🎵 Step by Step III – Swing Alcalá Festival 2026
The Step by Step Festival returns for its third edition from April 24–26, 2026 in Alcalá de Henares (Madrid, Spain), celebrating the anniversary of the vibrant swing community Swing Alcalá.
This special event brings together dancers, musicians and swing lovers for a joyful weekend of Lindy Hop, live jazz music, workshops and social dancing in one of the most historic cities near Madrid.
Participants will enjoy a rich program including live swing bands, dance workshops, DJ parties, cultural talks and social activities, all designed to celebrate the spirit of jazz and the growing swing dance community in Spain.
Set in Alcalá de Henares, a UNESCO World Heritage city, the festival combines music, culture and social dancing, creating the perfect weekend getaway for swing dancers visiting Madrid.
📅 Dates & Registration
Festival Dates: April 24–26, 2026
Location: Alcalá de Henares, Madrid – Spain 🇪🇸
🎟 Tickets & Registration
Buy tickets here
https://entradium.com/events/step-by-step-iii-aniversario-swing-alcala
Official website
Community links
📍 What & Where
Country: Spain 🇪🇸
City: Alcalá de Henares (Madrid)
The festival takes place in Alcalá de Henares, a historic university city located just outside Madrid, famous for being the birthplace of Miguel de Cervantes.
Workshops, concerts and social dancing activities are hosted in venues across the city center, including Hotel Isla Garena and outdoor public spaces where the community gathers for open swing dances.
Participants can also enjoy the city’s beautiful streets, historic squares and vibrant cultural atmosphere throughout the weekend.
Interactive Map locations
💃 Dance Styles
- Lindy Hop
- Solo Jazz / Authentic Jazz
- Swing
🎭 What to Expect
During the weekend, participants will enjoy a wide variety of activities designed for dancers of all levels:
- Lindy Hop and jazz dance workshops
- Live swing music and social dancing
- DJ swing parties
- Cultural talks about jazz history
- Outdoor social dances
- Guided tour through Alcalá de Henares
- Festival closing lunch with the community
The atmosphere of the festival is friendly, welcoming and community-driven, perfect for both local dancers and international visitors exploring the swing scene in Spain.
👣 Teachers & Artists
The Step by Step Festival 2026 features an exciting lineup of international-level swing teachers, live bands and experienced swing DJs, creating a full weekend of music and social dancing in Madrid’s swing community.
👩🏫 Teachers: Fer & Rebe (360 Studio)
👩🏫 Teacher: Cristina Manzanares (Ovat School)
🎓 Teachers
Swing On Teaching Team
Andrea · Carlos · Elena · Jorge
The teachers of Swing On bring their passion for Lindy Hop, Authentic Jazz and Tap Dance from their school in Vigo to the dance floor in Alcalá.
They have taught and performed at events across Spain and Portugal, including Porto, Zamora, Gijón and Madrid, helping grow the swing community through their energy, musicality and commitment to social dancing.
Their workshops combine technique, musical understanding and the spirit of African American jazz dance traditions, making every class dynamic and inspiring.
🎺 Live Bands
Rumbling Groove Jazz Band
Rumbling Groove Jazz Band is a swing jazz band founded in Pamplona in 2022, closely connected to the swing dance community.
The band was born from the collaboration between teachers and students from BigKick Swing Dance Studio, with the goal of creating music specifically designed for Lindy Hop dancers and social swing events.
Their repertoire explores the great classics of the Swing Era, inspired by legendary artists such as:
- Count Basie
- Duke Ellington
- Ella Fitzgerald
They also incorporate elements of rhythm & blues and later jazz styles, maintaining the groove and energy that define the roots of swing dance.
With a powerful and elegant sound, Rumbling Groove Jazz Band creates the perfect atmosphere for dancers and jazz lovers alike.
Combolboreta
Combolboreta is a jazz combo formed at the renowned El Molino Jazz School in Madrid.
For more than seven years, the band has performed swing music designed for dancing, appearing in venues such as:
- Café Berlín
- Sala Villanos
Their style focuses on danceable swing rhythms, creating a continuous groove that keeps the dance floor alive.
