Upside Down

23/12/2024

⚡FREE TASTER SOLO BLUES⚡
It's the seasons of gifts! Here's a surprise for you 🎁

In the weeks leading up to Big City Blues festival, we organize free tasters solo and partnered Blues dance to get you back in the groove! For this taster, we collaborate with Practice Your Moves, a monthly social in Ghent organized by De Gentse Hoppers. They create a cozy and welcoming environment for all Swing and Blues dancers to socialize and train their dance skills. Right before the social starts, we invite inspirer Houttequiet for an open-level Solo Blues taster. Join us!

Date & time: Friday January 3rd, 20h00 - 21h00 (with social afterwards)
Location: Danshuis De Ingang, Hurstweg 8, 9000 Gent
Price: free, no need to sign up

More information about the pre and after festival activities on the website: https://www.bigcityblues.be/pre-after-activities/

The festival is sold out.

Big City Blues ☆ A Fool’s Paradise ☆ is organized by Upside Down and co-funded by the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union through the Europe network.

18/12/2024

We organize online sessions for a more connected network amongst European organizers and motivated community members!

Feel free to join in the 9th and last edition of the Learning Network.

What if we’d exchange more often in our European swing- and jazz dance scene? In the learning network gatherings we engage on deeper and organizational topics to learn and grow together on topics that are important to us all.

For the past 3 years, we have gathered 3 times a year in person and online, using the ‘learning network’ methodology that has been proven pleasant and efficient. Join the Learning Network session to share and learn about:
💡social engagement strategies
💡artists development strategies
💡history heritage preservation and recognition
💡green festivals
💡 strategic and economic development

Participation is free but registration is necessary: https://forms.gle/e1b4WoqmmbRxKuqA7

More information in the Facebook event: https://fb.me/e/4rifFE9I3

The Learning Network is organized by Upside Down as one of the Swinging Europe network activities, a project co-funded by the European Union.

14/12/2024

Upside Down delivers value through value-driven work.

👣Upside Down is a social movement.

Our events are first and foremost about experiencing, connecting and feeling. We do not copy-paste, but create customized experiences. We invite you to participate through playful and accesible means.

🏗️Upside Down is a community builder.

As community builders, we grow and nourish others in a flourishing community. We support an ecosystem of dancers, musicians, artists and organizers. We also advise and assist other organizations and companies outside of the swing community.

🙏🏻Upside Down is appreciative.

Upside Down has a passion for jazz & swing. In everything we do, we draw from the African-American music and dance culture. In jazz, you create experiences in which community, co-creation and personal expression are balanced.

🏠Upside Down is a family.

Upside Down's talent lies in connecting people. Our internal organization reflects this. We work closely with numerous experienced specialists, a big family of like-minded people.

🧳Upside Down is international.

Upside Down is firmly rooted in Flanders, but our branches reach far beyond. We are a proud partner of Swinging Europe Network, supported by the European Union.

Let's meet. Reach us at [email protected]

More about Upside Down on the website https://upside-down.be/waarden/ (in Dutch)

13/12/2024

Terwijl we reikhalzend uitkijken naar Big City Blues 2025 ✯ a Fool’s Paradise ✯ (14 - 16 feb), worden we getrakteerd op nog een bluesfestival in Gent: Boogie Town 2025! ✨

Met een fantastische line-up, 10u lang live muziek, een zotte locatie en de Missy Vibe. 🎸

Wist je trouwens dat Big City Blues, Missy Sippy en ook BoogieTown 'kinderen' zijn van van BoogieVille? Een kiekje van de organisatoren uit de oude doos, alweer 10 jaar geleden... Wie herkent wie? 😁

Tickets met early bird korting nu beschikbaar via https://www.boogietown.be/ .

