Liesel Hop ARTist edition
Liesel Hop
The third edition of the Göttingen Lindy Exchange has again a very special topic. We will look at swing dance as a form of art. The beauty of improvised dance lasts barely longer than the beat of a drum. In the ARTist edition of the Liesel Hop, you can learn how to preserve such moments in dance photography, integrate ideas from improvisational theatre in your dancing, get a new perspective on swing music, and discover many other art forms related to swing dance. More than 200 dancers await you in one of the oldest student towns, right in the centre of Germany.
Göttingen
Göttingen is known for its centuries-old university, its richly ornamented half-timbered houses, and its vibrant student scene. Located right in the centre of Germany, south of Hanover and at the edge of the Harz uplands, Göttingen is never far away. Although small with 127,000 inhabitants, the city has a lively cultural life, which you will experience during the Liesel Hop.
Liesel
The Gänseliesel is the most-kissed girl of Göttingen – and the landmark that the Liesel Hop is named after. She is a fountain figure depicting a young maid taking care of geese. It is a tradition that doctoral students, after their graduation, climb up the fountain, bring the Gänseliesel flowers, and earn the once-in-a-lifetime honor to kiss her.
The Schwings Band
Founded in 2011 by renowned saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist Remis Rančys, The Schwings have become one of Lithuania’s most beloved live jazz acts. Their infectious energy, rich arrangements, and seamless blend of swing, New Orleans jazz, Brazilian and gypsy influences make them a favorite at jazz festivals, Lindy Hop events, and dance-friendly stages.
Highlights:
• Performed internationally in France, Denmark, Germany, Spain, UK, Switzerland, Finland, Sweden, Poland, Greece, Luxembourg, and more.
• Their albums Jackfruit (2025), Something About Us (2023), Plombyras (2022), and Fyodor (2019) all reached #1 in the swing/jazz category on Bandcamp.
• Featured in Hey Mister Jesse’s Fine BBQ – a renowned San Francisco swing podcast showcasing the best in modern swing worldwide.
• The band has about 20,000 monthly listeners on the Spotify platform. Approximately 100 listeners per month search for the band’s recordings on the Shazam app
Stef Rosen
Born and raised in a small village in the mountains of North Italy, Stef Rosen followed a path that led him first to Chicago, where he performed with legends like Lurrie Bell and Billy Branch, and then to Berlin, where he is currently based.
Stef hits the road with his organ trio, channeling the raw emotions of late ’60s and early ’70s soulful blues. With echoes of Bobby Blue Bland and Otis Redding in every phrase, Stef delivers a sound that’s both classic and strikingly fresh – where his warm soul voice and gritty guitar meet heartfelt songwriting.
In recent years, Stef has taken this powerful trio to stages around the world – from New York to Seoul, Beijing to Moscow, Paris to London – building a growing global fanbase.
His single “Show Me Love” passed 100,000 plays on Spotify, earning nearly 50,000 monthly listeners – as a fully independent artist.
Authentic and emotional, Stef Rosen’s organ trio brings the heart of vintage soul and blues to modern audiences.
Listen
🎧 Stef Rosen– Spotify
Watch
🎥 Stef Rosen Organ Trio – YouTube
🎥 Stef Rosen – Higher – YouTube
🎥 Stef Rosen – Your Heart Is As Black As Night – YouTube
Booking & Contact
Cora Stein
📧 cora.stein@gmx.de
📞 +49 152 01765767
Michele Alberti Trio
Melodic Piano Jazz and Swing from Hessen
Since 2012, Michele Alberti’s group has been performing melodious jazz, swing and Latin jazz inspired by Oscar Peterson, performed with great joy in a classical line-up featuring piano, double bass and drums. They love surprising their audience with jazz interpretations of well-known classical pieces and familiar jazz standards in a new format.
Ms Carlson and the T-Dancers
Ms Carlson and the T-Dancers initially swung together at a Sunday “T”ea Dance, making the dancers forget about tea and cookies in no time. No surprise: they lay down a relaxed groove, nice song selections, and connect with the dancers!
Hanna Carlson is a well-known jazz singer of the Göttingen region and has teamed up with a rhythm section of many “T’s”: “T”obias Kohl, a dancer-musician on the keys; “T”homas Koch, a versatile jazz bassist; and Nils Konrad on drums, a reference among German swing drummers (taking over the drumsticks from local “T”imm Fitschen on this occasion). Make sure you listen to and dance to their music!
ARTistic Workshops
1. Swing Shots – dance photography
Low light, fast movement – photographing swing dancing is a challenge of the highest order. Eric Bobrie didn’t just capture movement at the last Liesel Hop—his photos tell little stories of moments, atmosphere and flow. Get tips and tricks from this exceptional international (dance) photographer.
2. Go with the Flow – improvisational theatre
Improvisation – an essential part of Lindy Hop. When we dance, we respond to the music, our partners, and the environment. The same happens in improvisational theater: spontaneity, reaction, a moment. This is where the most beautiful dances and the most surprising stories are born. In this workshop we go with the flow under the guidance of Lotte (Improsant).
3. Language in Motion – poetry
Dah dit dah dit, dah dah dit dah – that’s communication. Words and rhythm aren’t just found in swing music—they’re also at the heart of poetry. In this workshop, we make syllables bounce, tongues swivel, and words dadadance. Don’t expect dry poetry analysis—this is language in motion.
4. Cut – Paste – Create – collage art
Just as we pick up moves in dance and transform them into our own style, collage art also takes what already exists—cutting things apart and combine them differently. Enjoy two hours of relaxed community: flipping through magazines, cutting out what catches your eye, confronting the unrelated, creating connections, rearranging, and pasting it all together.
5. In the Mood – DJing
Following or leading isn’t just a question in dancing—it also applies to DJing. Do you follow the vibe of the dance floor, or do you drive it forward? And how exactly do you do that? In this workshop, you’ll dive (deeper) into the secrets of DJing for socials and partys.
6. Sing Sing Sing
Do not only your feet love to move, but your vocal cords too? Then it’s time for you to sing, sing, sing! You’ll explore singing under the guidance of Göttingen Jazz singer Hanna Carlson. It’s not about perfection, but about the joy of experimenting and creating a shared sound together.
7. Follow the Paint – dance and painting
If you just can’t get enough then keep dancing. But be prepared: Dancing means more than Lindy Hop (shocking, I know). With dance educator Ulrike Grell you’ll let paintings and dancing nourish each other, discovering new shapes and colours along the way.
8. Rhythm First – playing the drums
The roots of jazz and swing dance run deep into the soil of West Africa. From Ibs Sallah, you’ll get a small insight into the world of the djembe – basic drumming techniques, first grooves, call and response, and breaks. Does that sound familiar?
9. Swing out – art in public spaces
Art and dance leave their traces in society – like we do in public spaces. Altogether, we will move through Göttingen’s old city center and create a small artistic intervention using dance and drawing.
If the weather doesn’t play along, the art will adapt to the space and we will draw indoors – no previous experience required.
Venues
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