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SAVE THE DATE. BAL’DAMn! 5 Anniversary will be on 4-7 MARCH 2027.
A weekend dedicated to Balboa! Inspiring Teachers, Live Music, Socials and fun Community games! Stay tuned to see the whole LINEUP and Program!
CHECK the VIBE from our last AFTERMOVIE!
ARTISTS
Olga & Andreas
Olga & Andreas
Olga Marina is from Moscow and was born into a family of teachers (language and music) and since early years has been an energetic live wire – studying music, doing athletics, martial arts and gymnastics. Olga has been teaching and competing all over Europe and is regarded as one of the best balboa followers in Europe. Andreas lives in Stockholm. He has been teaching, competing and performing Balboa, Lindy Hop, Charleston, Collegiate and St. Louis Shag internationally for more than a decade. Andreas is regarded as one of the top Balboa teachers and dancers of the world.
As instructors, Andreas and Olga emphasize partnership, musicality and follow-leading abilities. They have an easy-going, relaxed way of teaching. They are known for giving well-structured classes and they always try to give their students lots of individual feedback. Their ambition is to create playful classes filled with interesting footwork, figures, fun tasks and laughter.
Jennifer & Gio
Jennifer & Gio
Gio and Jenn are coming back to the BAL’DAMn dance floor, and this will be their second time teaming up together!
Who’s Next?
We’ve now revealed two teacher couples for the upcoming BAL’DAMn…
who do you think will be next? 👀
Can you guess their name?
We’ve now revealed two teacher couples for the upcoming BAL’DAMn…
who do you think will be next? 👀
LEVELS
IMPORTANT: many of our classes are ELEF (everybody leads everybody follows), as we strive for pure EQUALITY. ELEF provides equal challenges & opportunities in dancing and results in people being nicer to each other due to seeing the other side of the coin. This way of dancing elevates the communication within the dance and prioritizes the conversational value of Afro-American dances. In addition, we strive to break through gender stereotype’s which ELEF classes achieve by everybody dancing with everybody and having to deal with their own biases.
NOT SURE WHICH LEVEL SUITS YOU?
Please reach out privately to Swing Philosophy (Whatsapp: +31653577930)
LINDY HOP: These workshops are for experienced dancers: comfortable with fast tempo’s, swing outs, sugar pushes and tandem Charleston.
INs&OUTs (ELEF): You have taken a couple classes OR one block of weekly classes OR you are new to Balboa, but you have been dancing other types of swing dances, and you are ready to learn fast.
SLIDE UP (ELEF): Your basics are steady (down/up hold basics, lollies, paddles, out & ins, throw out/come around). Social dancing is a no brainer for you, you participate often in workshops and festivals, but you would like to broaden your vocabulary and get more technical/musical about your dancing. You understand the value of both roles and the necessity of learning what your partner needs so that you can be in a total sink.
SWIVEL UP (PICK A ROLE with AUDITION): You comply with SLIDE UP level requirements and no tempo scares you. Dancers will be required to dance to fast tempo up to 250 bpm and feel comfortable with rhythm and improvisation. You are taking part in international festivals on a higer level and you travel regularly for Balboa events. There will be an audition.
THROW OUT (PICK A ROLE with AUDITION): Balboa is life for you! You teach and compete in Balboa. You improvise even in your sleep and create your own things in the dance. You geek out on the music and you are well read upon the history of Balboa. There will be an audition and if the teachers see you are not up for the level they will move you to SWIVEL UP level.
AUDITIONS for SWIVEL UP & THROW OUT: During the auditions the teachers will split the group in two groups of dancers who are as equal as possible to each others level.
MUSICIANS
Friday
We’ll be revealing three amazing bands for the upcoming BAL’DAMn…
Who do you think will be the first to be announced? 👀
Saturday
We’ll be revealing three amazing bands for the upcoming BAL’DAMn…
Who do you think will be the first to be announced? 👀
Sunday
We’ll be revealing three amazing bands for the upcoming BAL’DAMn…
Who do you think will be the first to be announced? 👀
ALL CLASSES AND PARTIES
WILL BE AT DE KOMPASZAAL
ACCOMODATION
Amsterdam is a very popular city, so reserving a hotel should be done well in advance. Prices are much cheaper outside the city center.
We recommend staying at StayOkay OOST Hostel (20 min walk from our venue, 10 bike ride), use our DISCOUNT code “KZHOUSING” on their website and get 10% off the price!
If you already booked the accommodation, you can still re-book and use the code! Also lots of places available through AirBnB.
Our venue is easily accessible!
– Public transportation: the venue is reachable by public transportation, check 9292.nl and Google Maps for details.
– Car: parking in Amsterdam City Center is all awfully expensive, prices differ per neighbourhood and time, check parkeren in Amsterdam. Parking in the neighbourhood of the venue costs EUR 4.50 an hour, but you can also buy a day ticket, so please check the options.
– Bicycle: rental bikes are everywhere in the city, see for example A-bike, Donkey Republic.
