The Slow Down 2026
5-7 June 2026
OUR TEACHERS
- Agnieszka & Konrad
- Genia Tsvietkova
- Alexia & Sep
MUSIC
- Jan Man Band
- The Lewis Creaven Band
- The Dudes of Ellington
- Bobby’s Funeral
- Géri & The Lizards
THE BASICS
- Five hours of classes
- Three main parties till the morning, Thursday pre-party
- Mix of juke-joint and ballroomin’ parties
- Additional activities such as beer tasting, brunch, etc
- Coffee & chill in our cozy studio during lunch breaks
Festival vision
There are a few things we consider important as organizers of a blues festival. We hope they will help you decide to attend, and even if they won’t, we still would like you to be aware of them.
We love blues music and its diversity, which shapes the diversity of blues dance.
We believe that understanding the historical and cultural context of blues can make you a better blues dancer.
We prefer having a blues party in a cozy bar.
We love partying until very late, with the Sunday party being the highlight of the entire event!
We offer opportunities for party pass holders to meet people through activities tailored especially (but not only) for them.
We strive to ensure a safe and comfortable experience for all attendees.
Video recaps from previous years
Classes
Our teachers are:
-
- Agnieszka & Konrad (Poland)
- Genia (Ukraine)
- Alexia & Sep (France, Belgium)
All classes will be held in English.
We offer partnered tracks or solo track, each with five hours of classes.
The classes will take place at the Swing Wings studio (3rd and 4th floors) and in the wider city centre.
Click on image for more info.
Levels
Solo track
Open to dancers of all levels, including complete beginners. This track consists of four 75-minute solo classes.
Partnered Tracks
- I am still building confidence with fundamentals or I am new to blues.
- I dance blues for roughly 0–6 months (or equivalent intensity)
- Includes three partnered classes, one solo class, 75-minute each
- I take classes locally and maybe I have attended an international festival; I know some basic steps, some variations, and a few fancy moves.
- I dance blues around 6–18 months (or equivalent intensity)
- Includes three partnered classes, one solo class, 75-minute each
- I attend international festivals regularly; I have a wide dance vocabulary and some understanding of blues aesthetics and blues idiom dances.
- I dance blues for roughly 18 months–3 years (or equivalent intensity)
- There are auditions to split this group into two
- Includes three partnered classes, one solo class, 75-minute each
- I attend international festivals regularly; I have a wide dance vocabulary and very good understanding of blues aesthetics and idiom dances, and high-quality movement.
- I have advanced lead or follow skills and can maintain clarity, connection, and musicality
- I dance blues for 3+ years (or equivalent intensity)
- Register as I dance blues a lot! – there are auditions for this group
- Includes three partnered classes, one solo class, 75-minute each
Calendar (.ics) files for import
Click on the track/activity you would like to add to your Google or Apple or any other calendar that supports importing .ics files to be ready for the festival!
Bands and parties
Thursday pre-party with Jan Man Band
Location: Music Lab, juke-joint party, door opens 20:30
If you’re in Brno on Thursday, join us at the Music Lab. This bar, located in the very heart of the city, will surely get you into the perfect blues vibe.
Jan Man Band is the one-man blues explosion you didn’t know you needed. Armed with everything from a trombone to a double-neck ukulele, Jan is a multi-instrumentalist, looper, and all-around musical wizard who builds rich, full-band soundscapes in real time. His performances are an unforgettable mix of groove, soul, and pure fun.
(Please note that the entrance fee is 250 CZK and is not included in any of the passes. It must be paid in cash at the door.)
Photo by David Poul
Friday party with Lewis Creaven Band
Location: ArtBar Druhý Pád, juke-joint party, door opens 19:30
Saturday party with The Dudes of Ellington
Location: První Patro, Ballroomin’ party, door opens 19:30
The Dudes Of Ellington formed way before it was cool. Played for dancers for many years and now they are back again but this time cookin’ some of the best blues tunes especially for you to Slow Down. From the repertoire of the greatest names such as Sidney Bechet, Louis Armstrong and many more, bringing you the crème de La crème.
Personel: Lukáš Hasa on trombone, Marek Kotača on sax, Michal Cálik on trumpet, Peter Korman on bass, Vít Beneš on guitar, Adam Sikora on drums, and special guest TBA.
Photo by David Poul
Saturday late night party with Bobby’s Funeral
Location: První Patro, right after the first band
Bobby’s Funeral doesn’t sleep! Bobby, Jay, Adélka, Petr and Filip are regularly practicing new blues material, which will definitely take you out of your miseries or lethargy. Don’t fall asleep too and come to listen to Bobby’s Funeral at the afterparty.
Video courtesy of Bobby’s Funeral
Sunday “Burst of colours” party with Géri & The Lizards
Location: ArtBar Druhý Pád, juke-joint party, door opens 19:30
Sunday night is getting a colourful twist! 🌈✨ Our party theme is Burst of Colours!
Géri & The Lizards are stewing in the sun. They’re contemplating about the heat. Heat you will feel underneath your grooving feet and on your glistening skin, while you’ll be immersed into their world of blues. It’s Beneš, Kraut, Micenko, Hajtmánek & Schnyder on the Shreds-Hammer-Slap-Sticks & Sho-bees!
