TARTU SUMMER SWING 10

7–9 August 2026 | Tartu, Estonia

Hello, dear dancer!

This year, the swing dance festival Tartu Summer Swing takes place on 7–9 August 2026 in Tartu, Estonia. It will be our 10th time organising this festival! See what happened at our previous festivals.

Tartu Summer Swing 2026 brings together swing dancing, live swing music, and kind people. It’s a lovely chance to enjoy Lindy Hop, meet others, and spend time together in the warm summer days of Tartu.

Come dance with us – see You in Tartu!

Warmly,
The Tartu Summer Swing team

Teachers

There will be two pairs of teachers for Lindy Hop and one pair of teachers for Balboa.

Vassiliki & Viktor

Vassiliki Papadopoulou from Greece and Viktor Lillard from the United States are internationally recognized teachers of Lindy Hop and Authentic Jazz dance, actively involved in the European swing dance scene. They will be teaching Lindy Hop at two levels, as well as the Lindy Hop theme class (theme: Bridging the Gap Between Styles) at Tartu Summer Swing.

Vassiliki’s dancing is characterized by energy, creativity, and strong personal expression. She teaches and performs actively and is part of the Athens-based Rhythm Hoppers team, sharing her love for dance both in her home country and at international festivals.

As an instructor, Viktor seeks to present dance in a comprehensive experience of jazz music, with emphasis on historical and cultural context. He values lineage, authenticity, community, partnership, musicality, and fun.

Sofia & Andrew

Sofia Zaitseva and Andrew Hsi will be joining us from Vilnius and teaching Lindy Hop at two levels.

Sofia discovered her love for swing dancing at the young age of 15 and has since dedicated her life to it. One of Sofia’s defining characteristics as a dancer is her emphasis on communication and personal style.

Andrew started dancing in 2006. Known for a fluid style with a touch of rhythm, he loves social dancing more than anything else and as a teacher he loves creating and sharing fun steps with everyone.

Sofia & Jona

Sofia Zaitseva ja Jona Venzor will be the Balboa theme class teachers of Tartu Summer Swing. Watch them dance here.

Sofia also teaches Lindy Hop at our festival. Read more about her above.

Jona is a Balboa dancer and teacher who approaches partnership as a shared canvas where lead and follow stay fluid, responsive, and expressive. Jona’s goal is to create experiences that feel collaborative, intentional, and alive.

Band

Duo Tundmus meets the Band

Duo Tundmus Meets the Band is an ensemble whose core consists of Lisanne Pappel on piano and Gloria Jörberg on vocals. We loved them so much last year that we invited them again! They will perform at our Saturday party in the White Hall of the University of Tartu Museum.

The music written by the duo tells stories of nature, the dim atmosphere of jazz clubs, love, homesickness, and loss—everything that sometimes keeps you awake until dawn. Their work skillfully weaves the experience of being human into the musical language of jazz from the 1930s to the 1950s.

Prices

FULL PASS means everything is included! Two parties and 6 hours of dance classes: 4 hours of Lindy Hop classes and a 2-hour theme class in either Lindy Hop (theme: Bridging the Gap Between Styles) or Balboa.
LINDY + PARTIES = 4 hours of Lindy Hop classes + two parties.
THEME CLASS + PARTIES = 2-hour theme class in either Lindy Hop (theme: Bridging the Gap Between Styles) or Balboa + two parties.
PARTY PASS = two parties, on Friday and Saturday.

Early bird (until 31 May)
Full pass 200 €
Lindy + parties 175 €
Theme class + parties 90 €
Party pass 40 €

Regular bird (from 1 June until 5 August)
Full pass 215 €
Lindy + parties 190 €
Theme class + parties 105 €
Party pass 40 €

Registration closes on the 5th of August at 11.59 pm. After that the tickets to the parties can be bought at the door:
Party pass 40 € (Friday and Saturday parties)
Friday party only 10 €
Saturday party only 40 €
Sunday Tea Dance is free for everyone.

Schedule

The BI-I level Lindy Hop classes and the Balboa theme class take place at the Tartu Swing Dance Club hall (Kastani 48, courtyard, 2nd floor). The IA-A level Lindy Hop classes and the Lindy Hop theme class are held at Mart Reiniku School (Riia 25).

* The cruise on the Emajõgi River is not included in the festival ticket price. An adult ticket costs 12 €, and reservations can be made through the Seto Line website. After you’ve registered, please add your name to the participants’ list so the other dancers know who to expect on the ferry.

Please note: The schedule may be subject to change.

Parties

FRIDAY, 7 August:
From 18.30-20.00, there will be a Lindy Trip. We will walk together through summery Tartu city centre and make dance stops at historic and beautiful sites. Start: Seto Line Tartu Market Hall dock by the Emajõgi River –> End: Kultuuriklubi Salong. Lindy Trip starts where the river cruise finishes (more info about the river cruise below under heading “What else to do in Tartu and Estonia?”). Important: Please make sure to bring shoes suitable for outdoor dancing for the Lindy Trip. In case of rain, the Lindy Trip will not take place.
From 20.00-01.00, there will be a party at Kultuuriklubi Salong.

