Fallin' for Swing
Fallin’ for Swing 2026
2026 marks the 4th year of Fallin’ for Swing – a swing dance weekend in the historic city of Odense.
We offer classes in lindy hop and collegiate shag, as well as parties with great live bands.
We’ve listened to your feedback from last year, and Fallin’ for Swing will no longer be a fast-feet-focused event. However, the bands will still cater to both the lindy hop and shag crowds.
So many new and exciting things are coming—stay tuned! Announcements will begin soon.
Locations
Friday
Welcome party at Frølageret, Farvergården 7, 5000 Odense
Saturday
Collegiate Shag at Ejerslykkeskolen Rødegårdsvej 164, 5230 Odense
Lindy hop at Phønix Schacksgade 39, 5000 Odense
Party with community dinner and live band at Logen Albanigade Albanigade 16, 5000 Odense
Sunday
Classes – same locations as Saturday
Tea dance at Studenterhus Odense, Amfipladsen 6, 5000 Odense
The Classes
Collegiate Shag – Beginner
This level is for you if you are completely new to Collegiate Shag – or if you have only tried it a few times before.
We will start from the basics and work with the fundamental rhythm, connection and some of the classic moves of Collegiate Shag.
You don’t need any previous Shag experience. Experience with Lindy Hop or other swing dances can be helpful, but it is not required.
Collegiate Shag – Intermediate
This level is for dancers who already know the basics of Collegiate Shag and are comfortable social dancing it.
You should be familiar with the basic rhythm and common Shag figures and be able to keep your rhythm without having to think too much about the basic footwork. You have some experience dancing Shag socially and are ready to work with more variations, musicality, connection and faster tempos.
You don’t need to be an expert – the important thing is that the fundamentals are already in place.
Lindy Hop – Intermediate
This level is for dancers who are comfortable with the basics of Lindy Hop and have been dancing regularly for a while.
You are comfortable with both 6-count and 8-count rhythms, and moves like swing outs, tuck turns and circles are already part of your dancing. You can social dance to different tempos and are beginning to feel comfortable adding variations and playing with the music.
You don’t need to know everything – but the basic rhythms and movements should feel familiar enough that you can focus on new ideas rather than just remembering the steps.
Lindy Hop – Advanced
This level is for experienced Lindy Hop dancers who have been dancing regularly for several years and feel confident on the social dance floor.
You have a solid understanding of Lindy Hop fundamentals and are comfortable with different rhythms, tempos and types of connection. You can adapt your dancing to different partners and music, and you are used to working with more complex material in class.
At this level, we expect you to be able to learn at a fairly quick pace and to be interested in details such as rhythm, connection, musicality and individual expression.
The Party Passes
(If you have a full pass ticket with classes, all parties are included).
Full Party Pass
Join us for our parties on both Friday and Saturday, featuring tasters, live bands, and surprises! You are also more than welcome to join us for the tea dance on Sunday.
Remember to add a community dinner ticket to your registration if you would like to join us for dinner on Saturday.
Friday Party Pass
Join us for our Friday party at Følageret in the centre of Odense, featuring a live band, a taster in Fun and Playfulness, and much more!
As the venue is smaller, we only have a limited number of Friday Party Passes available.
Saturday Party Pass
Join us for our Saturday party at Logen Albanigade, featuring a taster, live music by Southland Jazzband, and surprises!
Remember to add a community dinner ticket to your registration if you would like to join us for dinner on Saturday.
The Teachers
Karen (IT) & Joseph (UK)
Karen Fantasia is an Italian freelance dancer and teacher. She was initially trained in classical ballet, later graduating in both ballet and contemporary dance.
About ten years ago, she encountered swing dance for the first time, profoundly transforming her understanding of movement, music and rhythm.
She is a Lindy Hop and Solo Jazz instructor, active within the national and international swing dance scenes as a dancer, teacher and performer, and regularly teaches at different schools and dance communities across Italy.
Her work weaves together the technical rigor and expressive research of classical and contemporary dance with the freedom, musicality, improvisation and deep listening inherent to swing. Her classes strongly focus on musical awareness, a natural approach to movement, and on finding pleasure and joy through dance.
Joseph is currently one of the UK’s busiest dance teachers and educators of African American dances such as the Lindy Hop, 20’s Charleston, Blues and Authentic solo Jazz, inspiring people with his passion, fun and high energy classes.
