GET YOUR SHAG ON
We are Arnas Razgūnas & Eglė Nemickaitė – swing dancers and teachers from Vilnius, Lithuania who run What a Jazz dance studio.
What a Shag is our separate department dedicated to Collegiate Shag & St. Louis Shag, different regional swing dances which originated in the U.S. mostly in black communities in the 1920–1930s.
Learn from us online or come get your shag on with us in Vilnius – we are hosting a new annual pure shag dance event VLN SHG FST which is happening November 22-24th, 2024.
VLN SHG FST
Collegiate Shag & St.Louis Shag weekend:
dance classes, cramps, live music, sweat, competitions, tears, shows, joy, friends, joy, sleep deprivation, memories, joy
DATE
November 22-24th, 2024
LOCATIONS
What a Jazz dance studio
Skillz street dance studio
Lukiškės Prison 2.0
Tamsta Club
TEACHERS
Kasia Dybowska & Michał Oblaciński
Cherry Moreno & Filip Górski
Rūta Raginytė & Rokas Borusevičius
Eglė Nemickaitė & Arnas Razgūnas
BANDS
The Schwings Band
Home Jazz Band
DJs
DJ Jelly Lord Arnas
DJ Aila Bee’s Knees
DJ Jitterbug
ORGANIZERS
Eglė Nemickaitė & Arnas Razgūnas
CLASSES
6 hours of Collegiate & St. Louis Shag classes with main teachers
LEVELS
4 different experience levels which depend and are relative to other participants dance experience. Teachers might suggest you another level if general class harmony is different than your personal experience.
REGISTRATION
We will assign your class level and group depending on your experience described during your registration
TASTER CLASSES
2 special theme classes with guest teachers open for everyone
LVL1: CURIOUS LEARNER
You’ve been dancing Collegiate Shag for one year already.
This level is for BEGINNER INTERMEDIATE dancer at least.
LVL2: OBSESSED PRACTITIONER
You’ve been dancing Collegiate Shag already for 2-4 years, you know some St. Louis Shag too, and you travel for 1-2 international Shag events per year.
This level is for INTERMEDIATE dancer at least.
LVL3: BOLD EXPERT
You’ve been dancing Collegiate Shag actively for four+ years, you know St. Louis Shag too, you travel to 3-6 international Shag events per year, you compete and maybe perform occasionally too.
This level is for ADVANCED dancer at least.
LVL4: INVITATIONAL
You need invitation or recommendation for this special level.
COMPETITIONS
Three different competitions with paid entry fee and prizes –
Open Mix & Match, Advanced Mix & Match, $trictly $hag $howdown.
One special competition exclusively for entertainment –
Invitational Mix & Match.
REGISTRATION
There are limited spots in each competition and registration is made in advance when you register for VLN SHG FST event
JUDGES
Main teachers of VLN SHG FST
PRIZES
For Open and Advanced Mix & Matches:
Full Passes to various festivals, merchandise, custom made trophies for best follower and best leader.
For $trictly $hag $howdown:
€1000 in cash for winner couple.
For Invitational Mix & Match:
Custom made trophies and invitation to teach next year.
OPEN MIX & MATCH
Dancing experience up to 3-4 years. Changing partners. Dancers are judged independently, best follower and best leader win.
Entry fee: €10 per person
ADVANCED MIX & MATCH
Dancing experience more than 3-4 years or ambitions higher than sky. Changing partners. Dancers are judged independently, best follower and best leader win.
Entry fee: €10 per person
$TRICTLY $HAG $HOWDOWN
$how your be$t $hag, anything goe$. Be$t couple win$.
Entry fee: €25 per couple
INVITATIONAL MIX & MATCH
All competitions winners, main teachers and special guests.
SCHEDULE
VLN SHG FST, November 22–24th, 2024
Vilnius Shag Festival is focused on great classes, competitions and community. Expect amazing live music and on-time program!
There is a pre-party at What a Jazz weekly social dance on Thursday.
This schedule may be subject to change but the end time is fixed due to venue restrictions, so hey – let’s enjoy every moment together.
Venue: Lukiškės Prison 2.0 (straight through the gates, entrance on the right)
Venue: Lukiškės Prison 2.0 (straight through the gates, entrance on the right)
Venue: Lukiškės Prison 2.0 (straight through the gates, entrance on the right)
Venue: Lukiškės Prison 2.0 (straight through the gates, entrance on the right)
Three one-hour classes for each level with our main teachers. Venue: What a Jazz dance studio / Skillz street dance studio
Venue: What a Jazz dance studio
Venue: What a Jazz dance studio
Venue: Tamsta Club, A. Strazdelio g. 1, Vilnius
Venue: Tamsta Club, A. Strazdelio g. 1, Vilnius
Three one-hour classes for each level with our main teachers. Venue: What a Jazz dance studio / Skillz street dance studio
Venue: Lukiškės Prison 2.0 (straight through the gates, entrance on the right)
Venue: Lukiškės Prison 2.0 (straight through the gates, entrance on the right)
TEACHERS
National treasure of Shag dance from Lithuania and Poland, dancers who have lit the communities and polished their teaching techniques and concepts to keep inspiring even those who travel to every possible Shag dance event there is.
EGLĖ & ARNAS
Vilnius, Lithuania
VLN SHG FST is hosted by Eglė Nemickaitė and Arnas Razgūnas who are co-founders of What a Jazz dance studio and organisers of legendary Vilnius Swing Dance & Music Festival – Swing Paradise. They’re devoted swing dancers, teaching together locally and internationally since 2014.
Dance has always felt like a big liberation for Eglė. Liberation from routines, thoughts, work, limits. Dancing makes her feel true to herself, music and partner. It gives her the power of total freedom and also a peace to the mind, body and heart. Her rich teaching experience is being increasingly appreciated at the international workshops as well. She shares her enormous passion towards a dance with great joy and commitment.Arnas is a true social dancer and acknowledged jazz enthusiast inspired mostly by African American vernacular jazz art forms and energetic effortless swinging music, actively seeking for deep understanding of what’s swing in music and dance. Rich experience in teaching weekly local classes grants quality and fun with clear explanation of his material by expressing music and yourself in it.
Eglė & Arnas are collaborating closely with Warsaw Collegiate Shag Festival and BCN Shag Festival which are partner events of VLN SHG FST.Kasia & Michał
Warsaw, Poland
Rūta & Filip
Warsaw, Poland
Simona & Rokas
Vilnius, Lithuania
REGISTRATION
It’s possible to split the payment in two parts – one in advance, one on the spot.
Fees for competitions are not included and need to be paid extra.
- Unisex and oversized
- Black with the colour print front and back
- Pre-order your size and pick it up at check-in desk
Vanity feeling of wanting to buy a souvenir after getting good vibes at the event but no merchandise available
Terms
By registering and participating in What a Shag events and activities you agree to our General Terms, Cancellation Policy, Code of Conduct and Privacy Policy. We reserve the right to refuse any order you place with us.
§ 1
Read more about our General Terms and Cancellation Policy here.
§ 2
VLN SHG FST is a place to celebrate swing dance and music which are African American art forms associated with the cultural values and aesthetics of Black American culture. Jazz dancing, rooted in the African American culture, is telling the story of people who survived despite oppressions still affecting them to this day. There is no place for fascists, racists and any other hate driven *ists at our event. Read more about our Code of Conduct here.
§ 3
Read our Privacy Policy here on how and what data we collect when you use our website.
Testimonials
We are blessed to be part of this amazing dance community. Thanks to our students, supporters and friends <3
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