Tartu Summer Swing began in the summer of 2015. We had already traveled around the world and seen cool and inspiring swing camps, parties, and classes. Gradually, the realization grew that we needed to do something in Tartu as well. The team was ready to get involved! We found a venue, made agreements with teachers and bands, and that’s how it was born. Tartu Summer Swing takes place either at the end of July or the beginning of August.

The first three Summer Swings took place in Alatskivi, after which we moved to Tartu, as we continued with three parallel dance classes and ran out of space in Alatskivi. 2020 and 2021 were COVID years, and the festival did not take place. In 2022, we moved back to Alatskivi. Since 2023, the festival has been back in the city of Tartu.

TARTU SUMMER SWING 2015
Classes were taught by Tadas Vasiliauskas and Ana Umnova (Lithuania).
Friday party took place at Alatskivi school, Saturday party at Alatskivi castle. On Saturday, Quintet of Cannons played for us.
40 dancers attended (from Estonia, Latvia, Russia).

TARTU SUMMER SWING 2016
Two levels of lindy hop, taught by Igor and Kristina Ben (Russia), Peter Kepič and Pavlina Korcova (Czech Republic).
Thursday party took place at Alatskivi school and featured the big band Phontrattarne (Sweden). Friday party took place at Alatskivi castle and The Ultimate Swing Band & Jana Kütt played. The final party on Saturday took place at Emajõe Saatkond with the Estonian Dixieland Band.
57 dancers attended (from Estonia, Latvia, Finland, Russia, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, the USA, the UK, Taiwan).

TARTU SUMMER SWING 2017
Two levels of lindy hop, taught by Felipe Braga and Diana Geisler (Brazil and Austria) and Daria Chupyrkina and Dmitry Vostrikov (Russia).
Jimbino Vegan played at the party on Thursday evening in Alatskivi school. On Friday The Ultimate Swing Band & Jana Kütt performed at the party in Alatskivi castle. The final party took place in Tartu, at the German Cultural Institute with the Estonian Dixieland Band.
85 dancers attended (from Estonia, Latvia, Finland, Russia, Germany, the Netherlands, Lithuania, Romania, Austria, Luxembourg, Italy, Spain, the UK).

TARTU SUMMER SWING 2018
Three levels of lindy hop, taught by Kamilė Pundziūtė and Arnas Jasiūnas (Lithuania), Simona Pogosian and Mindaugas Bikauskas (Lithuania), Kristina Ben and Igor Ben (Russia).
The festival took place in Tartu: Friday party at Sisevete Saatkond, Saturday-Sunday partis in Atlantis. Jimbino Vegan (international) played on Friday, the main parties featured The Changepartners (Russia).
105 dancers attended (from Estonia, Latvia, Finland, Russia, Germany, Lithuania, Romania, Austria, Luxembourg, Italy, Spain, the UK).

TARTU SUMMER SWING 2019
Three levels of lindy hop, taught by Peter Kepič and Jana Mechurova (Czech Republic), Dom Knoll and Jenna Applegarth (Austria and USA), and Christophe Cholot and Amelie Barrande (France).
Parties on Friday and Saturday took place in Erinevate Tubade Klubi and featured The Changepartners (Russia). On Sunday party took place in Sisevete Saatkond and Anna Curly (Estonia) and Matteo and Danilo performed.
121 dancers attended (from Estonia, Latvia, Finland, Russia, Germany, Romania, the Czech Republic, the USA, Austria).

TARTU SUMMER SWING 2022
Two levels of lindy hop, taught by Sylwia Rozpierska and Michał Ruszkawski (Poland) and Dom Knoll and Nora Locher (Austria). Dom and Nora taught via Zoom, as flights in Europe were unpredictable that summer.
Friday party took place in Alatskivi Manor stables, Saturday party at Alatskivi castle. Saturday party featured Airi Allvee and the Small New Murphy Band. Sunday party took place in Tartu, in Elutuba Lava Taga.
81 dancers attended (from Estonia, Latvia, Finland, Germany, and other countries).

TARTU SUMMER SWING Lite 2023
Lindy hop and blues classes taught by Gaston Fernandez and Alba Mengual (Spain).
The festival had moved back to Tartu. Friday party took place in culture club Salong, Saturday party at club Gutenberg and Sunday party at Elutuba Lava Taga. At the Sunday blues party, live music was played by Andres Roots.
77 dancers attended (from Estonia, Latvia, Finland, Sweden, Germany, Ukraine, Norway, the Netherlands, and Spain).

TARTU SUMMER SWING 2024
Two levels of lindy hop, taught by Meret Rötheli and Kristijonas Buciunas from Zurich.
Friday party took place at culture club Salong, Saturday party at German Cultural Institure and Sunday party at the dance club hall. At the Saturday party, the local swing band Keraamica played.
101 dancers attended (from Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Finland, Sweden, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, the UK, Hong Kong).

TARTU SUMMER SWING 2025
Two levels of lindy hop, taught by Tanja Wingerter and Kay Werndli, and Ksenia Saburova and Sathish Kumar Narayanan (Finland).
Friday party took place at culture club Salong, Saturday party at Estonian Students’ Society building and Sunday party at bar Sulps. At the Saturday party, Duo Tundmus meets the Band performed.
59 dancers attended (from Estonia, Latvia, Finland, Spain, Israel, the USA).