Bernd Coene Baracita Gent ICC Marie Follebout Tiny Legs Tim

12/12/2024

Twee maanden geleden tekende Upside Down present op Spo(r)tlight, georganiseerd door Demos , een trefdag die sociaal-sportieve praktijken in de kijker zet. 🔦Natuurlijk kon sociaal dansen niet ontbreken! Spot Sep Vermeersch in deze aftermovie. Hij verzorgde een beweeglijke sessie rond swingdans en haar Afrikaans-Amerikaanse roots, op een inclusieve manier, voor jong en oud(er).

Wist je dat Upside Down een jeugdwerking heeft, in samenwerking met Sportaround ? Elke maand vullen we een voormiddag met dans op school, in het kader van Wijze Woensdagen. Daarnaast is er 1x/maand Shake je Woensdag, als naschoolse activiteit voor jongeren. Meer info? Geef ons een seintje!

Op 23 oktober 2024 vond de tweede editie plaats van Spo(r)tlight. Dit jaar ging het door in De Centrale in Gent. Op deze dag kon je de sociaal-sportieve prak...

05/12/2024

It's International Volunteer Day! 🫰

A big hug to all (super)volunteers who make our festivals possible. It is thanks to your community spirit, energy and time that Upside Down Festival and Big City Blues are not only festivals who spotlight Swing and Blues music and dance, but bring people together in many meaningful ways. Your kind support has more impact than you can imagine. ✨

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

And we are excited to welcome a new team of supervolunteers and crew members soon for Big City Blues 2025 ✯ a Fool’s Paradise ✯!

30/11/2024

We joined the last Conference of the Swinging Europe at Montesilvano, Italy, during the past 2 days. Read a summary here!

23/11/2024

The last newsletter of 2024 is out! ⚡ Read it here:

De laatste nieuwsbrief van 't jaar is uitgestuurd! ⚡Lees 'm hier:

https://upsidedown.cmail19.com/t/y-e-cldtua-dtjlktuls-jt/

22/11/2024

Vanavond openen we de registraties voor Big City Blues party passes! We hebben een gelimiteerd aantal, maar prioriteren daarbij locals die een supervolunteer kunnen hosten. Geïnteresseerd? Schrijf je dan zeker in.

Meer info in de post hieronder of op de website. Geen haast, je hebt 10 dagen om in te schrijven voor een Party Pass!
https://www.bigcityblues.be/registration/

P.S. de inschrijvingen voor de Full Passes (met workshops traject) lopen als een trein! Er zijn nog enkele plekjes over.

✨✨✨

Big City Blues 2025 ✯ a Fool’s Paradise ✯ is almost sold out, but we have some final spots in the Tracks (Full pass) and some Evening tickets (Party passes) for sale. Registration for party passes opens tonight!

Special shout out to locals who can offer a hosting spot: you have priority.

Read the info below or on the website carefully before registering. There is no rush needed, you have 10 days! https://www.bigcityblues.be/registration/

✨BCB PARTY PASSES ✨Read this first 👀

Big City Blues is almost sold out, but we have a very limited number of spots left for 3 legendary nights at Big City Blues! We will open registration for party passes on Friday November 22nd, at 7pm.

Compared to our Full passes (with a track of workshops), we will process registration for Party passes a bit differently. Please read the information below carefully to be fully aware of the conditions before signing up for a party pass.
✨ You have 10 days to register for the party pass. Registration for party passes closes again on Dec 3rd at 7pm. So no need to hurry, as we will not process registrations in order of appearance.

✨ Registrations will be accepted based on either priority, or luck:

✨ We prioritize local Ghentians who offer hosting to one or more of our super volunteers. Click the box “I can host someone during the event” when signing up. If you select this option, we will get in touch with you to discuss details first.

✨For all remaining Party passes, we will hold a raffle. If you sign up with a partner in the other dance role, we keep this into account.

There are still some spots in the tracks. Keep an eye on our socials for details, we try our best to update you when possible.

www.bigcityblues.be

Big City Blues ☆ A Fool’s Paradise ☆ is organized by Upside Down and co-funded by the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union, with the support of the City of Ghent and Gent Cultuur.

