What a Shag - Get Your Shag On

SCHEDULE About

Get your shag on
with
Arnas & Eglė

Online Classes

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

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.

PROGRAM

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 program may be subject to change but the end time is fixed due to venue restrictions, so hey – let’s enjoy every moment together.

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

NVMBR

19:00

Check-in @ Lukiškės Prison 2.0

Pick up your bracelet and merch, say labas, DJ music

Venue: Lukiškės Prison 2.0 (straight through the gates, entrance on the right)

20:00-20:30

Open Mix & Match Prelims

Venue: Lukiškės Prison 2.0 (straight through the gates, entrance on the right)

20:30-02:00

PARTY @ Lukiškės Prison 2.0

Live music, DJ, teachers presentation

Venue: Lukiškės Prison 2.0 (straight through the gates, entrance on the right)

02:00

END

Sorry, that's it, be mindful

Venue: Lukiškės Prison 2.0 (straight through the gates, entrance on the right)

NVMBR

11:00-15:45

Dance Classes

What a Jazz dance studio, Skillz street dance studio

Three one-hour classes for each level with our main teachers. Venue: What a Jazz dance studio / Skillz street dance studio

16:00-16:15

Advanced Mix & Match Prelims

Venue: What a Jazz dance studio

16:15-16:30

$trictly $hag $howdown Prelims

Venue: What a Jazz dance studio

19:30-20:30

Taster Class

Special theme class with our guests teachers

Venue: Tamsta Club, A. Strazdelio g. 1, Vilnius

20:30-02:00

Party @ Tamsta Club

Live music, all competitions finals, shows

Venue: Tamsta Club, A. Strazdelio g. 1, Vilnius

02:00

END

Sorry, that's it, be mindful

NVMBR

11:00-15:45

Dance Classes

What a Jazz dance studio, Skillz street dance studio

Three one-hour classes for each level with our main teachers. Venue: What a Jazz dance studio / Skillz street dance studio

20:00-21:00

Taster Class

Special theme class with our guests teachers

Venue: Lukiškės Prison 2.0 (straight through the gates, entrance on the right)

21:00-02:00

Party @ Lukiškės Prison 2.0

Live music, DJ, Invitational Mix & Match, AWARDS

Venue: Lukiškės Prison 2.0 (straight through the gates, entrance on the right)

02:00

END

Sorry, that's it, be mindful

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 IS CLOSED

Fees for competitions are not included and need to be paid extra.

Party Pass

Get Your Shag On at night, be cool during the day, get the most of VLN SHG FST your way

€110

THREE parties with live music
TWO special theme taster classes
~~SIX Collegiate Shag and St. Louis Shag classes~~
~~Possibly even more new friends~~
~~Cramps~~

Full Pass

Get Your Shag On day and night, grow and shine, get the most of VLN SHG FST

€190

SIX Collegiate Shag and St. Louis Shag classes
THREE parties with live music
TWO special theme taster classes
~~EIGHT hours of sleep~~
~~Uncertainty what to do during rainy day~~

T-Shirt

Very cool, very first edition, special design active wear to Get Your Shag On everyday

€30

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~~

$TRICTLY $HAG $HOWDOWN

$how your be$t $hag, anything goe$. Be$t couple win$.

€25

€1000 IN CASH FOR WINNER COUPLE
Prelims limited to 20 couples, no registration on the spot
Entry fee: €25 per couple

MIX & MATCH

Open and Advanced divisions

€10

Changing partners
Dancers are judged independently, best follower and best leader win
Entry fee: €10 per person

Questions?

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

Arnas and Egle are fantastic! They bring a fun and unique vibe to the dance and teach content and classes that are great for all levels. Drills, movement quality, new content, inspiration whatever you are looking for you can find it with them. I highly recommend them, and consider myself lucky to have been able to spend so much time learning with them.

Amy Sorenson, USA

Wholesome dance content directly into your feed. This dance school comes with more than just excellent classes, it also comes with a great community. 10/10!

