Sicily Swing Fest

Early Birds until April 10th

LOCATION

The location is called Land, formerly the old Customs House from the end of the 19th century, and is located at the port in the historic center of Catania, in this way all guests will be able to reach the venue on foot.

La location si chiama Nu Land, già vecchia Dogana di fine 800, ed è situata al porto nel centro storico di Catania, in questo modo tutti gli ospiti potranno raggiungere la location a piedi.

Land Catania | Via Cardinale Dusmet | Catania | Italy

TEACHERS

TASTER CLASS

BANDS

DJS

MC

NEW

PROGRAM

Wednesday 09 September

Land | MINÀ ROOM (Rooftop 2° Floor)

21:00 / 02:00 Check-in | Open Desk

21.00 / 02:00 PRE-PARTY

DJ Set Claudia, Bunny Donowitz

Thursday 10 September

14:30 / 00:00 Check-in | Open Desk

15:30 / 19:45 Lessons

Land | LEVANTE ROOM

21:00 / 22:00 Taster class Balboa – Akos & Bogi

22.00 / 02:00 PARTY

Live: Jumpin’up

DJ Set

Friday 11 September

Land

09:30 / 00:00 Check-in | Open Desk

10:30 / 19:00 Lessons

Land | LEVANTE ROOM

16:45 / 17:45 Talk – From the Pages to the Dance Floor: The Biographies of Frankie and Norma Presented by Bunny Donowitz

Land | MINA’ ROOM

19:00 / 20:00 Competitions: Prelims

Land | LEVANTE ROOM

21:00 / 22:00 Taster class Lindy Hop – Lester & Janice

22:00 / 02:00 PARTY

Live: The Big Five Swing Band feat Sam Ghezzi

DJ Set

Teachers Presentations

Competition: Final M&M – Lindy hop / Balboa

Land | FUTURA ROOM

00:00 – 02:00 PARTY: BLUES | SLOW BAL

DJ Set

Land | MINA’ ROOM

02:30 / 04:30 After Party

DJ Set

Saturday 12 September

Land

09:30 / 00:00 Check-in | Open Desk

10:30 / 18:45 Lessons

Land | LEVANTE ROOM

21:00 / 22:00 Taster Class Lindy Hop – Lester & Janice

22:00 / 02:00 PARTY

Live: The Big Five Swing Band + special guest Sam Ghezzi

DJ-Set

Teachers Show

Competition: Final Strictly – Lindy hop / Balboa

Land | FUTURA ROOM

00:00 – 02:00 PARTY: BLUES | SLOW BAL

DJ Set

Land | MINA’ ROOM

02:30 / 04:30 After Party

DJ Set

Sunday 13 September

Land

10:30 / 00:00 Check-in | Open Desk

10:30 / 18:45 Lessons

Land | LEVANTE ROOM

18:00 / 19:00 Talk – Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers: The Crew That Shocked the World and Made History Presented by Bunny Donowitz

Land | LEVANTE ROOM

21:00 / 22:00 Taster class Balboa – Akos & Bogi

22.00 / 02:30 PARTY

Live: The Big Five Swing Band

Competition: Solo Jazz

DJ Set

WORKSHOP

Download Workshop Schedule

LEVELS

Based on your self-assessment, choose the level that best fits your skills, modesty, and ambition. Remember, creating a comfortable atmosphere in the classes is everyone’s responsibility. Choose the level where you feel you can contribute positively while also challenging yourself appropriately.

IMPROVERS: To join the improvers level you need to have been dancing at last more than one year, you know the basics and some variations, and you’re comfortable with medium tempos but want to improve on faster tempos and learn more complicated shapes and rhythms.

INTERMEDIATE: You’ve been dancing for more than 3 years, attending regular lessons, social dances, and international workshops. You can handle any tempo and improvise according to the music changes.Expect to be challenged with more complex patterns and a focus on musicality.

ADVANCED: Your dance is full of rhythms and shapes, and you know some fancy moves. You attend international workshops regularly and are always at advanced levels. You’re interested in working on new steps and improving technique and musicality.Rhythmical sensitivity is an asset to be able to follow classes at this level.

ADVANCED PLUS: No tempos scares you, and you are comfortable dancing to fast tempo up to 250 bpm. You are resourceful in your dancing and don’t hesitate to compete in international festivals.

OPEN CLASS REQUIREMENTS

ROOTS AND FLOW (Tyedric): To join the Roots & Flow class, you don’t need advanced experience. Some basic Solo Jazz fundamentals can be helpful, but what truly matters is coming with curiosity, openness, and a genuine willingness to dive in. This session will explore the meeting point between Sicilian culture and the African American roots of the dance, inviting participants to move with awareness, freedom, and a spirit of exploration.

FAST LINDY HOP: To join the Fast Lindy Hop classes, participants should already be comfortable with the fundamentals of Lindy Hop. In particular, we ask that you feel confident and smooth in your swing out (as a lead or follow), so you can fully enjoy the faster tempos and variations typical of this level.

AERIALS: To join the Aerials classes, you should have a solid Lindy Hop foundation and feel secure working in partnership. We require stable connection, reliable timing, and safe partner handling, along with good mobility, the ability to support your own weight, and no physical limitations that could compromise safety. These requirements are essential to approach lifts and aerial figures with control and mutual protection

SLOW LINDY: To join the Slow Lindy classes, you should have a solid grasp of the basic Lindy Hop fundamentals. We ask for steady connection and good movement control, so you can approach slower tempos with precision, awareness, and mutual safety.

COMPETITIONS

LINDY HOP STRICTLY
Open Level

This competition is open to any level of dancers.
Leaders and followers sign up in couple.
If you reach the final in LH strictly competition you will not be able to participate in the LH final M&M

LINDY HOP MIX & MATCH
Open Level

This competition is open to any level of dancers.
Leaders and followers sign up individually

BALBOA STRICTLY
Open Level

This competition is open to any level of dancers.
Leaders and followers sign up in couple.
If you reach the final in Balboa strictly competition you will not be able to participate in the Balboa final M&M

BALBOA MIX & MATCH
Open Level

This competition is open to any level of dancers.
Leaders and followers sign up individually.

SOLO JAZZ COMPETITION
Open Level

This competition is open to any level of dancers.
Dancers sign up individually.

Prelims will be held on Friday at 9:30 pm
Finals will be held on Saturday night during the party

A couple consists of one lead and one follow.

Leaders may be any gender.
Followers may be any gender.