SwingO Hop 2020

May 8th - 10th

Welcome to the seventh annual SwingO Hop workshop in May 8th - 10th 2020 in Oulu, Finland! We offer Lindy Hop classes and solo jazz classes with high-level national and international dance teachers. There will be a party on Friday and Saturday nights with live music and splendid swing DJ's!

Registration is closed due to the corona virus epidemic!

~~Registration form, SwingO Hop 2020~~

Levels

Lindy hop, beginners

Lindy Hop is a couple dance that has its roots in 1930's New York, Harlem. Improvisation is a big part of this dance and it is mostly danced to swing music. Lindy Hop is a fun and laid-back dance that is increasing popularity all over the world. On the beginners level you don't need any experience on Lindy Hop or any other dances. The workshop pass also includes two lessons in Blues dance that will also start from the very basics.

Lindy hop, intermediate and advanced

In order to register to the intermediate and advanced levels you will need to have at least one year of (regular) dancing experience in Lindy Hop. You know the basic steps and basic moves like Swing out, Lindy Circle and Side by side Charleston. You also have an understanding of the basics of dancing with a partner and you are not afraid of attending Lindy Hop dances and events. There will be an audition in the beginning of the workshop on Saturday where teachers will divide participants into the intermediate and advanced level, based on skill level. The workshop pass also includes two lessons in Blues dance that will start from the very basics.

Blues dance

Blues originates from the beginning of the 1900's and belongs in the same family with Lindy Hop, Charleston and Balboa. Blues is danced to slow swing or blues music. Blues is a versatile dance that emphasizes improvisation and it is danced in both open and closed dance position.

Solo Jazz Track

To register to the Solo Jazz Track you don't need to have experience of Solo Jazz dancing. Previous dance experience will however help you because the lessons will move forward during the weekend.

Solo / Authentic Jazz shares roots with Charleston. It is danced solo to 1930's and 1940's jazz and swing music by improvising, utilizing classic Jazz Roots moves, your own creativity in dance and musical interpretation. Lindy Hop is seen as the couple dance version of Authentic Jazz.

Prices

Lindy Hop, beginners

80 € when registering until the 1st of April (early bird price)

100 € when registering after the 1st of April

The price includes 6 hours of Lindy Hop, 2 hours of Blues and parties on Friday and Saturday night.

Lindy Hop, intermediate and advanced

150 € when registering until the 1st of April (early bird price)

170 € when registering after the 1st of April

The price includes 8 hours of Lindy Hop, 2 hours of Blues and parties on Friday and Saturday night.

Solo Jazz Track

60 € when registering until the 1st of April (early bird price)

80 € when registering after the 1st of April

The price includes 6 hours of Solo Jazz and parties on Friday and Saturday night.

teachers

Rosa & Hannu Mört (FI)

(beginners)

Rosa and Hannu are multi-talented dancers from Oulu. Rosa works as a full-time dance instructor with a wide range of genres and expertise. Hannu works as a masseur but travels and teaches dance with Rosa all around Finland. Although proficient in many genres, they are specialized in Rock’n’Swing-based dances, both in training and competitive aspects. When teaching, they focus on the clarity of instructions and logical progression. Still, the lessons are built on a fun and playful approach. The lessons main themes are good basic-level dance skills, connection to both the music and the partner, which already takes us a long way! Relaxed atmosphere fused together with pedagogical vision guarantees great experience and results for everyone!

Matleena haapalainen (fi) &

jean philippe delort (fra)

(intermediate and advanced)

Matleena is a multi-talented pair dancing professional from Oulu. The “go get’em”-personality, humorous and straightforward feedback helps her students develop their skills with ease and a smile. Her pedagogical expertise is supported by the world-wide recognition of her high-level skills, for example competing at Boogie Woogie, Lindy Hop, West-coast Swing and many more.

Jean Philippe started dancing Boogie Woogie since he was 10 years old. He has trained in many different schools and as well as with Remy Kouakou Kouame. Throughout these years of practice and with his various partners, he has defined his own style. He got noticed first nationally and then internationally. Willing to orientate himself towards a more sociable approach of swing dances, he naturally got into Lindy Hop. Later, he studied Charleston and Balboa particularly with Anne-Helene and Bernard Cavasa. He is a fully skilled swing dancer who spices up his dance with hip Hop. Full of energy, he is constantly in search of new ways to make his dancing evolve, always aiming at more originality and complicity with his partner. Moreover, his dynamism has made him a well-known and appreciated teacher. Swing and Hip Hop teacher at a national level since 2006, he has been regularly called all over the world to share his passion for the past 4 years. Teacher for all levels and ages, he gathers everyone under his dancing vision: “Dance the way you are and, above all, have fun!”

