Five teacher couples. Three dances. A faceted glass house in the Tyrolean Alps — a Friday beginner track and a fully modular weekend of Lindy Hop, Shag & Balboa.
Altitude Swing Fest is an international swing dance festival taking place from 21–23 August 2026 in Obergurgl, Austria, at 1,900 meters above sea level. Hosted at the Gurgl Carat Congress Center — Europe’s highest congress venues—the festival combines world-class dancing with breathtaking alpine scenery.
Over three days, dancers from across Europe gather to enjoy workshops in Lindy Hop, Collegiate Shag, and Balboa, taught by an outstanding international teaching team. The program includes multiple dance tracks, live music, social dancing, and a welcoming international community.
Beyond the dance floor, participants can explore the Ötztal Alps through hiking, wellness, mountain lifts, and local cuisine. Whether you come to improve your dancing, meet new friends, or enjoy a unique mountain getaway, Altitude Swing Fest offers an unforgettable experience where swing culture meets alpine adventure.
Dance. Connect. Breathe mountain air.
One Weekend,
Built Like a
Modular Kit
Classes run across Saturday & Sunday in three rooms, with two First Steps Classes on Friday to open the festival.
Instead of fixed courses, dancers assemble their own weekend from interchangeable 1.25-hour blocks — Take a full track, or mix dances, levels, and even roles. The grid is engineered so that many level combinations book clash-free.
Five Couples ·
Their Dances
Lindy Hop is shared Tadas & Pamela and Simona & Jonas. Grace & Blake and Heiko & Larissa share both Shag and Balboa across both levels, and Danka & Sirom cover the Friday First Steps and the weekend electives.
Lindy Hop
Simona Pogosian (LT) &
Jonas Vaičaitis (LT)
Lindy Hop
7.5 h
Sat · Solo
(Simona)
1.25 h
Lindy Hop
Pamela Gaižutytė (LT) &
Tadas Vasiliauskas (LT)
Lindy Hop
7.5 h
Sun · Solo
(Pamela)
1.25 h
Shag & Balboa
Blake Thiessen (US) &
Grace Babbes (US)
Shag
5 h
Balboa
5 h
Shag & Balboa
Larissa Heckendorn (CH) &
Heiko Heckendorn (CH)
Shag
5 h
Balboa
5 h
Shag ‘n‘ Bal,
Danka Vyroubalová (CZ) &
Sirom Cazzolli (IT)
First Steps
2.5 h
Shag ’n’ Bal
2.5 h
Build Your
Own Weekend
Take one dance start-to-finish, or assemble a mix.
Three structural ways to spend your 5 hours:
Full Track
5 h · 4 × 1.25 h
Half – Half
2,5 h + 2,5 h
Half – Quarter – Quarter
2.5 h + 1.25 h + 1.25 h
… some example combinations!
FULL
5 h of one dance
Take one dance start-to-finish — Lindy, Shag or Balboa —
at one level.
Lindy ×5h
Shag ×5h
Balboa ×5h
MIX A
2.5 h Lindy + 2.5 h Shag
Take one dance start-to-finish — Lindy, Shag or Balboa —
at one level.
Lindy ×2.5h
Shag ×2.5h
MIX E
2.5 h Shag + 2.5 h Balboa
Take one dance start-to-finish — Lindy, Shag or Balboa —
at one level.
Shag ×2.5h
Balboa ×2.5h
MIX C
2.5 h Shag + 1.25 h Lindy + 1.25 h Balboa
Make Shag your main dance and bridge into Lindy
and Balboa.
Lindy ×1.25h
Shag ×2.5h
Balboa ×1.25h
MIX D
2.5 h Balboa + 1.25 h Lindy + 1.25 h Shag
Balboa-led weekend with a Lindy and a Shag block
on the side.
Lindy ×1.25h
Shag ×1.25h
Balboa ×2.5h
MIX B
2.5 h Lindy + 1.25 h Shag + 1.25 h Balboa
Anchor in Lindy, then taste both Shag and Balboa —
pick the level for each.
Lindy ×2.5h
Shag ×1.25h
Balboa ×1.25h
Level mixing is flexible. Many level combinations book clash-free — including popular all-Masters stacks like Lindy Masters + Shag Masters + Balboa Masters, or strong-in-one paths like Lindy Masters + Shag Curious + Balboa Curious. Both Shag’n’Bal electives sit in the final slot of each weekend day and can be added to most tracks on top of the 5 hours.
Lindy
5 h · choose one level
Lindy Hop
Curious
Lindy Hop
Ambitious
Lindy Hop
Masters
Shag
5 h · choose one level
Collegiate Shag
Ambitious
Collegiate Shag
Masters
Balboa
5 h · choose one level
Balboa
Ambitious
Balboa
Masters
Lindy Curious
Dancing 1–2 yrs · or returning
You are dancing for 1-2 years continuously and picking up vocabulary, or you are dancing for longer time but never continuously and you had some (even years of) breaks in between. You know more moves, but they are a bit rusty and wanna get back on track again.
