Swing in Greece, your Lindy Hop-Spot and Rockin’ More regarding information at its best (www.swingingreece.com), part of the Swinging Europe – The European Swing Network 2022-2025 project period (www.swingingeurope.eu), which is co-funded by the Creative Europe Programme of the European Commission, is organising the Network’s annual conference in Thessaloniki, between Friday 16/6/2023 to Sunday 18/6/2023.
Thessaloniki was chosen as a location for this edition of Swinging Europe Network’s conference because it is the city where Lindy Hop first made its appearance in Greece. It is the city where it all started more than 13 years ago, sparkling an evolution which today spreads across Greece, from Xanthi (North) to the island of Crete (South) and from the island of Chios (East) to Kalamata and the island of Corfu (West), coping with a post-covid era in Greece’s economy.

The main body of the conference will take place during the weekend (17/6/2023-18/6/2023), preceded by a Press Conference on Friday 16/6/2023.

PROGRAMME:

• FRIDAY 16/6/23

12:00 – 13:00 Press Conference
21:00 Attending The Speakeasies Swing Band live concert in the Antiracist Festival framework

• SATURDAY 17/6/23

10:00 – 10:30 Registrations, Conference opening
10:30 – 12:00 The Psychology of Dancing
Antonis Bertos – Psychologist, Interdisciplinary Artist, Educator, has worked with refugee populations on different projects
12:00 – 12:10 Short break
12:15 – 13:15 Audience Development Strategies
13:15 – 14:25 Lunch Break
14:30 – 15:30 The collaboration between dancers and musicians: different approaches and future perspectives
Borislav Petrov – ethnomusicologist, drummer, composer, teacher
15:30 – 16:45 Establishing communities as a means for professional development
Afroditi Fakona, Jazz Solidarity Network member / supporter
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21:30 Live Music Event with the Swing Tales band from Thessaloniki (venue tbc)
https://drive.google.com/…/1IaMQFRHgyV18GRAwSuz…/view…

• SUNDAY 18/6

10:30 – 11:30 Swinging Europe Network Sustainability Development Strategy – moving towards a charter
11:30 – 14:30 Learning Network Sessions
14:30 – 15:30 Lunch Break
15:30 – 17:00 Inspiring Greek Stories: panel talk featuring representatives from the ever evolving Greek swing dance and music scene (Lindy Hop Xanthi, Athens Authentic Jazz Dance, Rolling Foxes, others tbc)
17:00 – 17:30 Closing
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20:30 Optional city walk goodbye drinks / supper (tbc)