åsa & Daniel Heedman (Swe)

(intermediate and advanced)

Åsa and Daniel Heedman have been dancing Lindy Hop for more than 25 years and have been dance partners since 2004. They have both been teaching and performing across Europe, North America and Asia with the legendary swing dance troupe The Harlem Hot Shots. Heedmans have dedicated many years focusing only on Lindy Hop and other dances from the same era like Authentic Jazz, Tap, Slow Drag and Charleston. Frankie Manning is their true inspiration and Åsa even had the opportunity to teach together with Frankie in the 1990’s. As teachers Åsa and Daniel focus on helping dancers find their own personal and unique way of expressing themselves and this way getting the best out of each and every one of their students. They also put a big emphasis on musicality and rhythms: the more you understand and feel the music and its rhythms the better you will be able to express yourself as a dancer. To Heedmans being a good dancer is not about advanced skills or how many figures you know but rather if you dare to feel and can express that through dancing. Good dancing makes you smile!

laura halttunen (fi)

(Solo Jazz, Blues)

Laura Halttunen is a performing dance teacher, event organizer and the owner and leader of Jazz Factory dance school plus performance groups Midnight Follies & Swingin’ Bootleggers. Laura has over 12 years of experience from the field and she’s also accumulated talent from international workshops and events in Europe for a decade, specializing in Jazz Roots Solo, Lindy Hop and Blues. Laura holds e.g. the second place from Europe’s Blues dance competition 2016 (Berlin Blues Explosion).

Laura trains dance students, performers, competitors and dance teachers. Laura is an energetic and lively teacher who puts her soul into what she’s doing. She caresses you with humour and whips you with technique while aiming to honour the roots of the dance and to convey its soul to the student. As one of the leading teachers in Helsinki Laura has especially been praised for her technical clarity in her teaching methods, technical authenticity, and the ability to disassemble the material according to the student’s level, going in-depth with body control and -awareness, while balancing between technical aspects and having fun. She’s been said to inspire her students to move towards improvisation, giving them the tools to get past their anxieties and reach their potential - the same elements Laura uses to live her passion: creating magnificent dance performances and exciting cabarets at her speakeasy-events.

PARTIES

Workshop prices include access to every party during the weekend.

Friday 8.5. at 19:00 - 23:00 Restaurant Vanha paloasema (Kauppurienkatu 24 A, 3rd floor)

Live music by John Terry Quintet
Party continues at the bar downstairs with a swing DJ from 23.00 to 24.00
Tickets at the door 20 €

Saturday 9.5. at 19:30 Restaurant Hilikku (Kasarmintie 8 H)

Live music by Kenneth Sjöwall's Dixie Dudes
Mix & Match competition, performance by SwingO show group and more
Tickets at the door 20 €

(NB! The first Blues taster for Lindy Hop levels is at 18:30-19:30 at Hilikku, before the party. We will continue on Sunday with the second taster.)

Sunday 10.5. "Burger dance", The Oulu version of tea dance (venue and time TBA)

Swing DJ
Free for everyone

John Terry Quintet

John Terry Quintet was formed in 2017 and consists of students from two local music schools. The band plays modern jazz and has arranged old jazz standards using new sounds. The band's strength lies in the ability to improvise together.

Kenneth Sjöwall's Dixie Dudes

This seven man band plays traditional Dixieland jazz that was born in New Orleans and was made famous by Louis Armstrong, among others. Sjöwall has gathered a merry bunch of professionals from the field and the result is fresh and lively jazz for the audience to enjoy.

Schedule

Please note that this schedule is not complete yet, we will add to it closer to the event.

The courses are held at Merikosken koulu (Merikoski school) in Tuira, Oulu (Itäkangastie 9).

Friday 8.5.

19:00 - 23:00 Party at Vanha paloasema (the attic) with John Terry Quintet

23:00 - 24:00 Swing music by a DJ at the restaurant downstairs

Saturday 9.5.

