Are You Syncopated?! 2023 – Press release


The Syncopation Society announces the second edition of its festival Are You Syncopated?! (27 Sep – 01 Oct) at the Säälchen on Holzmarkt and Xelor Kesselhaus. This hybrid festival at the junction of dance and jazz celebrates the diversity of jazz and swing heritage with a rich programme of music, dance and discussion.

As last year, there will be a focus on politically and historically relevant lectures and discussions. Topics include the treatment of jazz as an Afro-American cultural form, the influence of racism and sexism on the development of jazz, and how to appreciate Black and other cultures without cultural appropriation.



The festival will also feature the BERLIN HOT JAZZ CAMP, i.e. music workshops, with several teachers from the Syncopation Society. It will be dedicated to early jazz styles and collective improvisation.



This year’s new additions are the Dance Workshops, where participants can learn and share the joy of dance with a focus on musicality and expression. Guest teachers such as Felipe Braga (Brazil), Marie N’diaye (France) and the Smile Trio (Mozambique) will enrich the understanding of music and dance.



In the evenings, participants can experience the energy of the Berlin music scene during concerts, dance parties and jam sessions. The programme includes bands from the Syncopation Society – Ragtime Nightmare, The Big Five, Jungle Jazz Band, Syncopation Society Orchestra – as well as international guests such as Kelvin Sholar Trio, American singer and actress Nicolle Rochelle, world-renowned Parisian saxophonist Olivier Franc and his son Jean-Baptiste Franc on piano. The aim is to bring together different generations, dance and music scenes, united by a common passion for swing and jazz culture.”Are You Syncopated?” is co-funded by the Creative Europe Programme of the European Commission as part of the Swinging Europe project, which brings together 13 European partners from 9 countries to celebrate swing dance and music. We expect visitors from Berlin and abroad to make the festival a unique and inspiring experience. 

For more information about the festival, the line-up and registration, please visit the official website.