#171 Dancing to be ourselves - with Ceren AY | Herräng Dance Camp

Have you ever felt like dancing helps you find yourself and lose yourself at the same time?In this episode, I sit down with Ceren, a Lindy Hop teacher, community builder, and the person behind Lindy Hop Company and So We Danced. Also, it is Ceren who is behind Herräng's Instagram page ;)We recorded this conversation during Herräng Dance Camp after a relaxed volunteer gathering. Surrounded by the unique energy of camp life, we talked about dance, creativity, music, and the small moments that shape who we become on and off the dance floorWe talk about:Why dancing helps us express every emotion, not only joyThe story behind Lindy Hop Company and So We DancedFinding yourself and losing yourself through danceHow childhood experiences shape creativity and movementConnecting to music through the piano and visual imaginationWhy goofiness, playfulness, and freedom matter on the dance floorThis episode may resonate with anyone who has ever wondered why they still dance after many years, or who has felt caught between technique and self-expression. Ceren offers a gentle reminder that dance can be a place where all parts of ourselves are welcome.A shout-out to Herräng Dance Camp:This episode has been recorded in the third week of Herräng Dance Camp 2026, Sweden. Thank you for the space, the music, and the people who make conversations like this possible.______________________________________________​Subscribe & review the podcast to help me grow 🌟​Connect with me on Instagram @Sia.Dancing ✅ #SiaDancing #HerrängDanceCamp #SwingDance #SwingDanceInTurkey #SocialMediaVibes

What happens when one dance trip changes the direction of your life?In this episode, I sit down with Jonathan Copard in his giant hammock during Herräng Dance Camp in Sweden.Jonathan grew up in New Zealand and discovered social dancing through a cèilidh, a Scottish social dance event, right at the beginning of the COVID pandemic. Not long after, he found swing dancing, and what started as curiosity eventually led him across Europe and into a new life in London.We talk about:• Jonathan's first social dance experience at a cèilidh in New Zealand• Learning swing dancing during the COVID years• Moving from New Zealand to London for dance• Movement on the dance floor and how space shapes a dance• Why swing dance can be seen as a dance of constraints• Dancing until sunrise and making friends at Herräng• Connecting with live musicians while dancing• Why everyone should feel welcome to ask someone to danceThis episode might resonate with you if you've ever felt nervous asking someone to dance or found yourself chasing those rare moments when everything clicks and you stop thinking.Jonathan's story is a reminder that dancing is not only about what happens on the dance floor. Sometimes the most meaningful moments happen in between. Over a swim after an all-night social. A shout-out to Herräng Dance Camp:This episode has been recorded in the third week of Herräng Dance Camp 2026, Sweden. Thank you for the space, the music, and the people who make conversations like this possible.______________________________________________​Subscribe & review the podcast to help me grow 🌟​Connect with me on Instagram @Sia.Dancing ✅ #SiaDancing #HerrängDanceCamp #SwingDance #SwingDanceInNewZealand #SwingDanceInLondon

How do you know when a room is truly swinging?In this episode, I sit down with jazz guitarist Alexander Brott, a Stockholm-based musician whose journey has taken him from Sweden to New York and back again. He started playing at Chicago Swing Dance Studio at 19 y.o. - and that was just the beginning.We talk about:• Why Alexander started playing music and why he still wakes up wanting to play every day• How New York shaped his musical identity• What playing for dancers taught him about rhythm, groove, and presence• The unique relationship between dancers and musicians• Reading the energy of a room and adapting in the moment• Jazz as a collective art form and the idea of serving something bigger than yourself together.Alexander speaks openly about learning, humility, and how some of the most important musical lessons came from watching dancers respond in real time.If you have ever felt curious about what musicians experience from the bandstand, this episode offers a gentle look behind the music stand. It is a reminder that social dancing is not only about individual expression, but also about creating something together.______________________________________________​Subscribe & review the podcast to help me grow 🌟​Connect with me on Instagram @Sia.Dancing ✅#SiaDancing #ChicagoSwingDance #LindyHop #SwingDance #JazzMusic

