Skill-Up Saturday, January 10th

If you want to take part in Saturdays‘ events, you need to register for the Saturday pass. There are no separate party passes available (sorry!) – it is an all-inclusive pass: three workshops with three different teachers, a history talk and a party with live band.

Our Saturday pass comes in three different tracks: misty, rainy, and stormy. Attention: You will need dancing experience in both roles for all of them – the harsher the weather, the more experimental the classes will be. Each track includes one Solo Jazz class and two Lindy Hop classes. Each track will have one class with each of our guest teacher teams.

Track descriptions

Misty: You have some Lindy Hop experience in both dance roles. Alternatively you have been dancing in one role for a while and only started recently to learn the other role. You know 6- and 8-counts, but might still struggle mixing them. You are ready to start experimenting with musicality and work on lead-follow-connection. (If you regularly dance in Aachen, you are ready for this class if you have finished one of our beginner lindy hop class blocks.)
Rainy: You feel comfortable mixing 6- and 8-counts on the social dance floor in both roles. You have already heard of common Solo Jazz moves like Fall off the Log or Susie Q. You are ready to incorporate different rhythms in your partner dancing and learn some simple switch moves.
Stormy: You don’t need to know many different moves but you are a confident social dancer in both roles. You are curious to think and dance outside the box and open to listen to your own voice. Ready to challenge yourself? Hold on to your umbrella!

Workshop Schedule and Locations

The three workshop locations are located close to each other (see main page). Which classes will happen where will be announced soon.

Teachers

We have invited six weatherproof dance teachers with a lot of teaching experience. We are more than happy to welcome Perrine & Caro, Elif & Vural and Katrin & Jesús to Swingin‘ in the Rain 2026!

Perrine & Caro

After several years of ballet, modern jazz and ballroom dancing, Perrine (she/her) discovered the freedom and the music of Swing in Berlin in 2015. After her return to her hometown, Lyon, she began to explore the family of Swing dances. In 2018, she started teaching Lindy Hop and Charleston whilst training in related dance styles such as Balboa, Boogie Woogie and West Coast Swing. In recent years, her curiosity for movement made her focus more on her leading and switching skills. Perrine’s educational background in languages makes her particularly aware of the role of dance as a means of communication that crosses barriers that words cannot. She is therefore very happy to share her passion for the dance and its rhythms in the spirit of connection. Perrine’s sunny character lights up her workshops and her trademark laugh brings warmth to each dancefloor she joins.

Since her early childhood, Caro (she/her) has found joy in movement — dancing, to her, has always been a way of connecting with the music and oneself. In 2016, she discovered Lindy Hop and, over time, fell in love with its rhythm and possibilities for self-expression.

Over the years, conversations within the Jazz Dance community have encouraged Caro to reflect more deeply on the roots, values, and cultural context of the dance. She believes it’s essential to keep learning from and listening to the Black American community that created and continues to shape this art form. This awareness and curiosity continue to guide her approach both on and off the dance floor.

Elif & Vural

Elif (she/her) has been exposed to strict, structured kind of movements from figure skating as a child. After her encounter with jazz music and dance seeing the idea of self-expression and being able to go wild with the movement initiated her enthusiasm for the jazz world.
Vural (he/him) was always fascinated by music, rhythm and movement. Discovering jazz and swing dancing opened up a new world where improvisation, playfulness and musicality come together. What started as curiosity quickly grew into a passion, shaping the way he listens to music and the way he connects with people.
Elif and Vural, both, encountered dancing to jazz music in their university student dance association: KUDANS Swing. Since then, they have performed at various events, joined festivals across different cities, and competed in multiple levels of swing dance competitions. For them, jazz dance is not only about steps and technique, but about sharing joy, creativity, and expression on and off the dance floor.

Katrin & Jesús

Katrin (she/her) and Jesús (he/him) discovered Lindy Hop in 2012 at a party where their love of the music of the 30s and 40s led them. What they find particularly fascinating about the dance is the stimulating communication and equal interaction between leader and follower, the wide scope for creativity and improvisation that is characteristic of Lindy Hop and the infectious joy that comes from the music and the dynamic movement of the dancers.

The two have been teaching Lindy Hop since 2015. It is important to them that the dancers intuitively grasp the dance in a relaxed and appreciative atmosphere. The technical aspects, the connection to social dance and the inspiring effect of the music always play a major role. In May 2019, they founded their own dance school Swing Times in Cologne. We are very happy to have them here again at Swingin‘ in the Rain 2026!

It’s party time!

History Talk: Resilience in Black Music History with Randy

19:30 – 20:15, Foyer Nadelfabrik

We love swing, jazz and dancing, but Black music is more than the beat. From swing to funk to disco, it carries a history of resilience and strength. Join Randy in a relaxed talk and feel the power behind the music we love.

Party with Thimo Niesterok and his Cologne Hepcats & DJ Hot Soup

20:15 – 01:00, Foyer Nadelfabrik

Get groovin‘ to live music from Thimo Niesterok and his Cologne Hepcats and the special selection of DJ Hot Soup (aka Randy). Be prepared for some extra surprises! The Saturday party is included in our Saturday pass. Due to limited capacity, there are no single party tickets available (sorry!).

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