Photo by Jiří Lubojacký
Additional program
The Blues. Sound, Story, Tradition
Friday 8 p.m., location: ArtBar Druhý Pád
More than a genre, the Blues is a tradition rooted in emotion and storytelling. ChuckDiesal presents a cultural perspective on how the Blues developed, why it resonated so deeply with audiences, and how its structure and themes continue to inspire musicians & listeners today. ChuckDiesal is an American cultural storyteller, filmmaker, and radio host whose work focuses on Black American music history and its global influence. Raised between Chicago and the rural American South, he was immersed early in the social conditions that gave birth to the Blues. With more than two decades of experience documenting music, oral history, and street culture in the United States and Europe, his work bridges academic context with personal narrative.
(The talk is a part of the Friday party program. You don’t need to register for it.)
Brunch on Saturday morning
Saturday 10 a.m., location: JAGA
We’ll start our Saturday with a relaxed brunch at our favourite café JAGA. There will be good food and even better company. A perfect chance to wake up slowly, recharge, and meet fellow dancers in a calm and cozy setting.
This is primarily for party passes, but check if your schedule allows you to join before registering!
(Please note that it’s an open buffet—come early if you want the best choice of food, because there might be a lot of hungry blues dancers!)
Beer tasting on Saturday afternoon
Saturday 5 p.m., location: AXIOM Pub
Blues and beer? Yes, please! Discover a wide range of delightful flavors with the guidance of those who know beer best—the Czechs. Whether you’re a true beer lover or just curious to explore new tastes, it’s the perfect way to unwind and meet new people.
Roma dances on Sunday
Sunday 1:45 p.m. to 2:45 p.m., location: Swing Wings studio
Experience the energy and joy of traditional Roma dances with Beňo Mirga and his ensemble SALUT ROMA! Join this vibrant session to move your body in new ways and get inspired by a rich and beautiful dance tradition.
All passes are able to add this class without scheduling conflicts.
Sunday “Burst of Colours” party 🌈✨
Sunday’s party theme is Burst of Colours! 🌈✨Come as your brightest, boldest, most fabulous self. Whether that means vibrant outfits, sparkling makeup, painted nails, dramatic eyeliner, or a full-on rainbow moment — this is your night to shine. Let the dance floor be a space of joy, freedom, and fearless self-expression. The more colour, the more magic!
T-shirts
Registrations for t-shirts will close a month before the start of the festival.
The design:
Sizing charts:
- curvy:
- straight
How to get to Brno
© kudyznudy.cz
Brno is a cozy, walkable city with great restaurants, cafés, and a laid-back vibe—less touristy than Prague but just as charming. You’ll also find it very easy on the wallet. Plus, Vienna, Prague, and Bratislava are only a short ride away by train, car, or bus. You can come by:
🚀 Plane
Tuřany Airport (BRQ): Just 20 minutes from Brno city center by public transport.
Vienna Airport (VIE): 2 hours with one easy transfer by train with RegioJet or České dráhy, or a direct FlixBus.
Bratislava Airport (BTS): A direct train gets you here in just an hour and a half.
🚆 Train
From Vienna or Bratislava: Less than 2 hours with České dráhy or RegioJet.
From Prague: A direct 2h 30m ride with České dráhy or RegioJet.
🚌 Bus
FlixBus: Often the cheapest option, well-connected to the rest of Central Europe.
Prices
* Register for the early bird price until 18 March 7 PM.
Registration
Registration will be open on February 18, 2026, 7 pm. Early bird prices lasts until 18 March 7 pm.
Terms and conditions
We recommend that you register for partnered classes with a partner. Those who sign up solo are placed on the waiting list to be paired with a participant of the opposite role. You can use our facebook event to find a partner.
We cannot refund the ticket price. If you cannot attend, please offer your place in the Facebook event or local groups. In the event of a change of participant, please contact us at slowdown@swingwings.cz. At the same address, we will be happy to confirm whether the seller actually owns the given ticket.
If we do not have an available spot, you will be added to the waiting list. This can happen if the pass you have applied for is fully booked or if there is a large imbalance between leaders and followers in the workshop.
The Slow Down is dedicated to providing a safe and comfortable event experience for everyone, therefore all attendees, instructors, staff, and volunteers are required to comply with the Code of conduct. Organizers will enforce this code throughout the event. We are expecting cooperation from all participants to help ensure a safe environment for everybody. If you behave inappropriately, you may be asked to leave without any refunds given.
Photo courtesy of Genia
KonradKonrad as a curious person tried a variety of different activities. From primary school he had been learning Japanese martial arts which as a result led him from soft to a bit harder styles. When in 2013 by coincidence he discovered Lindy Hop, boxing gloves had been abandoned permanently. Since then dance turned his world up-side-down and revealed different ways of enjoying life. Creativity and curiosity directed him into Blues and Swing, in which he found complementation of dancing and also deeper connection and feeling.
Photo courtesy of Agnieszka and Konrad
Individual responsibility in the partnership, self-expression, inspiration drawn from music are some go-to topics that she will teach in many different ways. She will help the students find their own way to move – by themselves and with a partner – in the (let’s hope) spirit of jazz. She’ll shake you in a pleasant and caring way.
SepSep Vermeersch is a unique and committed creative. He’s a passionate jazz, blues & swing dancer. A lifelongstudent and daily practisioner. When teaching he prefers holding space as a facilitator. It’s about the ‘jazz’ process: historical context, personal development and expressing your own style while trying to appreciate these African American social dances as a guest.
The combination of his educational background, playful attitude and daily practice make him a unique person to collaborate with. His curiosity for the deep ways of jazz, humanity and his successful performances in the sector make him a welcomed guest in various projects around the globe. Get to meet Sep and allow yourself to be shaken with love and groove.
Photo courtesy of Alexia and Sep