Teachers 2025
Irene is a visual artist and a dancer. Although she was originally trained in ballet, jazzdance attracted her because of the space for personal expression and freedom ofmovement. Besides the dance itself she is interested in its rich history, its connectionto the contemporary world and its aesthetics – researching on visual artists, videographers and photographers of the jazz era. She also loves to explore themultilayered nature of jazz music (such as african, latin, bebop elements etc. ) and itsrelation to jazz dance. She gets inspired by reading and watching clips of the original dancers and besidessolo jazz and lindy hop she loves to complicate her life with tap dance training, withan ever learning attitude. She has a lot of experience teaching at internationalfestivals around Europe as well as competing, with many placements. After having experienced two quite vibrant scenes for a while (Ghent & Stockholm), Irene is currently based in Athens, where she is coaching and training with the lindyhop and solo jazz teams of her project Athens Authentic Jazz Dance.
Karl started dancing at the age of 9, inspired by the Michael Jackson steps he saw on TV, and continued this passion in elementary school until today. He took hip-hop dance classes at renowned schools such as Studio Harmonic, Juste Debout School and Tony Maskot. His aim was to learn the basics of dance in depth.In 2019, an unexpected encounter with swing dance, in particular the Charleston, marked the start of an exciting adventure. Since that first spark, his enthusiasm for this dance has never left him.He has been sharing his passion by giving swing lessons in the heart of the capital, at specialized schools, abroad and in the provinces. His experience has been enriched by his participation in numerous competitions, which has strengthened his teaching approach.For him, two key principles guide his teaching: kindness towards his students and the creation of an environment where everyone can enjoy fully each session.His relationship with swing dance evolved far beyond a chance encounter in 2019. He has embarked on a journey of sharing and passing on his passion, rooted in values of mutual respect and shared pleasure.
Franklyn „Slunch“ Kakyire is a dancer, performer and choreographer from Hamburg, Germany who started his career in 2006 with background choreographies from Los Angeles Performance. A few years later he learned more dance styles like Hip Hop, House Dance and some Floor Movements from B-Boying.
In 2010 he performed at the world exhibition Expo in Shanghai, the following year in Los Angeles and had the opportunity to test his skills at the L.A. Carnival. Franklyn worked with the Hamburg Thalia Theater and several artists like Eko Fresh and Samy Deluxe. In 2019 he won the Juste Debout Qualification South Korea (Soul) and the Red Bull Dance Your Style Germany.
Franklyn regularly teaches and dances at events throughout Germany. In Hamburg he teaches weekly classes for adults and is also involved in projects for children, teaching them the basics of house dance and an understanding of the elements and rhythms of house music in a playful way.
Ben Schütz is the founder of the Body Rhythm Festival, which was established in 2015 – the first international festival for body percussion in Germany. This annual event attracts 200 participants from all over the world to workshops and concerts.He shares his knowledge of body percussion at renowned institutions such as music academies, universities, and Goethe Institutes. His field of activity extends to coaching drama students, developing arrangements for choirs, and working with youth orchestras. Ben has taught and performed in many different places around the world, including China, Europe, and Latin America.Having trained at the Music College Hannover in drums and percussion with a focus on jazz, rock, pop, and music education, he also enjoyed several years of playing in a lively swing band for Lindy Hop dancers. This vibrant experience will undoubtedly enrich his workshop at Jump Up North, bringing a dynamic and joyful energy to the sessions.
Class: Body & SoulJoin me for this gentle movement class designed to reconnect with your body’s needs at the end of an inspiring and physically demanding dance festival. Through mindful movement and relaxation techniques, we will loosen our muscles, calm our minds, and appreciate our bodies. Embrace this opportunity to nurture your well-being and self-care in a supportive community as we wind down with joy and gratitude.
Katrin Mittenzwei: Katrin lives in Hamburg and has been learning and dancing the African American dances Lindy Hop, Jazz and Tap Dance since 2000. She is a freelance dance trainer and founded JamCircle Hamburg in 2022 where she teaches weekly classes and workshops in Authentic Jazz Dance. She is also a certified teacher for mindfulness meditation and stress reduction.