Swing For Fun
Lindy Hop, Solo Jazz and swing dance in Bologna since 2013
A swing dance studio offering instruction in East Coast Swing, West Coast Swing, Lindy Hop, and related swing styles.
Photo: SwingForFun Bologna via Google
Before your first class
The school organises courses for all levels and has a track record of welcoming beginners, including those with no dance background.
About this studio
Swing For Fun is a non-profit sports association founded in June 2013 with the mission to teach and spread swing dances from the 1920s–1940s, particularly Lindy Hop, Solo Jazz, Balboa, Blues and Shag. The school organises classes at all levels, workshops, and social events featuring both live bands and DJ sets.
The founders, Michele Felizzi and Ilaria Pancetti, discovered Lindy Hop in 2010 at the Swing Brother Swing event and trained extensively with top instructors across Italy and Europe. In 2011, they performed with the show group The Wops at the European Swing Championships in Barcelona. In 2012, they joined the Nagasaki Swing Team and in 2013 appeared on Italia's Got Talent on Canale 5, reaching the semi-finals with 40 finalists. Both are CONI-recognised technical-sporting instructors in swing dance and continue to train through festivals, workshops and private lessons with international swing teachers.
Lindy Hop is a partner dance born in Harlem, New York in the 1920s–30s, blending steps from the Charleston, tap, Shag and other period dances. It is known for improvisation, musicality and optional acrobatic figures, danced to swing music. Solo Jazz (Authentic Jazz) emerged in the early 1900s as a solo dance drawing from Charleston, Shag, tap and period styles, helping dancers refine body movement, musicality and style for partner dances.
Classes run at multiple locations: Centro Sociale della Pace, PRA.T, Porta Pratello and Officina Acrobatica, all in Bologna. The teaching team includes Francesca Ecchia (who taught boogie at Cotton Club 2005–2016 and at Fantasy Rock from 2018, studied Lindy Hop from 2007, and joined Swing For Fun in September 2018), Alice Baldissara (who started at the school in 2013 aged 15, competed at Torino Swing Festival, and began teaching Solo Jazz and Lindy Hop in September 2017), and numerous other instructors with extensive festival and competition experience including Giada Minardi, Ada Gori, Luciano Gasperini, Lorenzo Dall'Olmo, Giulia Gasperini, Giulia Bononi and Sergio Collina.
What to expect
Your first visit
You'll attend classes at one of four Bologna locations with qualified instructors teaching Lindy Hop, Solo Jazz, Shag, Boogie Woogie, Blues or Balboa. The school regularly organises social events and serate (evening dances) with live bands or DJ sets where you can practise what you learn.
Instructors
Who teaches here
The founding team, Michele Felizzi and Ilaria Pancetti, are CONI-recognised swing dance instructors who appeared on Italia's Got Talent and competed at the European Swing Championships in Barcelona. The wider teaching staff includes Francesca Ecchia (boogie and Lindy Hop), Alice Baldissara (Solo Jazz and Lindy Hop), Giada Minardi, Ada Gori, Luciano Gasperini, Lorenzo Dall'Olmo (Lindy Hop instructor from 2023), Giulia Gasperini, Giulia Bononi and Sergio Collina, many with festival competition and international workshop experience.
New to dancing?
What beginners can expect
The school organises courses for all levels and has a track record of welcoming beginners, including those with no dance background.
Studio history
Swing For Fun was founded in June 2013 by Michele Felizzi and Ilaria Pancetti as a non-profit sports association. Both discovered Lindy Hop in 2010, trained across Europe, performed at the 2011 European Swing Championships in Barcelona with The Wops, and reached the semi-finals of Italia's Got Talent in 2013, appearing on Canale 5 in prime time.
Styles offered
10 dance styles taught here
Gallery
The people, the parties and the dancing here
Class schedule
Weekly classes and workshops
Swing For Funhasn't set up a public class schedule yet.
If you own Swing For Fun, claiming the studio lets you add a public schedule in about 2 minutes. A free Google Calendar is the easiest path — visitors see your class times inline + can add events to their own calendar.
Frequently asked about Swing For Fun
Quick answers to the most common questions
What dance styles does Swing For Fun teach?
Swing For Fun teaches Swing, East Coast Swing, West Coast Swing, Lindy Hop, Solo Jazz, Balboa and 4 more. The full list of styles is shown above on this page along with each genre's classes and lesson options.
Where is Swing For Fun located?
Swing For Fun is located in Bologna. See the map above for the exact address and one-tap directions.
Does Swing For Fun offer private lessons?
Contact Swing For Fun directly to ask about private lessons and current class options — their website has the latest details.
Does Swing For Fun teach kids and adults?
Swing For Fun welcomes students of varied ages and experience levels. Contact the studio to learn which classes fit your age group and level.
How do I sign up for classes at Swing For Fun?
The fastest path is to visit Swing For Fun via their website or check the class schedule above. Many studios offer a free or discounted intro lesson — contact them directly to ask.