He started out as a Jazz Funk and African dancer in the 1970’s, then Hip Hop, Dance Hall and Blues Dancing in the 1980’s, followed by Lindy Hop and other swing dances in the 1990s.
Over the last 30 years he’s been learning from, mentored by and teaching with or alongside some of the 1930’s Savoy Ballroom elders such as Norma Miller, Frankie Manning, Barbara Billups, Sugar Sullivan and Sonny Allen, plus jazz training with Chazz Young and Chester Whitmore.
He has taught, performed and educated in almost 30 countries throughout Europe, USA, Asia and Africa.
Karen and Joseph will be teaching Lindy Hop on both intermediate and advanced level
Maja & Teis (DK)
For Maja and Teis, Collegiate Shag is first and foremost about having fun. They combine a playful approach with a strong focus on technique, body awareness and finding ways to stay relaxed – even when the music gets fast.
Maja and Teis`s style of collegiate shag is a unique mix of colourful variations, improvisation and musicality. Swing is their passion – and rhythm must be too. These two crazy kids are more aware of dancing to that pulsing music together in the moment than letting choreographies lead their steps.
Based in Copenhagen, Maja and Teis have taught Collegiate Shag to dancers at all levels, from complete beginners to experienced shagsters. And they have been a main force in getting Copenhagen on the world map of shag.
And if there is one thing they particularly love, it is dancing fast! Their international competition journey took off in 2017 when they won the endurance competition at BCN Shag Festival. The victory brought them to LA Shag Festival, where they once again put their fast feet to the test and took 1st place.
Since then, Maja and Teis have travelled across Europe and the US to teach, dance, compete and perform. They have collected several titles and podium finishes along the way – but at the heart of their dancing, the goal remains the same: sharing their love of Swing, rhythm and Collegiate Shag while having as much fun as possible.
Maja and Teis will be teaching Collegiate Shag at both beginner and intermediate levels
Jana & Kai (DE)
Jana & Kai are a teaching couple united by their love for Collegiate Shag, swing music, and the joy of social dancing.
Jana started dancing in early childhood, exploring a wide range of styles including ballroom, ballet, modern and Irish dance before finding her passion for swing and Collegiate Shag. Kai discovered Lindy Hop in his early thirties and took his first Collegiate Shag classes in the beginner track: “Landlubber” at Shag Ahoi in 2018.
As local teachers and active members of Hamburg’s shag community, they are dedicated to fostering and growing their local scene. In their classes, they encourage dancers to focus less on appearances and more on having fun, building genuine connections, and enjoying the shared moment on the dance floor. Their goal is to create a welcoming atmosphere where everyone can explore, connect, and leave with a smile
Jana and Kai will be teaching Collegiate Shag at both beginner and intermediate levels.
Güneş & Marcus (DE)
The Music
Southland Jazzband
Line-up:
- Asbjørn Kamban – trumpet
- Anders Ringgaard – trombone and vocals
- Guy Moscoso – clarinet and saxophone
- Jon Bjarnason – banjo and vocals
- Jens Holgersen – double bass
Nomad Cats
Nomad Cats deliver tight, swinging jazz with a burning passion for tradition and a stage presence that can be felt throughout the room. Rooted in the American ballrooms of the 1930s, the band blends lively uptempo tunes with atmospheric ballads, giving melodies and improvisations room to breathe.
Søren Høst’s saxophone playing pays tribute to masters such as Hawkins, Lockjaw and Griffin, while Andreas Ugorskij works up a sweat with his Django Reinhardt-inspired guitar playing. Together, the band’s infectious swing, energy and sheer joy of playing will get both feet tapping and faces smiling.
Dust off your dancing shoes – Nomad Cats are coming!
Nomad Cats will be playing at our Friday night party!
Line-up:
- Søren Høst – Saxophone
- Andreas Ugorskij – Guitar/Vocals
- Rosa Salomon – Double Bass
- Morten Hæsum – Drums/Vocals
The Tasters
Taster on Friday – Fun & Playfullness with Patricia and Alexander
Taster on Saturday – St. Louis Shag with Niomi and Isabel
This event is supported by:
Odense Kommune
&
Nordjyllandsfonden
