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 14–16th, 2025.
VLN SHG FST
Collegiate Shag & St.Louis Shag weekend:
dance classes, cramps, live music, sweat, competitions, tears, shows, joy, friends, sleep deprivation, epic and no memories
DATE
November 14–16th, 2025
LOCATIONS
What a Jazz dance studio
Lukiškės Prison 2.0
Tamsta Club
TEACHERS
Eglė Nemickaitė, Arnas Razgūnas,
Simona Pogosian, Rokas Borusevičius, Rūta Raginytė
and the ALL-STAR special guests teaching theme classes
BANDS
The Schwings Band
DJs
DJ Rhythm Lord
DJ Jitterbug
DJ Robot
CLASSES
Collegiate Shag & St. Louis Shag classes + various special theme classes.
Beginners Shag Track and Teachers Coaching Program.
LEVELS
Workshop classes for 3-4 different experience levels which depend and are relative to other participants dance experience.
REGISTRATION
We will assign your class level and group depending on your experience described during your registration
TASTER CLASSES
2 evening 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 for 2-4 years already, you know some St. Louis Shag too, and you travel for 1-2 international Shag events per year.
This level is for INTERMEDIATE / INT-ADVANCED dancer.
LVL3: BOLD EXPERT
You’ve been dancing Collegiate Shag actively for 4+ 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.
LVL4: INVITATIONAL
Concept classes for more curious and less judgemental. You need invitation or recommendation for this special level.
COMPETITIONS
Three competitions with paid entry fee and prizes –
Open Mix & Match, Advanced Mix & Match, $trictly $hag $howdown.
Two special competitions exclusively for entertainment –
Pure Shag Purée and Invitational Switch Surprise Theme 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 and audience
PRIZES
For Open and Advanced Mix & Matches:
Full Passes to various festivals and merchandise for best follower and best leader.
For $trictly $hag $howdown:
€1000 in cash for winner couple.
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
PURE SHAG PURÉE
100% in closed position, focusing on lead/follow, footwork and styling.
INVITATIONAL MIX & MATCH
All competitions winners, main teachers and special guests.
PROGRAM
VLN SHG FST, November 14–16th, 2025
Vilnius Shag Festival main activities start on Friday but Teachers Coaching Program starts on Thursday evening already and there is possible pre-party at What a Jazz weekly social dance right after.
This is preliminary schedule and it may be subject to change.
Become a better teacher and better dancer to make your community better.
Become a better teacher and better dancer to make your community better.
Venue: TBA
Venue: TBA
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
Venue:: Tamsta Club, A. Strazdelio g. 1, Vilnius
Venue: Tamsta Club, A. Strazdelio g. 1, Vilnius
Venue: Tamsta Club, A. Strazdelio g. 1, Vilnius
Venue:: Tamsta Club, A. Strazdelio g. 1, Vilnius
ORGANIZERS
Dancers who have lit the communities, polished their teaching techniques and concepts to keep inspiring even those who travel to every possible Collegiate 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.
REGISTRATION
Early bird prices available until August 31st. Later +€20
Fees for competitions are not included and need to be paid extra.
Teachers Coaching Program and St. Louis Shag Workshop are booked additionally too.
- Unisex and oversized
- Black with the 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
Blog
The Shag Library: dance history and community experiences