11-15 JUNE 2025
MIDNIGHT SUN SWING FESTIVAL
LINDY HOP – SOLO JAZZ – balboa
HELSINKI FINLAND
Registration
opens on wednesday
12 february
at 21:00 EET
Artists
LINDY HOP & balboa
ursula & bobby
Ursula Hicks has over 20 years of dance experience in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Modern, and Contemporary dance. Known for her musicality and enthusiasm, Ursula has placed in various Lindy Hop competitions, including the International Lindy Hop Championships and LindyFest. She has taught across Europe and served on the boards of The Fort Worth Swing Dance Syndicate and The Dallas Swing Dance Society. Ursula enjoys collaborating with artists, social dancing in the DFW area, and teaching students of all ages.
Bobby White teaches traditional swing dances around the world, and holds championship titles and placements in Balboa, Lindy Hop, and Solo Jazz. With each, Bobby strives to innovate and create a new voice, while still capturing the spirit of the original dancers. He is the co-director of the Lindy Hop performance group the Harvest Moon Hoppers, which specialize in dancing in the performance style of Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers. He is the author of the popular swing dance blog Swungover*, and the book “Practice Swing.” As a dancer, he is widely recognized for his floppy hair, and as a teacher, by his sound effects.
LINDY HOP & SOLO JAZZ
Laura & Anna
Laura Franch and Anna Portell met thanks to swing dancing, despite having different backgrounds, one from music and the other from street dancing. They are both crazy passionate about rhythm, so they quickly partnered to dance and create together projects like Kaotic Shoes and other choreographies that have been presented in many international festivals like ILHC, Stomp your Feet or La Jam BCN. They are known for their contagious flow and good vibes in class and the dance floor!
LIVE MUSIC
Professor Cunningham & His Old School Band
Professor Cunningham and His Old School is back in Helsinki to make us all dance for two nights!
This acclaimed New York band is well known for their dynamic performances. They have garnered a strong following in the international swing dance scene due to their energy and quality. Fronted by vocalist Adrian Cunningham, the group features talented musicians and offers a diverse repertoire that includes early jazz, swing, and Rhythm and Blues.
LEVELS
LINDY HOP
INTermediate
You have been dancing for a few seasons (+1.5 years approx). You are motivated about the dance and are taking classes and / or attending socials regularly. You have understood the groove of the dance and already know most of the basic steps. This is one of your first festivals with international teachers.
LINDY HOP
INTermediate-ADVanced
You have been dancing for multiple seasons (+3 years). You are motivated to learn and develop more as a dancer. You understand the fundamentals of the dance and you are polishing them. At the same time, you are learning more advanced patterns, footwork and rhythm variations.
LINDY HOP
Advanced
You are a seasoned dancer (+5 years) who can manage multiple situations and tempos. You attend classes and practice regularly. You are able to lead or follow complex patterns and rhythm variations. You understand the structure of the music and dance according to it. When something is not working, you are self-aware and able to figure things out on your own or with your classmates.
SOLO JAZZ
OPEN LEVEL
You are familiar with dancing solo. You know some basic steps and understand their rhythm. You are (or start to be) aware of your body. You can follow along in class well or at least push yourself through the frustration and catch-up on your own or with your classmates.
balboa
intermediate – advanced – advanced+
The registration form will include a self-evaluation of your Balboa level. We will then create two groups of approximately equal size and skill level based on these self-assessments. To register, you must have been dancing Balboa for at least one year and comfortably mix different basic steps and footwork. Still, there will also be stimulating exercises for those who have been dancing Balboa regularly for several years and can demonstrate musical changes within any of the basic movements.
parties
Get ready for an unforgettable weekend!
We will start the long-weekend with a fast-tempo party on Thursday. So both Balboa dancers and brave lindy hoppers can warm-up for the weekend.
On Friday and Saturday, we will have two incredible parties filled with the live music of Professor Cunningham and His Old School where dancers from here and abroad will be able to dance until dark.
On Sunday afternoon, we’ll conclude the festival with a delightful tea dance open to everyone in the community.
Not everything is about dancing, we will also have Culture talks by our teachers before the party on Friday, a coffee corner in case you need a snack, and more surprises during the night!
the main venue
Hietsun Paviljonki
Welcome to Hietsun Paviljonki, an amazing seaside venue on Helsinki’s Hietaranta beach that will be our main venue for the weekend.
The Great Hall of the venue will set the scene for swinging the night away with live music. Add to that the inviting lobby filled with coffee and goodies and the open terrace, both available for everyone to enjoy throughout the weekend, and we have got a place where magic happens — whether you’re dancing, relaxing, or simply soaking in the atmosphere!
Other venues
passes
NOTE! Party Passes will not be sold unless there is enough capacity remaining in the venue. If that happens, the party passes will be put for sale closer to the event date.
If you are experiencing difficulty paying, please let us know, and we can explore the possibility of volunteering as an alternative.
FESTIVAL T-SHIRT 2025
Classic t-shirt +25 €
High-quality, responsibly made organic t-shirt. Loose fit that fits all genders. Soft, lightweight organic cotton of 155g/m2. Printed with ecological water based ink, which gives a great printing with a pleasant feel.
preliminary Schedule
11-15 June
May be subject to change.