General Information
- We will try to make this a short booklet. Remember, information is also available on your participant page (shuttles, M&M, level split, schedule) and the website, including the tasters’ description.
- Schedule here!
- We’ll all eat, sleep, and party in the Grande Hotel Thermas.
- The team and volunteers are available for you if you have any questions or just need a warm hug.
- Any last-minute changes will be communicated during parties, displayed on the communication board at the Hotel entrance, and shared on our Instagram stories. – Follow us at @littlebigswingcamp
- Connect with other participants in this WhatsApp Group.
- If you have any special necessities that are related to your stay, such as needing another pillow, more towels, etc., you can go directly to the Hotel reception. For any other issues, please contact the team.
Map
Click on this link or the image above to open Google Maps on your device and check where the venues and other landmarks are.
Classes, Tasters and Level Split
CLASSROOMS
The classes will happen in the 2 rooms of the Grande Hotel Thermas (The Little and The Big).
In the schedule, you can find the location for every class.
SOLO JAZZ CLASSES
You can attend 2 Solo Jazz classes (1h30 each). The classes are marked with a star in the schedule. You have 5 levels to choose from. You will receive 2 stamps, at the check-in, to give to the teacher once you enter your 2 chosen classes. Please choose either by level or by schedule—whichever works best for you. Once you decide, arrive on time and commit to that class. Please don’t switch between different options before making your choice.Â
TASTERS
Our Tasters have a maximum capacity depending on the subject and classroom. Bear in mind our first-come, first-served basis.
Please check our website for a complete description of all the tasters and the schedule to know when each one of them is happening and where.
All the passes have access to the tasters. For anything related to classes, please speak to Cátia or Henrique.
Spa
From 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm, on Thursday, right after you check in, you can chill and hang out with new and old friends at the awesome Hotel Spa. You will find an amazing circuit inside, a heated pool outside, and all the jacuzzis you can think of. If you wish, you will also have the opportunity to book extra sessions at the spa or schedule a massage during your stay. Ex: A 2-hour session at the Spa is 30€.
Sunday Street Parade
On Sunday, we celebrate the time we spent together with a parade through the streets of SĂŁo Pedro do Sul. We will meet at the Hotel Lobby and start walking together at 3:30 pm.
This Parade is open to everyone and free to attend – If you have friends or family around, invite them over to enjoy the music.
Our Riverside Band will guide the jam. You can join with your instrument, sing, or just dance by the riverside. In the end, we all jump into the river, paddle on some kayaks, or just relax in the sun.
Blues Concert by Azuis de Domingo
Margarida Martins, singer and guitarist from Portugal reveals her full talent as a blueswoman in an intimate duo with an eccentric and well-travelled trumpeter from France, Julien Silvand. Will she manage to calm him down? Will he succeed in bringing out her craziest side?
Lovers of jazz-infused music, fado, Portuguese history, Baudelairean melancholy, and the aura of Edith Piaf will find, on this Sunday afternoon, all the comfort and solace they need to ease the nostalgia that inevitably begins to appear when faced with leaving the festival just a few hours later.
Jam Corner
The Little Big Apple project is here to merge dancers and music players as much as possible.
You’ll be able to find some musical instruments that you are more than welcome to play, or you can bring your own instrument and eventually find a musical moment with other musical participants.
You’ll find some of our Riverside Band members there, playing and coordinating the Jam and musicians.Â
How to join? We have a Jam WhatsApp Group for you to be part of the direct communication between participants and organizers. But you are also welcome to just drop in.
This Jam is open to a very wide range of skills and experience, from beginners to International Pros. Here are some things to consider:
Tempo: You should be able to play your instrument in a variety of tempos, but most importantly, be able to keep your tempo steady throughout the song.
Harmony:Â For harmony instruments (guitar, piano, bass, etc) and melodic instruments (voice, winds, etc) that plan on doing some solos, you should be able to read a musical progression score and understand it at a basic level (unless you plan to just play a couple of songs you memorized beforehand). This requires you to know what a chord is, how they are notated in Jazz and be able to understand the music structure from the sheet.
Melody: If you play a melodic instrument, you should know the melody of some Jazz Standards beforehand, be able to pick something by ear, or just be content with playing some accompanying riffs.
Teamwork: You should be able to keep an open ear and eye to your fellow participants, but especially the band leader. They will be constantly guiding all participants and musical decisions that you will need to absorb and react to on the spot.
Participation: Managing the balance between “musical quality” and “inclusivity” in such a wide range of skills requires everyone’s understanding and participation. You should be able to keep an open mind, open heart, and open communication with everyone involved, especially with the house band members.
Location: The Jam Corner will take place at Bon D’Jau Bar, right in front of the main venue.
Schedule: Find it at the events schedule, but also please double-check the physical event communication board at the Hotel entrance for any last-minute changes.
Technical Coordination: David Afonso (00351 960002148) and Nuno
Artistic Direction: Julien
Mix & Match
Our Mix&Match is a friendly competition where you will get to dance to amazing live music, inspire other dancers, and maybe get to dance with some new future dance friends.
Did you register? Get your number at the store on Friday. The prelims will happen at 9 PM on Saturday, so arrive in the Big Room at 8:45 PM at the maximum. The finals will be at the end of the first set of Toulouse Hot Club around 11:45 pm in the Big Room.