Lindy Hop, intermediate and advanced

9:00 - 9:30 Registration

9:30 - 9:45 Info meeting

9:45 - 10:15 AUDITION

10:15 - 10:30 Break

10:30 - 12:30 Lindy Hop

12:30 - 13:45 Lunch break

13:45 - 15:45 Lindy Hop

Lindy Hop, beginners

9:00 - 9:30 Registration

9:30 - 9:45 Info meeting

9:45 - 10:45 Lindy Hop

10:45 - 11:00 Break

11:00 - 12:00 Lindy Hop

12:00 - 13:15 Lunch break

13:15 - 14:15 Lindy Hop

Solo Jazz

9:00 - 9:30 Registration

9:30 - 9:45 Info meeting

9:45 - 10:45 Solo Jazz

10:45 - 11:00 Break

11:00 - 12:00 Solo Jazz

12:00 - 13:15 Lunch break

13:15 - 14:15 Solo Jazz

Party at restaurant Hilikku

18:30 - 19:30 Blues taster 1/2 for Lindy Hop levels

19:30 - 23:30 Party with Kenneth Sjöwall's Dixie Dudes (+ Mix & Match competition and performances)

Sunday 10.5.

Lindy Hop, intermediate and advanced

10:00 - 11:00 Blues taster 2/2

11:00 - 11:15 Break

11:15 - 12:15 Lindy Hop

12:15 - 13:15 Lunch break

13:15 - 15:15 Lindy Hop

15:15 - 15:30 Break

15:30 - 16:30 Lindy Hop

Lindy Hop, beginners

10:00 - 11:00 Blues taster 2/2

11:00 - 11:15 Break

11:15 - 12:15 Lindy Hop

12:15 - 13:15 Lunch break

13:15 - 14:15 Lindy Hop

14:15 - 14:30 Break

14:30 - 15:30 Lindy Hop

Solo Jazz

11:15 - 12:15 Solo Jazz

12:15 - 13:15 Lunch break

13:15 - 14:15 Solo Jazz

14:15 - 14:30 Break

14:30 - 15:30 Solo Jazz

"Burger dance"

The Oulu version of tea dance with a swing DJ (free for all, venue and time TBA)

registration

Registration is now open!

Please read our terms before registering: Terms concerning SwingO events

Registration form

Please note that registration to the advanced level is not possible, division to intermediate and advanced is determined in an audition in the beginning of the workshop.

Travelling

To Oulu

You can reach Oulu by plane (Finnair, Norwegian) and take a bus (numbers 8 and 9) or a taxi from the airport to the city center.

Train is a good option if you come from southern Finland. The fastest trains to Oulu from Helsinki or Jyväskylä take a little over 5 hours, from Tampere less than 4 hours, from Vaasa a little over 4 hours and from Turku approximately 6,5 hours. Railway station is located 2 km from the workshop site (Merikosken koulu) and 650 m from Friday’s party venue (Vanha paloasema). Train timetables: www.vr.fi

Onnibus drives to Oulu from most Finnish towns, see the routes and timetables here: https://new.onnibus.com/home Bus station is located next to the railway station.

In Oulu

If you are coming from the city center you can take a bus to the workshop site (Merikosken koulu). All buses going north will go through Tuira and stop near the school, for example buses number 2, 4A, 8 and 10. The bus stop in Tuira is called Merikoskenkatu P2 and it is located 350 m from the school.

Timetables and prices for local buses can be found here: https://www.ouka.fi/oulu/public-transport/

Contact information for taxi services can be found here: https://fixutaxi.fi/ or https://www.otaxi.fi/otaxi/

Accommodation

SwingO Hop participants can get a discount on hotel rooms during the workshop weekend (8th - 10th of May) in these two hotels:

Hotel Apollo

Asemakatu 31-33, 90100 Oulu

https://www.hotelapollo.fi/en/

Discount for SwingO Hop participants is -20 % off the price. Bookings by phone 08-522 11 or by email hotel@hotelapollo.fi. Remember to mention “SwingO Hop” in order to get the discount.

Hotel Apollo offers three types of rooms: economy, standard and attic rooms. Prices include Wi-Fi, breakfast buffet and access to the common sauna. There is free parking space behind the building.

The hotel is located 200 m from the railway station, 450 m from Friday’s party venue Vanha paloasema and 1 km from Saturday’s party venue Ravintola Hilikku. The workshop site Merikosken koulu is approximately 2 km from the hotel.

Hotel Lasaretti

Kasarmintie 13, 90130 Oulu

https://lasaretti.com/en/

Discount prices for SwingO Hop participants:

Classic Single room (one person): 95 € / one day, 180 € / two days

Classic Twin room (two people): 110 € / one day, 200 € / two days

Bookings by email lasaretti@lasaretti.com or by phone +358 20 757 4700. Remember to mention “SwingO Hop” in order to get the discount.

The room prices include breakfast buffet at the restaurant, Wi-Fi and access to the hotel’s sauna and fitness room. There is parking space at the hotel.

Hotel Lasaretti is located 1 km from the workshop site and almost next to Saturday’s party venue Ravintola Hilikku. Friday’s party venue Vanha paloasema is 1,5 km from the hotel.

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