Time and Place
When? Tartu Summer Swing 2023 will take place on the 11th – 13st August 2023.
Where? In Alatskivi: a small town, located 40 km from Tartu. It’s possible to travel there using public transport. Note that our final event on the Sunday evening will take place in Tartu itself.
By the way: this is the 7th time that Tartu Summer Swing has taken place. To see more about what’s come before, take a look here: https://tartuswing.ee/klubist/tartu-summer-swing/
Teachers
Gas&Alba
We are Swing and Blues passionate, the music, the culture, the dances that emerged from them (Blues, Lindy hop, Balboa, Vernacular Jazz). We have changed our lifes to devote our time to them. We focus on studying them every day, to keep improving daily, as teachers and as dancers. In 2013 our pathways cross and our shared passion lead us to create Big Mama Swing in Madrid (an institute dedicated to swing and blues in Madrid) and also to work together as international dance partners and keep traveling together. This couple has lead us to work all over the world, from Melbourne (Ej. Hullabaloo -for lindy hop- to Melbourne -Blues after sunrise) to New York (Nocturne Blues), and above all and mainly all over Europe. Just to name a couple of important events among them: Herrang Dance Camp (3 editions, both lindy and slow dance), Snowball (slow dance), Lindy shock (Lindy). Read more about Gas&Alba https://en.gasandalba.com/
Vilmantas Balynas & Simona Sindriūnaitė
Vilmantas is one of the main Lindy Hop community builders in Kaunas, Lithuania. He has a smooth dance style and more than 10 years of experience in teaching swing dances, so he is always happy to share his knowledge and skills with students. Being open-minded, searching for freedom in dance, and expressing musicality through the body that’s what drive Vilmantas through his dancing journey. Simona has started her lindy hop journey back in 2016. At the time she had a background of other dance styles but lindy hop was the one true match.
People, music, performances, and festivals are what inspire her to explore even more and try new things. Every triple step she makes is passionate and every rock step is filled with energy and joy.
Classes
On Saturday there’ll be four classes and on Sunday there’ll be two. The classes will take place in two halls within Alatskivi school. Finally, on Sunday there will be one blues taster before Sunday party. Registration for the taster class will open on Sunday morning.
Parties
On the 11th August, there’ll be a dance night close to Alatskivi Castle at the driving horse stable exhibition hall. On the stage, there’ll be the Home Jazz Band from Vilnius. The bar will be open for drinks
On the 12th August, there’ll be a dance party with an accompanying band in the fairytale-like Alatskivi Castle. On the stage, there’ll be the Home Jazz Band. If you would like to have dinner at the Castle then please pre-book on the registration form.
On the 13th August, the festival’s final dance party will take place back in Tartu at the Living Room Behind the Stage at Aparaaditehas (Kastani 42, Tartu). Music by various DJ-s. It’s possible to drink and eat inside the Aparaaditehas area.
Band
The Home Jazz Band is a traditional jazz and swing band from Vilnius, Lithuania. The bandleader, Mindaugas Bikauskas, is known as one of the main lindyhop and swing dance scene builders in Vilnius and as bandleader of the first traditional jazz youth band Rhythm Junkies, who were originally was formed from dancers for dancers. The Home Jazz Band is a perfect match for people who like to dance. They rediscover old jazz songs and spice them up with a New Orleans hopping flavour and jazz golden era swinging
Home Jazz Band is a traditional jazz and swing band from Vilnius, Lithuania. The bandleader, Mindaugas Bikauskas, is known as one of the main lindyhop and swing dance scene builders in Vilnius and bandleader of the first traditional jazz youth band Rhythm Junkies, who originally was formed from dancers to dancers. Also, consisting with one of the best jazz musicians and an international jazz dance instructor, Mindaugas, as a band leader, Home Jazz Band is a perfect match for dancers or people who like to dance. They rediscover old jazz songs and spices them up with New Orleans flavour hoping and jazz golden era swinging. Their concert is an easy time machine ticket back to the 20’s, 30’s and 40’s.
Having played together now for almost a decade, the Home Jazz Band have started to question the terms “swing” and “jazz”, pushing at the boundaries, trying to find what it is that makes people dance and swing hard on the floor. So let’s meet on the dance floor and find out what jazz is together
Mindaugas Bikauskas – guitar/vocals
Marius Zaremba – clarinet
Dominykas Vyšniauskas – trumpet
Denis Murašov – double bass
Andrius Kairys – drums
Accommodation
We’ve got permission to stay at Alatskivi school: a real Summer Camp experience! You should bring along your own sleeping mat and sleeping bag, and if you wish, your own pillow etc. Likewise, the school’s shower rooms will be at our disposal. Of course, if you prefer, you can travel each day from home to Alatskivi and back, or alternatively look for alternative accommodation along the Onion Route.
Food
The school cooks are returning from their Summer breaks to prepare food for us on a Saturday and Sunday: both breakfast and lunch. Vegetarians will be catered for too.
On Friday night, there is no pre-arranged food. But Kivi Pub, the Castle Restaurant, and the Manner Stables bar will all be open. There’s also a Coop supermarket and an Olerex petrol station in Alatskivi, where you can buy food and drink.
