MCs and above all: a good party.

Time, location & line-up will be announced soon.

Week for Ghent Swing Kids

This year we organize something special, in collaboration with Sportaround vzw: kids and adolescents (10 16 years) from diverse backgrounds are invited to explore dance, music and play. We offer a full week of guided afternoon sessions between July 21st and 25th.

The Ghent Swing Kids will present a show at the Ghent Festivities, on Saturday July 26th!

📅21 – 22 – 23 – 24 – 25 – 26 July

🕛13:00 – 17:00, show on July 26th afternoon

📍area of Gent-Dampoort

Do you support this project? Your donation makes participation more accessible for every kid. 💪Thank you! 🙏

Wanna join as as a facilitator? We are looking for volunteers who can support the Ghent Swing Kids, for one or more afternoon(s). No experience required! Interested?

Your kid(s) want to join, too? Great! Registration will open on the website of our partner Sportaround. To stay posted, mail us about your interest. We get in touch once we know more.

Gentse Swing Kids wordt gesteund door #HartVoorGent, een initiatief van Streekfond Oost-Vlaanderen en de Koning Boudewijn Stichting. Dankzij #HartVoorGent verdubbelen we de donaties, en krijgen gulle gevers een fiscaal voordeel. Meer info hier.

Workshops

July 27th & 28th

concept

In these workshops, you get to broaden as well as deepen your skills as a (swing) dancer. We explore styles such as lindy hop, solo jazz and afro cuban, together with (inter)nationally recognized artists.

Your weekend pass gives you access to 3 hours of workshops on Saturday afternoon, and 3 hours of workshops on Sunday afternoon.

You can choose between a Combi Track (combining solo dancing & Lindy Hop), and a Solo Track (solo dancing). You can add 1 or 2 optional solo workshops on top.

If you can only join on Saturday or Sunday, take a One Day Pass. You decide on the spot whether to combine Lindy Hop and Solo dancing, or go full in on solo (solo jazz on Saturday, afro cuban on Sunday).

levels

Since there are different styles, we will all be beginners at some point. The workshops offer a variety of challenges.

We will split up the Combi Track in two groups that reflect the tempo of learning, based on your Lindy Hop experience.

Combi Track Level 1: 6 months – 2 years of Lindy Hop experience (group 1)
Combi Track Level 2: a minimum of 2 years of Lindy Hop experience (group 2)

For the solo track there’s only 1 group, open level with a more challenging topic each day.

For the One Day passes, you can choose your level of Lindy Hop on the spot, as long as both groups are balanced.

program

Saturday July 27th

Optional workshop with Daniil:

“Fast and chill”

A workshop on different ways of dancing to fast music in a minimalistic, relaxed way. Ideally to explore different tricks to enjoy long and high-paced jazz tunes, a beautiful part of Lindy Hop and solo jazz dancing. Daniil Nikulin will get you moving, fast and chill.

[12:00 – 13:00. This is an optional workshop you can add for €15.]

Solo jazz with Daniil

In the solo jazz workshops with Daniil Nikulin, you will be invited to join his adventurous and rich universe of jazz dance and movement. Daniil brings a unique voice in our scene and has found many original ways to facilitate his content.

[13:30 – 15:00 or 15:30 – 17:00, This workshop is included in your Combi Track. For the Solo Track, you get 2 workshops solo jazz with Daniil]

Lindy Hop with Alexia & Sep

Alexia Legoueix and Sep Vermeersch are a one-of-a-kind duo. Their individual devotion to swing dancing, its culture and its community, makes their pairing so unique. They prioritize an authentic dancing state fueled by the music. Their goal is always an honest and shared dance relationship. They’ll shake you in a pleasant and caring way.

[13:30 – 15:00 or 15:30 – 17:00, This workshop is included in your Combi Track.]

Sunday July 28th

Optional workshop with Daniil:

“Body Mobility and Care”

In this workshop, we’ll work on taking care of our bodies. We’ll explore strengthening and stretching techniques that Daniil Nikulin also uses in his dance practice: softening, expanding the freedom in the body. We’ll as well explore how that freedom can serve our rhythmic and grooving skills.

[12:00 – 13:00. This is an optional workshop you can add for €15.]

Afro Cuban with Tess

Tess Efongo is trained by several Cuban maestros in her many years of being a passionate practitioner of Cuban dances. She is a member of the international company of Cuban dances – Europe. She will bring you an energising and inspiring workshop that will help you navigate the dancefloor later that evening, because we programmed Afro Cuban music at Gentse Feesten!

[13:30 – 15:00 or 15:30 – 17:00, This workshop is included in your Combi Track. For the Solo Track, you get 2 workshops afro cuban with Tess]

Lindy Hop with Alexia & Daniil

This time, Alexia Legoueix is teaming up with Daniil Nikulin to explore more Lindy Hop with you! Within the thirteen years of his dance journey, Daniil has explored different sides of Jazz Dances. Both him and Alexia love supporting the students to find their own way to move – by themselves and with a partner – in the spirit of jazz.

[13:30 – 15:00 or 15:30 – 17:00, This workshop is included in your Combi Track]

practical

location

Danspunt

Sint-Salvatorstraat 18A, 9000 Gent, Belgium (Google Maps)

This venue is on ground level and accessible to dancers using a wheelchair.

Bathrooms are gender-neutral.

price

€90 for A Track (6 hours), €50 for a One Day Pass (3 hours), €15 per optional workshop (1 hour)

Ben je UiTPAS-kaarthouder met kansentarief in regio Gent, dan heb je recht op 80% korting. Registreer via de link hieronder, en mail ons je naam en UiTPAS-kaartnummer vooraleer te betalen, zodat we je korting kunnen toepassen.

registration

When you register, you agree to our Terms & Conditions and Code of Conduct.

meet the inspirers

Daniil Nikulin

Alexia Legoueix & Sep Vermeersch

Alexia Legoueix & Daniil Nikulin

Tess Efongo

FAQs

Do I need to sign up with a partner?

No! The combi track includes 3 hours of Lindy Hop, which is a partnered dance. You can sign up as a lead, follow or switch dancer (both dance roles). To balance out participants, it helps if you register with a partner in the other role if you are a lead or follow. To do so, you simple add the email address of the other person when registering. This is optional; single registration is welcome, too. For the solo track, there is no need to sign up with a partner.

I only dance one or two of these styles, can I still join?

Yes! Some workshops will be more of a first encounter for most participants. Sign up for level 1 if you have less than 2 years of dance experience in at least 1 style. Sign up for level 2 if you have more than 2 years of dance experience in at least 1 style. It is not possible to combine levels.

Can I register for only one day?

Yes, you can take a One Day Pass.

Can I take more workshops?

We offer 2 optional solo workshops, each day at 12:00. You can sign up for 1 or both workshops of choice when registering.

How do I sign up for the night program?

Not necessary, the night program is included (free) and outdoors! It’s part of a huge city festival. More information about the night program below.