The name Combolboreta means “butterfly” in Galician, reflecting the light and lively character of their music.
ZZ Jazz Project
Also born from the El Molino Jazz School, ZZ Jazz Project has spent the past three years exploring different jazz styles.
Their repertoire moves between:
- classic swing
- bebop
- modern jazz interpretations
They have performed in well-known Madrid venues including:
- Café Berlín
- El Intruso
- Sala Villanos
They have also played for Lindy Hop dancers at events organized by Animal Jazz School, giving them a strong understanding of the rhythm and energy needed for swing dancing.
🎧 DJs
Félix “El Duende”
A veteran DJ with over 25 years of radio experience, Félix has been making dancers move across Spain for more than two decades.
His DJ sets focus on:
- Swing
- Blues
- Rhythm & Blues
Combining musical knowledge with dance-floor intuition, he creates authentic swing atmospheres wherever he plays.
He has DJed at festivals such as ManzaSwing and Mojo Swing Tropical Fest, and has been part of Step by Step since the very first edition.
Swing On DJs
Elena & Jorge bring their DJ project Swing On DJs to the festival.
They are well known in the Iberian swing scene and have played at events including:
- BeSwing
- Spring Lindy Weekend
- Down By The Riverside
- Blue Monday
Their sets combine traditional swing classics with carefully curated dance-floor favorites.
RhythmCounts DJs
Andrea & Carlos, performing as RhythmCounts, are active members of the swing community in Vigo.
Their DJ sessions focus on keeping the dance floor moving, combining rhythm, musical flow and attentive reading of the dancers’ energy.
🎤 Festival MC
Antonio Ponce
For the third consecutive year, the festival will be hosted by Antonio Ponce.
Actor, director and screenwriter trained at RESAD (Madrid’s Royal School of Dramatic Art), he has worked with renowned directors such as:
- José Carlos Plaza
- Guillermo Heras
- Tamzin Townsend
- José Sanchis Sinisterra
He has appeared in TV series including:
- Amar es para siempre
- Reina Roja
- Estoy vivo
- Servir y proteger
He is especially known for his character Carmelito in the popular Spanish TV show La que se avecina.
🎭 Workshops & Activities
Hablando en Jazz
A cultural talk exploring the history and cultural context of jazz and swing music, helping dancers better understand the origins and meaning behind the dances they love.
Open Beginner Swing Workshop
📍 Hotel Isla Garena
👩🏫 Teachers: Fer & Rebe (360 Studio)
An introductory Lindy Hop workshop designed for beginners who want to experience swing dancing for the first time.
No partner or previous experience required.
Solo Jazz Workshop – Nitty Gritty
📍 Outdoor workshop
👩🏫 Teacher: Cristina Manzanares (Ovat School)
An open workshop focused on the Nitty Gritty solo jazz routine, suitable for dancers of all levels.
Alcalá Historic Tour
📍 Sunday – 11:00
📍 Meeting point: Plaza de los Santos Niños
The tour includes:
- Alcalá Cathedral
- Archbishop Palace
- Archaeological Museum
- Calle Mayor
- Cervantes House
- Plaza de Cervantes
- University of Alcalá
Duration: approximately 2 hours.
Festival Closing Lunch
📍 Bar La Paloma: Calle Cid Campeador 2
Alcalá de Henares
Menu price: 10 €
Includes:
- Paella (vegetarian option available)
- One drink (water, beer or soft drink)
A relaxed closing moment for the community after the festival.
🪩 Quick Overview
Event: Step by Step III – Swing Alcalá
Dates: April 24–26, 2026
City: Alcalá de Henares
Region: Madrid – Spain 🇪🇸
Dance Styles
- Lindy Hop
- Solo Jazz
- Swing
Highlights
- Live swing bands
- Lindy Hop workshops
- DJ swing parties
- Jazz cultural talk
- Historic city tour
- Festival closing lunch
Website
Tickets
https://entradium.com/events/step-by-step-iii-aniversario-swing-alcala
Discussion