International instructors Sonia & Hector will be your Lindy Hop teachers this weekend.

They are based in Barcelona, where they run their own dance school and they teach all their Lindy Hop courses in the ELEF style. Their experience in teaching the ELEF style and their decades long Lindy Hop instructor career makes them the perfect teaching couple for our Happy GetAway weekend.

Check out Sonia & Hector dancing here:

Sonia and Hector’s bio
Sonia and Hector, a professional Lindy Hop couple (Swing Dancers). They both have been teaching Lindy Hop on a regular basis in various dance schools in Barcelona since 2003 and they have been partly responsible for promoting the success of the Lindy Hop boom nationally. They are now are travelling all around the world involved in “spreading the Lindy Hop word”, venturing on as many attractive projects as possible. Sonia and Hector are keen to demonstrate their love and enthusiasm for Lindy Hop through their work in the hope that others too can enjoy and learn the same.

Hector and Sonia teaching perspective is focused on the fundamental aspects of what they find interesting in Lindy Hop; bouncing, partner communication and quality of movement form the basis of their teaching. From their own creative standpoint, teaching “cool” moves or combinations is not the priority, although they use them as tools for enjoyment and as a way for students to remember what they have absorbed during the classes.

Hector and Sonia always try to incorporate their own individual creativity into their teaching, often showing students their own originality and invention in steps and movements which they have developed. They do this to help the student on their own creative journey and inspiration. Feedback has shown Hector and Sonia that students enjoy clear examples to explain certain movements.

The Happy GetAway will feature both Lindy Hop classes and Solo Jazz classes. You will be able to take at least 9 hours of classes over the weekend. You don’t have to choose which classes you want to join, when you sign up for the weekend, but can freely choose to join any of the classes offered at the Happy GetAway.

Read more below about the classes offered over the weekend:

Lindy Hop classes

The teachers for the Lindy hop classes will be Sonia & Hector.
All Lindy Hop classes at the Happy GetAway will be ELEF classes. ELEF meaning ‘Everybody Leads Everybody Follows’ in class. So you won’t be signing up as either a leader or follower, instead, you will be dancing both roles when practising your dancing with Sonia & Hector.

You don’t have to be experienced in both leading and following to join. The classes will be designed so that leaders and followers on very different levels can still practise and progress their Lindy Hop. And if something is a bit tricky for you, it will of course be ok to go back to the role you feel most comfortable in for a while.

Our Lindy Hop Level guidance is that you have danced Lindy Hop at least one year, but probably longer. It is recommended having some training in dancing both roles, but not a requirement.

Solo Jazz classes

Solo Jazz classes at the Happy GetAway will mainly be taught by Karl Brochard, however there will also be chances to take solo classes with Sonia and with Hector. All Solo Jazz classes offered will be either ‘Open Level’ or ‘High Level’.

Here is an explanation of what that means:

Open Level
Solo classes that are ‘Open Level’, will have the philosophy: Easy to understand for anyone, but tricky for people of all levels to do well.
These are classes where dancers with any amount of Solo Jazz experience can join. You will probably gain more from the class, if you have at least some prior experience dancing solo, but you are welcome to give the class a try regardless.
If you have a lot of experience dancing solo, there will still be challenges for you, as you will be pushed to execute on a movement, rhythm or idea on the same level as the teacher – which should be a challenge for anyone.

High Level
Solo classes that are ‘High Level’, will have the philosophy: To become great, you have to work on your dancing on a fundamental, honest and deep level.
These are classes for people who have already worked on their solo dancing through multiple classes and practice sessions. You should in no way feel you have to be the best solo dancer in your scene to join. However, while most swing dancers haven’t done much solo dancing, you should be the exception to that and be well experienced with solo dancing, preferably solo jazz but possibly other dances as well.

There will not be any level check at the weekend and you are free to choose any classes you want. However, the teachers will base the difficulty of the material they offer on the above descriptions and not necessarily slow things down even if some participants are struggling. But we welcome anyone to challenge themselves and go for the more difficult classes if they want to do that :)

Please note: this is a preliminary schedule, and it is subject to change.

Friday
17.00 – 19.00: Check in and find your room
18.00 – 19.00: Dinner 
19.30 – 20.30: Welcome Workshop 
20.30 – 01.00: Friday Party in the Lecture Hall

Saturday
8.30 – 9.30: Breakfast
10.00 – 11.00 Classes
11.00 – 12.30: Classes
12.30 – 13.30: Lunch
13.30 – 16.00: Classes
17.00 – 18.00: Community talk and video watching
18.30 – 19.30: Dinner
19.30 – 02.00: Saturday Party 

Sunday
8.30 – 9.30: Breakfast
8.00 – 10.00: Check out of rooms before 10.00
9.30 – 10.00: Warm-up class
10.00 – 12.30: Classes
12.30 – 13.30: Lunch
13.30 – 15.00: Afternoon Tea-dance and goodbyes in the Lecture Hall

Accommodation in 2-person rooms at the venue is included in the full pass for the weekend.

Each 2-person room has two single beds and its own bathroom. 

In the registration form, you can let us know if there is a specific person you would like to share room with. If not, then we will put you together with another person, but you can of course let us know if you have any preferences for your roommate. 

It is also possible to book a single room with it’s own bathroom for an extra fee of 400kr.

Included in the full pass are:
Friday: Dinner
Saturday: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Sunday: Breakfast & Lunch

Each meal will be served in the dining hall and will be a buffet with a wide variety to choose from. 

In the registration form, you can let us know of any dietary restrictions or food preferences you have, and the kitchen will make sure you will have food options available to you at every meal. 

You are of course welcome to bring your own snacks for the weekend, for a quick boost of energy. There is also a supermarket 500m from the venue. 

Regarding Beverages: 

You are not allowed to bring your own alcoholic beverages. But there will be a self service bar open at all times with sodas, beers and wine.
You can drink the tap water at the venue and it will of course be available for free.

The whole weekend will take place at Emmaus in Haslev. 

The address is: Højskolevej 9, 4690 Haslev.

Arriving by train

Take the train towards “Næstved St.” and get off at Haslev station.
There are trains leaving Copenhagen main station (København H) every 30min and the trip takes about 50min. 

After getting off at Haslev station, it is a 1km walk from the train station to the venue (15min walk). 

Flying in from abroad

When you arrive at Copenhagen airport, buy a ticket all the way to “Haslev st” from one of the red ticket machines. This ticket will be valid for all trains on your way to Haslev st.
Then take a train to Copenhagen main station (København H). It can be a regional train or a metro train. Takes 10-15min.
Then follow the guide above. 

Arriving by car

You can park your car for free at the venue for the weekend. 

The Full Pass for the weekend costs: 3750 DKK

Only extra cost is an optional extra 400 DKK to have a single room.

The Full Pass covers the full experience of the weekend and includes:
• ELEF Lindy Hop classes Sonia & Hector
• Solo Jazz classes with Karl Brochard 
• Dance parties Friday and Saturday evening and Teadance Sunday afternoon. 
• Live music by Tuxen Lockjaw Saturday evening
• All meals included Friday evening to Sunday lunch
• Accommodation at the venue