Peter Schubert, Austria

Arnas and Eglė have been a huge part of my shag journey and dance development. In addition to being excellent instructors, they take an active role in mentoring and investing in other shag dancers around the world to give them opportunities and a support system. Egle is a super good example of a follow who has a clear voice and I really enjoy the ideas and examples she brings to the table. Arnas has been very generous with his time when it comes to answering questions, giving video feedback, offering teaching advice, and keeping me engaged in progressing my shag practice. The thing that I feels best sets What A Shag apart as an organization is how well organized it is. Every event or class or activity I have been involved in (as a student, a participant, or instructor) has been stress free, well communicated, and well executed. Arnas and Egle create safe, inclusive, and challenging environments that allow you to take the next step in your shag journey, no matter how new or how experienced you are.

Julie Roman, USA

Arnas and Egle are very inspiring people, very creative, good at building community, and how they trust other dance artists/teachers into their framework and projects. I will always be thankful to them. For them to trust in others, and their determination to bring incredible experience for everyone in the World with different and fun ideas for workshops, exercises and lessons. Something very unique is the mood and atmosphere they create with their work and classes, that’s very inspiring for other pursuing similar projects like me. On with Arnas and Egle.

Patricio Garces, Chile

If there was any silver lining in the middle of this horrific pandemic, this was it! I never had access to Collegiate Shag classes before and never got to know so many members of the international Shag community as I do now! Thanks to What a Shag, I was able to work A LOT on my Shag skills. They have kept me inspired and motivated throughout this tough year. And the best part is that it’s not only about the dancing. We get lots of mutual support and do the Spiritual Hangout sessions and we get to talk about personal struggles and victories. This wonderful project has provided me with so much love and joy. Forever thankful to the great Arnas and Egle for making this happen. YOU GUYS ROCK AND I LOVE YOU!

Gabriela Novellino, Brazil

Arnas & Egle have done an amazing job of cultivating a wonderful group of friendly, welcoming, wholesome dancers – and they do some pretty killer Shag classes as well! They really know their stuff, and Arnas’ reputation as a master of jazz and jazz history is not unfounded. Egle brings so much joy to their classes, and is a super positive and encouraging force whenever they’re around. Together their approach is absolutely superb. Rebecca and I are pretty deeply indebted to them for helping support our Shag journey, and giving us help and advice along the way! All in all, I can’t recommend them enough – A++, 11/10, 110% would Shag again!!

Adam Brouwers-Harries, United Kingdom

Blog

The Shag Library: dance history and community experiences

Learn from us online!

Constantly growing library: recaps from our Collegiate Shag workshops, local and online classes, solo and partner exercises for Beginners, Intermediate and Advanced dancers

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VLN SHG FST

DATE

LOCATIONS

TEACHERS

BANDS

DJs

CLASSES

LEVELS

REGISTRATION

TASTER CLASSES

LVL1: CURIOUS LEARNER

LVL2: OBSESSED PRACTITIONER

LVL3: BOLD EXPERT

LVL4: INVITATIONAL

COMPETITIONS

REGISTRATION

JUDGES

PRIZES

OPEN MIX & MATCH

ADVANCED MIX & MATCH

$TRICTLY $HAG $HOWDOWN

INVITATIONAL MIX & MATCH

EGLĖ & ARNAS

Kasia & Michał

Kasia & Michał

Rūta & Filip

Rūta & Filip

Simona & Rokas

Simona & Rokas

Questions?

Your Name

Your Email

Theme

Your Message:

I agree with the terms

Terms

§ 1

§ 2

§ 3

Amy Sorenson, USA

Wholesome dance content directly into your feed. This dance school comes with more than just excellent classes, it also comes with a great community. 10/10!

Peter Schubert, Austria

Julie Roman, USA

Patricio Garces, Chile

Gabriela Novellino, Brazil

Adam Brouwers-Harries, United Kingdom