Our first prize is 2 Party Passes (with no meals or accommodation) for Little Big Swing Camp 2027, and the second prize will be 2 discount vouchers for Swivels shoes (100€ discount for each participant). Third prize will be merch from Little Big Swing.
Performances
Our Open Stage slots are full! We can’t wait to see your creations. If you need any help (or just some encouraging words) contact Cátia or Mafalda.
Spare Time
- Bring your speaker to rehearse for performances or practice what you learned in class.
- Make a nice video of your dance holidays down by the riverside.
- Book an extra Spa slot/day at the hotel – Contact the hotel reception.
- Check the wellness treatments at Termas.Â
- Take a nice walk, nap, write, dance, or read by the riverside.
- Join one of the many walking paths around SĂŁo Pedro do Sul.
- Drive to the river beaches and sightseeing spots (ie: Magic Mountains).
- Post on our entrance board your ideas and join the WhatsApp Group to find people to hang out with.
Second-Hand Market đź‘š
Join our Kick Clothes Change project! In this small market between dancers, you can bring the cool clothes you don’t want anymore and sell them to someone who will love them.
Maximum 10 items per person.
If you don’t sell all your items, please take them out of the hanger until Monday at 10 am.
The items left unsold after the festival will be given to charity.
We’ll bring price tags, racks, and hangers. You name their value, negotiate, trade, or even give them for free. Your choice!
Sponsor đź‘ž
A huge thank you to Swivells for supporting Little Big Swing Camp!
Celebrate with 15% off all online orders using the code LITTLEBIGSWING15. You can use this code until Oct 4th.
They also sponsor the M&M by providing 2 discount vouchers (100€ each) to the second place winners.
Some Rules đź“–
Wristband: Please wear it throughout the entire event. If your bracelet breaks, please reach out to Henrique.
Access to the meal room: Access to the meal room is strictly prohibited for those with a Solo Jazz Pass. If this rule is disregarded, we reserve the right to revoke your access to the rest of the event.
Access to classes: You have access to 2 Solo Jazz classes (1h30 each) , all taster classes, and activities. The taster classes are marked on the schedule and on our website. You cannot do any of the classes marked in grey in the schedule.
Smoking is prohibited indoors.
Noise in rooms and corridors: People might be sleeping or trying to rest at any time. Hence, avoid loud conversations and noisy activities in the rooms and corridors. Take these to other places, like the main floor or the nice spaces outside the hotel.
Shoes: When entering the Hotel, please check that your shoe soles are mostly dry and clean. We don’t want to ruin a perfect dance experience. In the Aqua room it’s mandatory to change your shoes before you enter the room.
Valuables: The whole hotel is just for us, which makes it a really safe place. Also, SĂŁo Pedro do Sul is a very calm and safe place generally. But unfortunately, we cannot take responsibility if you leave your belongings unattended in the venue. Prefer your hotel room for storing them.
Injuries: Although we cannot take responsibility for any physical injuries, both the organization and the hotel have basic first-aid kits available.
Media sharing: We love sharing this dance and its great moments with the community. By participating in this event, you’ve granted us permission to use photographs and videos of you for public sharing and promotion.
We know you probably love to register this too. Feel free to film or photograph during the parties, avoiding flash, and always crediting the artists. Share your awesome results by tagging @littlebigswingcamp
Lost and Found: We will keep lost & found properties for one week after the festival has finished. Please contact us if you’re missing anything, or the remaining articles will be offered to charity.
Powder on the floor: Please think about your fellow dancers who might have slippery shoes. Don’t put talc powder on the floor without the organization’s permission.
Drinkable water: In Portugal, most tap water is safe to drink. You can fill up your water bottles from the tap and make good choices for the planet.
Open drinks placement: Leave your open drinks where there is no rock-stepping hazard.
Floor Care: As soon as you find liquids on the floors, find someone to safeguard that spot and go talk to the hotel staff, team member, or volunteer about it.
Team
Our team members’ passion for the swing dance community is the driving force behind this event. This means they are eager to make your life easier and create a memorable experience. To make sure everything runs the best way possible, we also need your help. Please come to us as soon as you spot an opportunity for improvement. We might act on it right away or take notes for the next edition, but your feedback and support are highly valuable in any case.
Cátia Fonseca
Event Director
Contact Cátia if you have an essential event issue, especially about classes, competitions, and activities.
Catarina Paulino
Logistics
Contact Catarina if you have questions about shuttles or registrations. You can find her at the info desk and store during the day.
David Afonso
Sound and Musical Manager
Contact David if there are any issues with sound, lighting, instruments, and the Jam Corner.
Henrique Belo
Activities and Check-In
Contact Henrique when you need something related to activities happening around, either organized or spontaneous.
Mafalda Campos
Communication, Care Space team
Contact Mafalda for any issues related to the Care team, Open Stage & M&M.
Nuno Neves
Media Team Coordinator
Our Video master! Go to him if you have crazy ideas about parties or anything related to video, lights, and after-parties.
Volunteers
Check-in, Store, Activities, Shuttle Service
These amazing volunteers will be the first faces you will see when you arrive. They will help you feel at home and also take care of a lot to make Little Big Swing Camp run smoothly.
Miguel and Sara are going to be the ones receiving you in the shuttle.