What makes a dance feel good when we willingly let go of control?In this episode, I sit down with David Kaminsky, dancer, musician, researcher, and professor, based in California.We talk about: ​How David first entered dance through Swedish folk music and Polska​The connection between Aikido and leading in a partner dance​Playing live music for dancers and the unique conversations that happen through music​A magical memory of dancing in a forest surrounded by light at Recess​What it means to lead, follow, and take care of a partnerDavid shares ideas that come from years of research, but always connects them back to real experiences on the dance floor.If you have ever wondered why certain dances feel so comfortable, why connection matters, or why dancing can change how we move through the world, this conversation offers plenty to reflect on.A link to David’s faculty page, which has links to free versions of almost everything he has written: https://gasp.ucmerced.edu/content/david-kaminsky______________________________________________​Subscribe & review the podcast to help me grow 🌟​Connect with me on Instagram @Sia.Dancing ✅#HerrängDanceCamp #PartnerDance #DanceCommunity #DancingTango #RecessBlues

What keeps you coming back to dance, year after year?Recorded in the quiet late evening magic of Herräng Dance Camp, this conversation is with Alexej Schmidt, a social dancer whose journey has taken him from Russia to the Dominican Republic, Sweden, Germany and France.We sit outside a red Swedish cottage, surrounded by trees, summer light, and the calm atmosphere that makes Herräng feel so special. We even had a dear passing py at some point - you will hear it ;)We talk about:• Growing up between cultures and finding connection through dance• How a year in the Dominican Republic changed Alexej's relationship with music and movement• Discovering Lindy Hop in Stockholm and falling in love with social dancing• Why Balboa continues to fascinate him after many years of dancing• The role of musicality in creating memorable dance experiencesThere is a strong sense of gratitude throughout this episode. Gratitude for teachers who generously shared their knowledge, for communities that made learning accessible, and for dance partners who brought unexpected moments of joy and creativity.This episode is for anyone who dances because they love the music. And for anyone who keeps coming back because of the people.A shout-out to Herräng Dance Camp:This episode has been recorded in the beginning of July 2026 during Herräng Dance Camp, Sweden. Thank you for the space, the music, and the people who make conversations like this possible.______________________________________________​Subscribe & review the podcast to help me grow 🌟​Connect with me on Instagram @Sia.Dancing ✅#HerrängDanceCamp #SocialDance #DanceCommunity #SalsaBachata #DanceBalboa

What keeps someone coming back to the dance floor for more than two decades?In this episode, I sit down with Sean Cedric Bischofberger lig during Herräng Dance Camp in Sweden.We talk in a quiet moment between classes, social dancing, and waving at Sean's friends passing by.Sean grew up around dancers, spent every summer at Herräng, and eventually found his own way into dancing thanks to a very persistent Chester Whitmore. What keeps him here today is not competition or achievement. It's friendship, joy, and feeling connected to people.We talk about:• Growing up at Herräng Dance Camp• How Chester Whitmore got Sean into dancing• Why friendships are the biggest reason he still dances• Dancing while travelling and discovering scenes through Swing Calendar• How lighting shapes the feeling of a dance space• Dance floor etiquette, hygiene, and helping partners feel comfortableThis episode might resonate with you if you have ever wondered why you keep coming back to social dancing year after year. Not because of the steps but because of the people.A shout-out to Herräng Dance Camp:This episode has been recorded in the beginning of July 2026 during Herräng Dance Camp, Sweden. Thank you for the space, the music, and the people who make conversations like this possible.______________________________________________​Subscribe & review the podcast to help me grow 🌟​Connect with me on Instagram @Sia.Dancing ✅#HerrängDanceCamp #SocialDance #DanceCommunity #IsThereHop #SwingCalendar

Have you ever wondered if where you stand on the dance floor changes how you experience the music?In this episode, I sit down with Maka, a Lindy Hop teacher, musician, DJ, bandleader, and jam facilitator from Toulouse, France.We recorded this conversation during Herräng Dance Camp, in the middle of a busy week filled with dancing, music, and late nights.We talk about:• Why dance offers a unique connection between body, emotions, culture, and music• The difference between playing music for dancers and for seated audiences• How lighting can shape the feeling of a performance without dancers even noticing it• Bringing new sounds, fresh ideas, and unexpected musical flavours into the swing scene• What really matters at the end of a dance• Why beginners should not be afraid to dance closer to the stageThere is something very honest and raw about this conversation. Maka speaks with humour and warmth while sharing observations about how dance communities work. From stories about metalheads hearing "only three songs" at swing events to reflections on musicality and belonging, this episode is full of small insights that stay with you.If you've ever felt like you were standing at the back of the room, unsure if you belonged, this episode might gently encourage you to take a few steps forward.A shout-out to Herräng Dance Camp:This episode has been recorded in the beginning of July 2026 during Herräng Dance Camp, Sweden. Thank you for the space, the music, and the people who make conversations like this possible.______________________________________________​Subscribe & review the podcast to help me grow 🌟​Connect with me on Instagram @Sia.Dancing ✅#HerrängDanceCamp #SocialDance #DanceCommunity #SwingDance #Herräng