Lindy Ambitious
Dancing 2.5–4 yrs continuously
You are dancing for 2,5 - 4 years continuously and you go fairly regularly to social dances, at least occasionally practicing with your buddies apart from some group classes.
Lindy Masters
Dancing 5+ yrs · fine-tuning
You have been dancing for 5+ years continuously and you have taken multiple private classes here and there and focused on fine-tuning your dancing. Practicing regularly or even throwing classes for other dancers. This level requires video to be sent to us for auditioning purposes.
Video Audition
Make sure to provide during or as soon as possible after the registration the videolink to registration@altitudeswingfest.com
Shag / Balboa
Ambitious
Open level · prior knowledge needed
You know the fundamentals well and feel comfortable with the core vocabulary of both Collegiate Shag and Balboa. Whether the music calls for the playful energy of Shag or the smooth efficiency of Balboa, you enjoy exploring one or both dances and are looking to deepen your understanding of their connection and possibilities.
This open-level class is the perfect place to expand your repertoire, refine your technique, and gain new tools for navigating a wide range of tempos and musical styles on the social dance floor.
Shag / Balboa
Masters
Dancing 5+ yrs · fine-tuning
You have been dancing for 5+ years continuously and you have taken multiple private classes here and there and focused on fine-tuning your dancing. Practicing regularly or even throwing classes for other dancers.
Video Audition
Make sure to provide during or as soon as possible after the registration the videolink to registration@altitudeswingfest.com
Masters levels are video-auditioned. To join any Masters level (Lindy Hop, Collegiate Shag, or Balboa), please submit a short video of yourself social dancing via Google Drive, Dropbox, or YouTube (WeTransfer and other temporary links cannot be accepted). Masters level registrations are confirmed only after organizer approval. Please note that choreographed routines, showcases, or performance pieces cannot be used for the audition—we want to see how you dance and interact on the social floor.
Balboa First Steps
Danka & Sirom
Friday 16:15 – 17:30
Discover the fundamentals of Balboa, the elegant and efficient swing dance born for crowded dance floors and fast music. We’ll explore basic footwork, connection, and comfortable partner movement to get you social dancing right away.
Collegiate Shag First Steps
Danka & Sirom
Friday 17:45 – 19:00
Jump into the energetic world of Collegiate Shag, known for its playful footwork, bounce, and joyful spirit. Learn the essential rhythm, partner connection, and classic moves that will have you dancing to fast swing tunes in no time.
Solo Jazz · Rhythm & Flow
Simona · Saturday · 13:30–
14:45
Explore solo jazz at medium and slow tempos with a focus on rhythmic variations, musicality, and groove. Play with timing, textures, and dynamic movement while deepening your connection to the music.
Solo Jazz · Groove & Style
Pamela · Sunday · 13:30–14:45
We’re going to focus on slightly faster music and how to draw inspiration from it, while using basic steps and making them your own.
Shag’n’Bal · Masters Elective
Danka & Sirom · Saturday · 17:45–19:00
The same Shag-meets-Balboa crossover at a faster, more advanced pace. Open to everyone on top of any package — no audition needed.
Shag’n’Bal · Curious Elective
Danka & Sirom · Sunday · 17:45–19:00
A crossover taster mixing Collegiate Shag and Balboa, pitched at improver–intermediate dancers. Open to everyone on top of any package — no audition needed.
Passes & Add-Ons
A full pass covers your weekend track. Electives, beginner classes, and the party pass can be added on, and a solidarity fund keeps the festival open to everyone.
Early Bird
€215
Standard full pass.
Late Bird
€230
From 1 July, or once 100 full passes are sold — whichever comes first.
Group · Early Bird
€205
Per person, for groups of 5–10 people.
Group · Late Bird
€215
From 1 July, or once 100 full passes are sold — whichever comes first.
Friday Night ·
Saturday &
Sunday
Three rooms, five 1.25-hour slots per weekend day (10:00–19:00, with a two-hour lunch), opened by a Friday First Steps night. Tracks are deliberately interleaved so dancers can mix freely — a single full track may hop rooms or have a gap, which is by design.
Two First Steps classes (1.25 h each) — a gentle on-ramp before the full weekend.
17 : 30
19 : 00
Two First Steps classes (1.25 h each) — a gentle on-ramp before the full weekend.
11 : 15
12 : 45
14 : 45
16 : 00
17 : 30
19 : 00
11 : 15
12 : 45
14 : 45
16 : 00
17 : 30
19 : 00
EVENING SCHEDULE
Dance Till Dawn
Three nights of live music and DJs in the Alps. Doors open at 21:00, with Taster Slots each evening from 20:00 to ease you onto the floor.
