SwinGradec 2026
Boutique Swing Festival
Everything you expect from a big festival — with the irresistible charm of a small one.
28. 8. - 30. 8. 2026
Slovenj Gradec — Slovenia
Three days where dance, music and people meet.
A Friday night in the countryside under a traditional hayrack.
Workshops, laughter and shared moments in the heart of Slovenj Gradec.
A Saturday grand finale under the stars at Rotenturn Castle.
Together, We Create The Experience...
Luisa and Lorenzo are part of a new generation of dancers shaping the European swing scene with creativity, musicality and a fresh perspective on jazz dances. Luisa’s background connects several dance disciplines and performing arts, while Lorenzo started dancing at a very young age through Boogie Woogie competitions before expanding his journey into the wider world of swing and jazz dances. Together they now teach, perform and share their passion at international festivals and workshops across Europe. Their teaching style combines clear explanations, strong musical awareness and plenty of space for creativity and improvisation. What really stands out when watching them dance is their energy and connection — the kind that makes the music visible and invites everyone around them to join the moment. (You can see them dancing from 1:58 in the video below.)
The SwingTones are a Slovenian swing band from Maribor that has been closely connected with the swing dance community since its beginnings in 2010. Over the years they have become one of the key groups nurturing and developing swing music culture in Slovenia and the wider region. Their sound draws inspiration from the great swing tradition of the 1930s and 40s, enriched with original compositions, fresh arrangements and a strong sense of rhythm that naturally invites people to the dance floor. In November 2025 the band celebrated their 15th anniversary, marking an important milestone in their musical journey. Now they are returning to the swing dance floor after some time — and we can’t wait to share that moment together. With vocals, guitar, double bass, drums and a powerful horn section, The SwingTones create a vibrant live sound full of energy, humour and authentic swing spirit.
What’s Waiting For You...
Built for social dancers who already enjoy the floor and are ready for more.
The goal of all workshops is to strengthen your dance technique and musicality,
and to enhance your dance presence through active learning and collaboration.
Dance Program:
I’M GETTING THERE
level 1: BEGINNER & level 2: IMPROVER
Dancers who have already explored the basics of Lindy Hop and are starting to feel comfortable on the social dance floor. You are familiar with core rhythms, connection and basic vocabulary, and are ready to build more confidence, consistency and flow in your dancing. Our festival is a great place to take that next step into social dancing and feeling truly at home on the dance floor.
I’VE GOT THIS
level 3: INT/ADV & level 4: ADV
Dancers with more experience who would consider themselves good, very comfortable or strong social dancers. You have already danced to faster tempos and can stay relaxed, musical and in control even when the music speeds up. You are ready to refine technique, expand vocabulary and deepen musical interpretation.
We will also offer at least one free taster class for all participants.
If time and capacity allows, we will open additional space for special boutique workshops — designed to explore the exceptional knowledge and diversity of our teachers and to inspire new directions, ideas, and possibilities in your dance.
ACCOMMODATION
We’ve secured initial lodging at Lešnik Tourist Farm, located less than 10 minutes from the city center. It offers a lovely setting for late-night gatherings and relaxed social time. Rooms and apartments of various sizes are available and will be assigned based on registrations. Please note that accommodation capacity is limited. They offer a unique sleeping experience in a traditional Slovenian hayrack (kozolec) – a charming wooden structure once used to dry hay, now adapted for beds. We recommend bringing your own sleeping bag and pillow. You can also choose to park your campervan on the premises.
At the moment, we are offering 3-day (Fri–Sun) packages only. Depending on interest and availability, additional festival options may be added later. Sleeping in a hayrack or your own campervan? Prices? Not early bird. Not last minute. It is what it is!
*ALL-IN FREESTYLE*
***SOLD OUT***
200€/person
Taster class
*ALL-IN IN THE HOUSE*
***SOLD OUT***
240€/person
Taster class
ALL-IN YOUR WAY
180€/person
Taster class
Groove, history and movement — shaped for dancers who want more.
Click the image to open the registration form.
Here you can see the current shape of the weekend — workshops, social moments, music, special extras and the general flow of the festival. This year, the schedule is designed to give both dancers and teachers enough space to enjoy the weekend properly. We want the workshops to have focus, the teachers to have enough time for what they would like to share, and the dancers to have room to learn, try, rest, connect and still enjoy the atmosphere around the festival.
We follow registrations closely and shape parts of the schedule as the festival grows. We encourage you to register as a couple, or use the Facebook event discussion to connect and find a dance partner — we truly appreciate this community spirit. If you register solo, we will keep you informed about the leader/follower balance and any possible waiting list, based on the order of registrations received. As numbers evolve, we may adapt groups and, if needed, open additional levels or boutique workshops. The goal is always the same: to make the most of the teachers, keep the groups balanced and create the best possible experience for everyone.
Schedule note:
Times and locations may be subject to small changes. In case of bad weather, some outdoor activities may move indoors. We reserve the right to adjust the schedule, locations, levels or workshop structure if needed for organizational reasons, weather conditions, registration balance or anything that helps the festival run more smoothly and pleasantly.
Last update - Version 2, valid from Friday, 27 August 2026
Slovenj Gradec lies in the northern part of Slovenia, in the Koroška region, surrounded by forests and gentle hills. Its history reaches back to Roman times, when the settlement was known as Colatio, later developing into an important trading and cultural town. Today it is a place of short distances and open encounters — perfect for an event built on connection. Slovenj Gradec is also a UNESCO City of Peace, home to galleries, cultural institutions and a lively creative spirit that can be felt throughout the town. The festival unfolds across carefully chosen locations that shape its atmosphere. Friday evening begins at Lešnik Tourist Farm, where under a traditional Slovenian hayrack and beside a centuries-old linden tree the first dance of the weekend comes to life. Saturday and Sunday move into the town itself, where workshops and evening dancing blend with the charm of the historic centre. From countryside warmth to the elegance of the town — every place adds its own note to the story.
SwinGradec is a vibrant community of swing dance enthusiasts from Slovenj Gradec, where swing is not just a dance — it is a way of bringing people together. What began as small social dance evenings has gradually grown into a gathering that now, for the eighth year, connects dancers, teachers and musicians from different places. But the spirit has remained the same. Each edition is shaped by the people who come — by the energy they bring and the moments that happen on the dance floor. SwinGradec is never exactly the same twice. Every year grows naturally with the dancers who join — their curiosity, their movement and the atmosphere they create together. The diversity of dancers is our inspiration: different paths, different levels, one shared floor. That is where the boutique character of the festival comes from — not from size, but from the way people are welcomed into it. We have everything you love about big events. And something many of them don’t — the irresistible charm of a small one.
Behind SwinGradec stands a small team that believes deeply in dance, music and community. But the festival is never created by one group alone. Teachers, musicians, volunteers and friends all contribute to the atmosphere that makes the event what it is. Some of the most memorable moments happen on the dance floor. Others appear quietly in conversations, encounters and spontaneous connections. And those moments are what truly shape the spirit of SwinGradec.