08/11/2024

Another fun Wednesday dance day with kids! 😍
Shake je Woensdagen vindt maandelijks plaats in samenwerking met Sportaround. Meer weten? Geef ons een seintje!

29/10/2024

The Swinging Europe network organizes its Annual Conference in Montesilvano, Pescara, Italy this year. Join us on Thursday 28 & Friday 29th of November for sessions on topics such as Arts, Cultural Appreciation, Mental Health within the European Swing Dance and Music scene.

Upside Down as one of 13 Swinging Europe network partners, will also guide the 8th Learning Network session.

More info here: https://www.facebook.com/events/389840554195161/

19/10/2024

Binnenkort! 🙌 Volgende week geef onze eigen Sep Vermeersch een dansworkshop tijdens Spo(r)tlight: een ontmoetings- en uitwisselingsdag voor en door sociaal-sportieve praktijken en hun ondersteuners. Zowel jongeren als volwassenen zijn van de partij

Sep brengt er een swingende workshop met dansstijlen geworteld in de Afrikaans-Amerikaans cultuur. Deelnemers krijgen al bewegend methodieken, ideeën en concepten aangereikt om van dansen een inclusieve belevenis te maken.

Want elke activiteit, event en workshop van Upside Down zit bomvol persoonlijke expressie, verbondenheid en gemeenschapsgevoel: waarden die centraal staan in swingdans, zowel in solo- als koppeldansvorm.

Bedankt aan Sportaround en Stad Gent voor deze opportuniteit!

thttps://sociaalsportief.be/sportlight-2024/schedule -26

Tijdens Spo(r)tlight kan je de sociaal-sportieve praktijken doorleven. We kijken ook over het sportmuurtje heen en highlighten wat sociaal-sportief kan betekenen voor andere domeinen (bv. welzijn, onderwijs,... ) én maken de link naar publieke ruimte. Dit is dé gelegenheid om te ontmoeten, experti...

18/10/2024

Get to know the inspirational line-up for Big City Blues 2025 ✯ a Fool’s Paradise ✯ (14 - 16 Feb '25) 🤩

We have invited a professional team of artists who are capable of guiding you on the topic of Blues dance and music. These people are of African American descent or are guests in the culture with a humble attitude, working towards cultural competence.

Registrations open TODAY Friday 18th of October at 7pm.

Read more about our inspirers team for Big City Blues ‘25 on the website: https://www.bigcityblues.be/inspirers/

www.bigcityblues.be
https://fb.me/e/3rVk645ur

Big City Blues ☆ A Fool’s Paradise ☆ is organized by Upside Down and co-funded by the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union.

10/10/2024

Throwback to 5 years ago: The Paradise Stompers feat. Fedia and Bernd ✨ And here's a little secret: Fedia will be again at Big City Blues 2025 ✯ a Fool’s Paradise ✯ , this time fronting her own band 🙌

Tickets for Big City Blues (14 - 16 February) go on sale next Friday Oct 18th. Grab a full pass with 3 nights of parties and 2 days of workshops, talks & more on https://www.bigcityblues.be/

06/10/2024

Upside Down doet in samenwerking met Sportaround mee met de Wijze Woensdagen! ⚡

"Leerlingen krijgen één woensdag per maand activiteiten in plaats van les. Dat geeft het schoolteam extra tijd om te vergaderen of vormingen te volgen." Upside Down voorziet deze winter meerdere woensdagvoormiddagen een dansende activiteit voor de kinderen.

https://stad.gent/nl/onderwijs-kinderopvang/nieuws-evenementen/wijze-woensdagen-van-start-strijd-tegen-lerarentekort

Wist je dat we daarnaast ook 1x/maand op woensdagnamiddag dansles aanbieden aan de Gentse jeugd? Heel fijn om jong volk onze passie voor dansstijlen met afrikaans-amerikaanse roots mee te geven 🤩

In Freinetschool Het Tandwiel en Kindcentrum Drakena start dit schooljaar een proefproject om de schoolteams meer ademruimte te geven.