Do you leave a little part of yourself in Herräng, and take a little piece of it home with you?In this episode, I sit down with Marie Sörqvist, Camp Director of Herräng Dance Camp and a member of the Herräng community since the mid-1990s.We recorded this conversation during the first weekend of Herräng Dance Camp 2026, surrounded by the everyday work, conversations, and small moments that make this place feel different from ordinary life.Marie shares why people often come to Herräng for the dance but stay for the people, and why she believes (or, more accurately, hopes) that spending time here can make us better humans.We talk about:• Why Herräng became much more than a dance camp for her• Taking a piece of Herräng back into everyday life• Being the best version of yourself in a supportive community• What makes a good dancer and a good dance teacher• A beautiful sunset boat ride on the lake behind Folkets Hus the day before the camp has startedAre you also the best version of yourself when you're in Herräng?For dancers who care about community.For anyone who has ever found a place that feels a little like home.A shout-out to Herräng Dance Camp:This episode has been recorded in the beginning of July 2026 during Herräng Dance Camp, Sweden. Thank you for the space, the music, and the people who make conversations like this possible.______________________________________________​Subscribe & review the podcast to help me grow 🌟​Connect with me on Instagram @Sia.Dancing ✅#HerrängDanceCamp #SocialDance #DanceCommunity #SwingDance #Herräng

What if dance is the language that helps us find home anywhere in the world?In this episode, I sit down with Shehan - a dancer, community builder, and dance facilitator who was born in Sri Lanka, grew up in New Zealand, and eventually built a thriving swing dance scene on Reunion Island.We recorded this conversation during his short visit to Stockholm, as part of his european tour - back in May.This episode is about connection - to yourself, other people, and the history that lives inside social dancing. Shehan shares how dance became a way to communicate across cultures for him.We talk about:• Growing up in Sri Lanka and New Zealand• Discovering Lindy Hop through a love of music and movement• Building a dance scene from scratch on Réunion Island• Why Shehan prefers the word "facilitator" over "teacher"• How lighting and atmosphere shape the feeling of a dance event• Staying connected to the roots of a dance while developing your own voice• The importance of community, resilience, and shared joy.If you've ever walked into a dance event without speaking the local language, wondered where you belong on the dance floor, or felt that special moment when dancing connected you to someone you had never met before, this episode will likely feel familiar._______________________________________________​Subscribe & review the podcast to help me grow 🌟​Connect with me on Instagram @Sia.Dancing ✅#SiaDancing #LindyHop #SwingDanceCulture #SocialDancing #DanceCommunity

What if the best part of dancing is not the moves, but the connection?In this episode, I sit down with Spela Sedej, a long-time member of the Herräng community, originally from Slovenia and deeply passionate about swing dancing and the people who make it meaningful.We recorded this conversation during a quiet spring visit to Herräng, while we were both volunteering there for a weekend, far away from the busy festival weeks. The calm atmosphere gave us space to reflect on dancing, community, and what keeps bringing people back year after year.This conversation is really about the human side of social dancing. About connection, trust, encouragement, and the small moments that stay with us long after a song ends.We talk about:Why Spela keeps returning to dancing after all these yearsHow social dancing creates connection between complete strangersWhat Spela has "soft knees" for (a hint: it's eatable) Dancing, hiking, and finding joy in unpredictable momentsA beautiful memory of dancing by moonlight, with candles and the moon reflecting in a lakeCreativity, encouragement, and making space for one another on the dance floorMany dancers know the feeling of wondering whether they are doing enough, taking too much space, or not enough space. This episode is a reminder that dancing does not have to be perfect. Sometimes the most meaningful dances are simply the ones where we feel accepted and encouraged to be ourselves.This episode is for anyone who loves the people behind the dancing. And for anyone who wants to feel a little more at home on the dance floor.This episode has been recorded in May in Herräng, Sweden. Thank you for the space, the music, and the people who make conversations like this possible._______________________________________________​Subscribe & review the podcast to help me grow 🌟​Connect with me on Instagram @Sia.Dancing ✅#SiaDancing #HerrängDanceCamp #LindyHop #SwingDance #SocialDancing #DanceCommunity