SATURDAY, 8 August:
From 20.00-1.00, the festival’s main party will take place in the White Hall of the University of Tartu Museum (3rd floor).

SUNDAY, 10 August:
From 14.00-18.30, there will be a Tea Dance at Sulps Bar, a floating bar on the Emajõgi River. The afternoon will be picnic-style, so everyone is welcome to bring some snacks to share. For dancing, we recommend wearing trainers or sneakers that can handle a slightly rougher floor.

Levels

Tartu Summer Swing Lindy Hop classes will be offered on two levels. When registering, you can indicate your preferred level — please read the level descriptions below before making your choice. If it turns out during the festival that your level differs significantly from the group, the teachers may suggest moving you to a different level.

The Lindy Hop theme class is open to participants from both levels. You are expected to meet at least the requirements of the lower (BI-I) level.

The Balboa theme class is designed for dancers who already have a solid Balboa foundation and are dancing at an intermediate level or higher.

Lindy Hop – Beginner-Intermediate to Intermediate (BI-I)

This level is for dancers who are familiar with 6-count and 8-count basics and have started working on foundational figures like the swing-out, Lindy circle, and basic Charleston. You want to build confidence, learn new figures, improve your fundamentals, and feel more comfortable and creative in your dancing.

Lindy Hop – Intermediate-Advanced to Advanced (IA-A)

This level is for more experienced dancers who are actively developing their skills through regular classes, practice, and social dancing. You are comfortable across a wide range of tempos. You have a strong foundation, use a variety of rhythms and variations, and interpret the music through your dancing. You are interested not only in learning new material, but also in refining your technique, deepening connection, and developing a more nuanced understanding of the dance. You can identify challenges in your own dancing and actively work on improving them.

Balboa – Intermediate and up

The Balboa classes are open to dancers who feel comfortable with the fundamentals of Balboa, including Pure Bal and Bal-Swing. You are comfortable with Down-Hold and Up-Hold basics, and figures such as Out & Ins, Come-arounds, Toss-/Throw-outs, Lolly Kicks, Crab Walks, Side Steps, and Paddle Turns. You are already adding musicality and variations to your dancing, or actively working towards it. You want to refine your technique, improve flow and transitions, and develop your musicality while working with more complex figures and rhythm variations. You are ready to be challenged and take your Balboa to the next level.

SIGN UP HERE!

Venues

The beginning of the Lindy Trip is at the Seto Line dock (Vabaduse pst 1b, by the Emajõgi River).
The Friday party is at Kultuuriklubi Salong (Vanemuise 19, courtyard).
The BI-I level Lindy Hop classes and the Balboa theme class take place at the Tartu Swing Dance Club hall (Kastani 48, courtyard, 2nd floor). The IA-A level Lindy Hop classes and the Lindy Hop theme class are held at Mart Reiniku School (Riia 25).
The Saturday party is at the University of Tartu Museum (Lossi 25, 3rd floor).
The Sunday Picnic – Tea Dance is at Sulps boat bar (Vabaduse pst 5, 2nd floor).

We encourage you to walk or use the public transport in Tartu since the distances are short and the views are beautiful. We also have a well-working city bike system.

What else to do in Tartu and Estonia?

River cruise

Those who would like to kick off the festival weekend with a relaxing cruise on the Emajõgi River will have the opportunity to do so on Friday, 7 August. If there is enough interest, we’ll also try to arrange some swing music on board. The cruise departs at 17.00 at the Seto Line dock (Vabaduse pst 1b, by the Emajõgi River) and returns just in time for the start of the Lindy Trip. The Lindy Trip begins at the Seto Line dock.

The cruise is not included in the festival ticket price. Tickets can be purchased on the Seto Line website. After you’ve registered, please add your name to the participants’ list so the other dancers know who to expect on the ferry.

Moby concert in Tartu

Electronical music icon Moby will perform at the Tartu Song Festival Grounds on 6 August.

Tartu Food and Wine Festival

Tartu Food and Wine Festival will take place in the centre of Tartu on 7-8 August.

The day of Home Cafes in Tammelinn

People living in the district of Tammelinn will open their doors and gardens to everyone on 9 August. There will be lots of good food and a nice atmosphere. Take some cash with you and go explore!

Film Festival Tartuff

Tartu Love Film Festival takes place in Tartu Town Hall Square on 8 to 15 August. The films are free for everyone, just bring something warm to wear and enjoy!

The Cure concert in Tallinn

A real treat for The Cure fans! They will perform in Tallinn on 9 August.

The museums of Tartu

Come to Tartu a little earlier of stay for a little longer and you’ll have time to visit some of our wonderful museums. By the way, did you already notice, that the Saturday party will take place in the University of Tartu Museum, which is located in a historic cathedral?

Contact

swingtartu@gmail.com