Friday
21:00
04:00
Lesters Blues
Saturday
21:00
05:00
Lesters Blues
Tom Collins & the Lemons (Funk)
Sunday
21:00
03:00
Swingwagon (AT)
ACCOMODATIONS
There is no official event hotel for Altitude Swing Fest. Instead, participants can choose from a wide range of accommodation options in Obergurgl and Hochgurgl according to their preferences and budget.
All available hotels, guesthouses, apartments, and holiday homes can be booked directly through the official tourism booking platform:
Accommodation Search: www.gurgl.com
Simply enter your travel dates and browse all available options. Most accommodations are located within walking distance or a short shuttle ride from the festival venue.
Examples of accommodation prices
Prices are examples and may change depending on availability and booking date.
“We recommend booking your accommodation early, as Obergurgl is a popular summer destination and availability can become limited closer to the event.”
Festival Shuttle Bus – Innsbruck ⇄ Altitude Swing Festival
Skip the hassle of mountain travel and arrive relaxed at Altitude Swing Festival! We offer a convenient shuttle service between Innsbruck and Obergurgl, bringing you directly from the city to the heart of the festival at 1,900 meters above sea level.
Pick-Up Locations (Innsbruck)
Please choose your preferred pick-up station during booking:
Station 1: Innsbruck Main Train Station (Hauptbahnhof)
Station 2: Innsbruck Airport
Arrival Shuttle (Friday)
Innsbruck → Obergurgl
Available departure times:
- 14:00
- 15:00
- 16:00
- 17:00
- 18:00
- 19:00
Return Shuttle (Sunday)
Obergurgl → Innsbruck
Available departure times:
- 18:00
- 19:00
- 20:00
Perfect for participants who need to travel home on Sunday evening.
Return Shuttle (Monday)
Obergurgl → Innsbruck
Available departure times:
- 09:00
- 10:00
- 11:00
- 12:00
Ideal for those staying the extra night and enjoying a relaxed departure after the festival.
Pricing: €25 per direction
Examples:
- Innsbruck → Obergurgl: €25
- Obergurgl → Innsbruck: €25
- Round trip: €50
LOCATIONS
Main Venue – Room A & B:
Gurgl Carat, Gurglerstraße 118, 6456 Gurgl
he heart of Altitude Swing Fest. Check-in, Friday First Steps, all evening events, and most classes take place here in Class Room A and Class Room B.
Class Room C:
Hotel Alpina deluxe, Kressbrunnenweg 12, 6456 Obergurgl
Our third classroom is located just a 10-minute walk (600 m) from Gurgl Carat. Selected workshops and classes will take place here throughout the weekend.
MERCHANDISE
Our official Altitude Swing Fest T-Shirt comes in an off-white oversized fit—comfortable, stylish, and perfect both on and off the dance floor.
Made from 100% organic cotton (180 g/m²) and produced according to Fair Wear standards, this shirt combines comfort, durability, and sustainability.
By purchasing a shirt, you’re not only helping us spread the word about this brand-new festival, but you’re also directly supporting the event financially and helping us make future editions possible. Pre-order yours now and make sure you don’t miss out!
Price: 25 €
Men's Size Charts
Women's Size Charts
JITTERBUGS MIX ‘n’ MATCH
Lindy Hop, Collegiate Shag and Balboa
Format
- Mix & Match
- 2 Full Chorus + All Skate
- Fast Tempo
Description
Can you switch effortlessly between Lindy Hop, Collegiate Shag, and Balboa? In this unique all-skate competition, dancers are challenged to adapt, connect, and express themselves across multiple swing dance styles. Everything goes! Show your versatility by blending the dances seamlessly, borrowing concepts, rhythms, and movement qualities from each style—or by creating something entirely your own.
Whether you transition smoothly between Lindy, Shag, and Balboa or explore creative fusions inspired by them, we want to see musicality, connection, personality, and joy on the dance floor. There are no strict rules on when or how to switch styles—surprise us with your creativity and social dancing skills.
Judging Criteria
- Connection & Partnering
- Musicality
- Creativity & Style Blending
- Technique & Movement Quality
- Floorcraft & Social Dance
- At least 2 genre blending Let’s see how you bring the dances together.
Price: 10 €
Important Information
- Advance booking is required.
- Seats are limited and allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Please select both your preferred departure time and pick-up/drop-off location during registration.
- Detailed meeting point information will be sent to all booked passengers before the event.
Sit back, enjoy the scenic drive through the Ötztal Alps, and let us take care of the journey while you save your energy for a weekend full of swing, music, and mountain adventures.