- WILLIAM PISANI (ITA)
- ALICE FARAONE (ITA)
- NEJC ZUPAN (SI)
- KATJA ZAVRŠNIK (SI)
- NURBANU DEMIR KÛÇÛMEN (TUR)
- MALIK DERIN KÛÇÛMEN (TUR)
live music on stage:
supported by many DJs that will make you dance the whole night long right up to the morning. WOOzzzzAA 🙂
Aleš Vintage, who knows the festival inside and out, will be our MC this year! Always delighting us with his witty remarks and clever humor. We can’t wait!
William Pisani & Alice Faraone (ITA)
William Pisani (Milan 23-10-1994, Interpreter graduated at IULM University as Interpreter and translator) and Alice Faraone (Milan 29-10-1996, She graduated in Sport Management at CATTOLICA Univeristy of Milan). They have been members of the Italian National Team of Boogie-Woogie federation. They are Dancers and Instructors of Boogie-Woogie, Lindy Hop, Balboa in our Dance School “Big Beat dance Studio” in Milan (Italy).
Winner of the Italian Championship in Junior Class of Boogie-Woogie in 2011. Winner of the “Coppa Italia” (Italian Boogie-Woogie Cup) for two seasons: 2013/2014 and 2014/2015, and Italian Championship in Main Class of Boogie Woogie for three years: in 2015, 2016 and 2017. We represent Italy also abroad, in International competitions as World Championship and European Championship. We arrived in final in 6 different World Master of Boogie Woogie: Lyon 2011, Ginevra 2012, Wintherthur and Rimini 2015. Rimini 2017 and an incredible 2nd place at the worls master of Stuttgart in 2017. Winner of the title: World Couple Dance in Turin in 2 different disciplines: West Coast Swing and in Jitterbug (Boogie-Woogie Showcase). In 2018 they stopped competing because Alice injured the knee, but they spent a lot of their time practicing and developping their Lindy Hop skills partecipating in different festivals, (also as teachers) and taking part in social competitions. In 2019 they won the Italian Championship in Main Class in boogie-woogie and they went on TV twice, in 2018 in a normal TV program called: I SOLITI IGNOTI (where partecipants guess what people do in their life) and 2019 in a famous european talent: TU SI QUE VALES
Now they just train in lindy hop, and in 2019 they arrived in 3rd place at the “Balkan Lindy hop Championship” in: Strictly and Showcase in “Open Division”. In 2019 William won the Camp Hollywood AM strictly lindy hop and AM classic lindy hop. In 2022 William won the mix and match Open division, with Alice did a second place in Open strictly and with Milano Swing Team arrived in second place at the competition Team City Battle at Savoy cup 2022.
Katja Završnik (SI)
Katja Završnik – Professional Dancer, Swing
Dance Instructor, Choreographer
Katja Završnik is a renowned professional dancer, swing dance instructor, and choreographer. With a passion for dance ignited at the age of five, Katja has dedicated her life to the art of movement. In 2010, she transitioned from a career in video andfilm editing to pursue dance full-time, a decision that has seen her travel the world teaching, performing, and inspiring others. Katja’s dance education spans various disciplines learned throughout her childhood in multiple dance schools. She has honed her skills by attending international workshops specializing in swing dances. Her extensive training includes
acrobatic rock and roll, ballet, modern jazz, gymnastics, modern dance, and ballroom dances. Since 2005, she has focused primarily on partner and solo dances from the jazz age and swing era, mastering styles such as Lindy Hop, Balboa, Charleston, St. Louis Shag, authentic (vernacular) jazz dance,
and ragtime dances. Known for her versatility and expertise, Katja is celebrated as one of the top followers in the swing dance scene. Her deep understanding of reactivity and connection sets her apart,
making her a sought-after instructor and performer. Since 2010, she has been a fixture at swing dance festivals and special events worldwide, sharing her knowledge and passion with a global audience.
In addition to her dance career, Katja is a certified pregnancy and postpartum exercise specialist, holding certifications as an IFPA (Pre and Post Natal Instructor) and FemFit Instructor.
This qualification underscores her commitment to supporting women through all stages of life with tailored fitness and dance programs.
Outside of dance, Katja enjoys traveling, meeting new people, exploring different cultures, and spending quality time with her husband, daughter, and two dogs. Her life is a testament to her
love for dance and her dedication to enriching the lives of others through movement and connection.
Nejc Zupan (SI)
Nejc started dancing swing back in 2003 as a result of his contemporary dance experience and a strong love for jazz music. Because of this he became the main culprit for the popularization of Lindy Hop and Balboa in Slovenia in the early 2000s. Since 2010, he has been teaching various swing dances — Lindy hop, Balboa, Charleston, Blues — first on its own across Slovenia and now at the Studio Dansa dance school. He travels extensively to teach at international workshops, sharing his love of swing, and also competes in many international competitions, winning quite a few (Lindy Shock, Rock That Swing, both the Solo Jazz and the Jack’n’Jill at the Ljubljana Sweet Swing festival,…). His swing dance experience is a collection of endless research into different dance forms, many international workshops, show troupes and his humble willingness to keep learning from anybody who is willing to teach him. He pays special attention to jazz body movement, control and musicality, all quintessential to any swing dancing.
Nurbanu Demir Küçümen (TUR)
Lindy Hop & Jazz Dancer
Nurbanu Demir Küçümen is a dedicated and expressive Lindy Hop and jazz
dancer based in Istanbul, Türkiye.
Originally trained as a psychologist, she discovered her passion for swing dance in 2018
and made the leap to pursue it professionally in the past two years. Drawing from her
background in psychology, Nurbanu brings a thoughtful and people-centered approach
to both her dancing and her teaching. Her style is shaped by vintage dance clips, rich
musical traditions, and a genuine curiosity for different movement languages—especially
Lindy Hop, tap, Charleston, and Rhythm & Blues.
Over the last one and a half years, she’s shown rapid growth through intensive work with
renowned Lindy Hop legends, combining their mentorship with her own relentless
dedication and consistent practice. On stage, she shines as a dynamic performer, and in
competitions, she has reached several finals and earned medals alongside her dance
partner Malik Küçümen at top international events like Savoy Cup, ILHC, and other
major events in Europe.
As a teacher, Nurbanu is generous in sharing her experiences and insights, always
striving to pass on the knowledge she’s gathered from her own journey. Her
collaboration with Malik is rooted in a shared love for jazz music, rhythm, and a strong
commitment to technique and expression. She also loves cats, even more
Malik Derin Küçümen (TUR)
Lindy Hop & Jazz Dancer
Malik is a Lindy Hop dancer, teacher, and performer based in Istanbul, known for
his deep musicality, playful creativity, and strong connection to rhythm and jazz
culture.
He’s been sharing his passion for swing dance across Europe and beyond, teaching
classes, performing on stage, and working closely with life and dance partner Nurbanu
Demir Küçümen. Together, they focus on bringing authenticity, storytelling, and solid
technique to their dancing—always inspired by the roots of the dance and the spirit of
Jazz.
In the past five years, Malik has also been active in the international dance scene,
teaching and competing at events like the Savoy Cup, ILHC, Herräng Dance Camp, and
other major festivals. Whether in the classroom, on the social floor, or in front of a crowd,
he brings energy, curiosity, and a love for sharing the joy of jazz dance.
He recently started studying for his PhD on “Performing Arts & Musical Theatre” and
loves cats, card & video games.