The oldest city in the Netherlands. Once a Roman outpost, now an university town. “Old city, young vibe”.
Nowadays the city is best known for its International Four Day Marches (Vierdaagse) in the summer that attracts tens of thousands of participants.
And of course Nijmegen is getting more and more famous for What’s Hop!?
See: into Nijmegen.
It all started in 2014 when six people hired a backstage room at a pub to give a Lindy Hop taster. Their credo was: “If you can’t find a Lindy Hop community in your city, why not create one yourself?”.
And because people hearing the name Lindy Hop often responded with a questioning “Lindy…What?”, the name of the community came naturally: “Lindy What!?”
Fast forwarding to the present: Lindy What!? has become a vibrant community driven by volunteers who have a passion for the swing era of jazz. People come to learn and dance Lindy Hop (and other swing dances) and to visit our socials not seldom with live music. We enjoy one other’s company and have a good time dancing with everybody, no matter their skills.
Organizing the What’s Hop!? Festival has been a challenge but also a lot of fun.
Below you can take a walk through memory lane with some pictures and data points.
Teachers:
Tyedric Hill & Breonna Jordan,
Alexandros Velentzas & Vassia Panagiotou
Bands:
Reverent Juke (Friday, Saturday),
Celebrity Hot Tub Party (Sunday)
Party Venue:
Kleine Zaal De Vereeniging (Saturday),
Lindenberg Cultuurhuis (Friday, Sunday)
Side Program:
Black Gospel by maX Music,
Hip Hop cross-over jam with New Rootz
Culture Talk Hip Hop – Lindy Hop by Tyedric
Musicality Lesson Reverent Juke
Photo/Videography
Wouter Loeve, Nicepictures
10 year anniversary Lindy What!?
Teachers:
Alice Mei & Xesc Bujosa
Peter Kertz & Elze Visnevskyte,
Momo
Bands:
Kalishnikovs (Friday)
Shirt Tail Stompers (Saturday),
Celebrity Hot Tub Party (Sunday)
Party Venue:
Lindenberg Cultuurhuis (Friday)
Kleine Zaal De Vereeniging (Saturday),
Het Badhuis (Sunday)
Side Program:
Slow Ball by Deidre & Joost,
Culture Talk / Discussion by Momo,
Musicality Lesson by Shirt Tail Stompers
Teachers:
Ari Beltran & Simon Bressanelli,
Ron & Sharon Dobrovinsky
Bands:
Drooping Eyelids (Friday)
Dr. Bernard & the Swingcats ( Saturday),
Celebrity Hot Tub Party (Sunday)
Party Venue:
Theaterboot De Zeester (Friday)
Theatercafé Stadsschouwburg (Saturday),
Kolpinghuis (Sunday)
Side Program:
Blues Taster Ron & Sharon
Photography
Koen van Langen
Teachers:
Ari Beltran & Simon Bressanelli,
Kris Blindert & Audun Kveberg
Bands:
Kalishnikovs (Saturday),
Party Venue:
Theatercafé Stadsschouwburg (Saturday),
Kolpinghuis (Sunday)
Photography
Koen van Langen
Videography
Danny Vermeulen