Annual Festival
The Mess Around
8-10 January 2027
The Hague’s international swing dance festival. Three days of workshops, live bands, and unforgettable parties.
Overview
What to Expect
Connect, get silly, and be playful: let’s do the Mess Around!
This is not your ‘standard’ festival weekend, the Mess Around goes beyond a funky solo move or that amazing song by Ray Charles. Explore the wide range of possibilities and playfulness in your dance, focusing on how we interact and connect in a weekend full of games, grooving, and goofing.
Be prepared to explore how solo, partner dancing, and group dancing can boost your ability to connect with other dancers around you and feel the dance floor as a whole. We are welcoming upcoming and established international teachers to guide you along the way. Together with their support and some fun surprises and challenges during the party, we will invite you to sometimes break away with your solo moves, deepen connection or dance with more than one person at the same time.
Tune in with the musicians, sync with one of the many rhythmic layers, and become a part of the ‘musical organism’ that’s filling the space. There will be live workshops during the weekend.
The Mess Around is all about having fun. Get ready for some stealing, switching, jamming, and who knows what we will come up with. The festival will allow you to safely explore all those groovy possibilities in your body.
International Teachers
Learn from world-class instructors in Lindy Hop, and Solo Jazz workshops for all levels.
Live Bands
Dance to swinging live jazz every night. Multiple bands across three days of non-stop rhythm.
Live Music Workshops
Musicality workhops on Friday for all visitors, and on Saturday for full pass holders.
Amazing Community
Connect with dancers from across Europe in a warm, welcoming, inclusive atmosphere.
Teachers
International Teachers
Learn from some of the world's finest swing dance instructors.
To be announced
To be announced
To be announced
To be announced
To be announced
Live Music
Dance to Live Jazz All Weekend
Every night has a live band — the heart of the festival.
To be announced
Friday + Saturday
An international heavy weight. More info to come!
To be announced
Sunday
A really cool surprise for the Sunday party. More info to come!
Venue
Venue & Getting There
Everything you need to know about the festival location.
Venue
Dates
Getting There
Throwback to the 2026 edition!
Curious what’s awaiting you in January 2027? Check out our aftermovie and some of the photos from last year to get a taste of the amazing parties, inspiring classes and goofy interactions!