On Saturday night we’ll eat together at the Alatskivi Castle restaurant. Though for this, you should register in advance (you can do this on the registration form).
Prices
Until the end of the 23rd June i.e. Early Bird:
- Basic Package 240 € (classes, all parties).
- Accommodation and meals at the school 50€ (2 night’s stay and 4 meals).
- Dinner on Saturday at the Alatskivi Castle restaurant 35 € (main course and dessert; there is a vegetarian option).
Prices from the 24rd June:
- Basic Package 280 € (classes, all parties).
- Accommodation and meals at the school 50€ (2 night’s stay and 4 meals).
- Dinner on Saturday at the Alatskivi Castle restaurant 35 € (main course and dessert; there is a vegetarian option).
Schedule
11. August
- 17.00-19.00 Participant registration at Alatskivi school.
- 19.00-01.00 Opening party and good times at the Alatskivi Manor Stables bar.
12. August
- 09.00-10.00 Breakfast
- 10.00-13.15 Classes
- 13.15-14.45 Lunch
- 14.45-17.00 Classes
- 19.00 Dinner at the Alatskivi Castle restaurant (for those who register for it)
- 20.00 Party starts
13. august
- 10.00-11.00 Breakfast
- 11.00-13.15 Classes
- 13.15-14:15 Lunch
- Packing and Travel to Tartu
- 20.00 Party in Tartu at the Living Room Behind the Stage
FAQ
How can I cancel my registration?
If you’ve registered and paid your participation fee, it’s non-refundable. In case of Covid-19 positive test results with pcr test, then you’ll get 50% of your participation fee back.
How do I pay the participation fee?
After you fill out the registration form, the Tartu Summer Swing (TSS) team will send you a confirmation email. We’ll include information on how to pay the fee in that confirmation email. We ask that you pay through a bank transfer payment. If you need a receipt, then please let the TSS team know and we’ll sort one out for you.
How quickly do I need to pay for participation?
You should pay the participation fee within 7 days of receiving the above mentioned confirmation email from the TSS team
I’ve not yet received the confirmation email. What should I do?
If you’ve already waited 3 working days for the confirmation email, and for some reason you’ve still not received it, then get in touch—write to us at: swingtartu@gmail.com
What does it mean to be on “the waiting list”?
As part of the registration process, you’ll be added automatically to a waiting list. The TSS team uses the information you provide about your experience to place you into a particular level/group, and formally registers you before then sending you a confirmation email. The first confirmation emails will be sent (probably) within one week of the opening of registration. Our experience with previous events leads us to believe that those who register without a partner tend to stay on the waiting list for longer; for this reason, we recommend that you search for a partner with whom you can register (i.e. that you register together as a follow and a lead). NB: We will make sure that for every unpaired participant there’s at most 6 paired participants (this sets an upper limit to how frequently a person will be partnerless in a class as participants change partners therein).
What levels are there for the classes?
This Summer the classes will take place at two levels (Continuers and Advanced). To join the Continuers’ group, you need to at least: have completed a lindy hop beginners’ course; know the basic 6 and 8 count rhythms; and know how to do a swing out and a lindy circle. We ask that you be as precise as possible about your previous dance experience when filling out the registration form—it’s on the basis of this information that participants will be distributed into the two levels. NB: The teachers may well redistribute participants between the two levels “on the day”, given what they intend to teach and what they think would produce optimally productive classes for all concerned.
Do I have to register with a partner?
You do not have to register with a partner. However, if you register with a partner and you are roughly at the same level, then both of you are guaranteed a place in the classes. Though bear in mind that both partners must register separately (where one partner takes up the follow role and the other takes up the lead role).
When does registration open at the event itself?
Registration is open on the 11th August between 17.00 and 19.00 at Alatskivi school. We ask those who arrive later than 19.00 to come directly to the party at the Alatskivi driving horse stable exhibition hall. It’ll also be possible to register on the morning of the 12th August between 09:45 and 10:00.
We should state the obvious:
In case some of the teachers don’t reach Estonia because their flights have been cancelled (there’s a strike, or a major delay or something similar), then Tartu Swing will endeavor to find alternative means to hold the classes. But obviously, in this eventuality, we wouldn’t be able to guarantee that the classes that were announced will take place.”
Withdrawal and cancellation
If the festival is canceled due to the organizers (personal reasons), participants will be reimbursed 100% of the participation fee.
The participant has the right to resell his ticket, with the permission of the organizers, to a dancer of the same level and performing the same role.
Data protection
In the camp, photos and videos are taken of both classes and parties. They are used on Tartu Swing’s social media and website.
The personal data collected for the organization of the festival will be kept by the NGO Tartu Swing for only two years.
Additional information
The organizers may make minor changes to the festival programs and schedule, which the participants will be informed about.
Contact Information
If you’ve got any questions, then we’d prefer that you write to us with those questions by email: swingtartu@gmail.com
However, if your question is urgent, then feel free to call one of the following:
Ingmar 56631133
Maie 56672603
Lili 5100967
Liis 56480065
Key places on the map