THE mega Modern Jive dance weekend of the year! There are not only the “usual” (theme) parties, workshops, show dances, sightseeing and joint dinners — but also our own German Modern Jive Championships! The championships are part of the weekend and are included in the price. However, there is no obligation to participate. Dance addicts have the advantage of being able to participate in as many categories as they want/may. We recommend a minimum of 8 months of Modern Jive. There are many international dancers coming and we are flying in world-class teachers from the UK for you.
Content
- Modern Jive Workshops on Sat and Sun afternoons
- international dance teachers
- 3 theme parties:
- Fr — Flamingo 🦩
- Sat — Elegant
- So —?
- Show dances
- optional joint dinner (cost basis)
- Championships Saturday morning/noon
Impression
categories
Here is the short version of the categories. Detailed information is available on Champs-Seite.
- Dance with a Stranger
- First Timers
- Intermediate
- Advanced
- “Masterful” (random mix of intermediate, advanced and open level dancers, judged individually)
- Open (by invitation)
- Swapsies (alternating management)
- Wompom (challenge)
- Showcase (couples and groups)
Dance teachers
Lee and Dawn — Information
Lee and Dawn have been teaching, performing together, and competing since 2009 and have won 1st place in local, national and international competitions on over 20 opportunities**! They’ve won in many different categories, including: Showcase, Aerials, Double Trouble (with Melanie Blackham) and Team Showcase (with ‘Dancing On Air).
They not only teach courses and workshops in the UK and abroad, but also run their own dance school (Style Dance School) in Hertfordshire, where they train students of all ages for dance exams and social classes. Dawn qualified as a Modern Jive teacher at the Leroc Federation (under the UKA) in 2009. Lee also qualified as a Modern Jive teacher with the Leroc Federation and also qualified as an Associate Ballroom Teacher at the renowned NATD in 2015.
They teach in a variety of styles, including ballroom, Latin, modern jive, double trouble, aerials, street dance/hip hop, and line dancing. They aim for all classes to be fun, informative and deliver high-quality content in a good mood. They are passionate about dancing and love sharing their experiences while continuing to learn and develop.
Sarah and Matt — Information
Matt and Sarah ‘Simply Modern Jive’ have over 50 years of dance experience together. They have been qualified modern jive teachers at the Leroc Federation (under the UKA) since 2009 and are known for a teaching style that includes strong technique while making movements accessible.
They teach at events across the UK and internationally. Both have won UK Open titles in their name and Matt is twice World Champion. They are on the jury of the MJ World Champs and the German Modern Jive Champs.
Both were part of the groundbreaking 2 Hot Rhythm competition team and choreographed and trained BUST (the Bristol University Student Team), which continued their success on the dance floor. They both have a real passion for teaching and love being part of the Modern Jive community.
Matt Evans — Information
As a boy, Matt had problems teaching dance; flat-footed and unable to understand new concepts, his self-confidence was low. When the music came on, however, he couldn’t help but groove, and that passion has strength.
After dedicating years to learning and competing in modern jive dance, Matt was renamed “Mevans” and became a dance professional. He won several top-level competitions in a row and holds over 120 trophies in his name.
Humiliated by the way he worked his way up, today’s “Mevans” knows that everyone has potential and is trying to build dancers’ self-confidence while developing their technical skills and movement repertoire.
Believing in yourself is the key to success — persevere with passion and you’ll experience progress and self-confidence!
Nele and Jasper — Information
Nele and Jasper, owners of Jive.Berlin, offer weekly courses and monthly parties. They host 2 weekends a year — including the German Modern Jive Championships! They love the soft Kiwi/Australian style of Modern Jive and are also big fans of musicality, expression, dancing “conversation” and general creativity on the dance floor.
Nele also brought trophies back to Berlin in recent years: from 1st place in “Here come the Girls” 2018 — in the first competition she took part in (two more 2nd places in this category) and in 2025 she achieved 1st place in “ProAm”, 3rd place in “Dance with a Star”, which was in 3rd place “Open Smooth”, 3rd place in “W.T.F. Open” and 1st place at “W.T.F. Open” and 1st place in “Dance Battle Open” culminated.
Nele and Jasper first met Modern Jive in New Zealand and Australia, where they had both lived for a while. When they returned, they missed it so much that Nele decided to bring it here and become a teacher herself. She has put in a lot of work to build a local MJ dance community from the ground up, but her belief in this beautiful and social dance makes her go through ups and downs. With the help of a great international network of other teachers/friends, she was able to start teaching and expand her skills back in 2014. Thanks to all dear supporters (the list would be too long)! Since 2018, she has been a qualified Modern Jive teacher at the Leroc Federation (under the UKA).
Venues
Kranoldstr. 16, 12051 Berlin Neukölln (S+U Hermannstraße)
Karl-Marx-Strasse 201-203, 12055 Berlin Neukölln (S+U Neukölln)
Schedule (2025!!)
price
Early Bear
- 165 euros
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including MJ course & freestyle on Thursday
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Until 31.6.2026
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As long as the quota lasts
- Full weekend (including championships)
Normal Bear
- 175 euros
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including MJ course & freestyle on Thursday
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Sold out from 1.7.2026 or Early Bear
- Full weekend (including championships)
Party Bear
- 18 euros per party
Viewers
- 5 euros
- Spectator at the German Modern Jive Championships
% DEALS%
5% discount - please contact us and provide your membership number
Contact us if you’re an open-level competition dancer
20% discount for Berlin helping crew - contact Nele
Accommodation
You can use this custom (Google) map to find a suitable option:
Motel Plus Neukölln, Silbersteinstraße 30-34, 12051 Berlin (3 minutes away/3 minutes away) motelplus-berlin.de
Rooms are limited, book quickly/available rooms are limited, hurry
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single rooms from 57 euros per night
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double rooms from 66 euros per night
Breakfast buffet for 9.50 euros per person if required/breakfast buffet available for 9.50 euros per person
More hotels
If Motel Plus is fully booked, you can still try here. They’re a 10-minute walk or 2-3 subway stops away. Order roughly sorted by distance./*In case Motel Plus is booked out you can try these options. They are either a 10 minute walk or 2-3 subway stops away. Roughly ordered by distance. *
Amaya Motel Berlin, Silbersteinstraße 5-7, 12051 Berlin Neukölln (shared bathroom only) 5 min walk https://amaya-motel.de/zimmer/ Click on the green button on the website and you will be redirected to booking.com
Bellmann Hotel, Karl-Marx-Strasse 283, 12057 Berlin 10 minute walk https://bellman-hotel.com
Hotel Bohemia, Karl-Marx-Str. 262, 12057 Berlin Neukölln 10 minute walk https://www.booking.com/hotel/de/britzer-tor.de.html
2A Hostel Berlin, Saalestrasse 76, 12055 Berlin Neukölln 10 minute walk https://2ahostel.atberlinhotels.com/en
Motel Home, Holzmannstraße 12, 12099 Berlin Neukölln 15 minute walk Or 3 bus stops away, Oberlandgarten Bus 246 OR night bus N77 from Bergholzstr. to Hermannstr. /Mariendorfer Weg https://www.motelhome.berlin/
Mercure Hotel Berlin Tempelhof, Rollbergstraße 214—216, 12049 Berlin Neukölln 2 Subway (U8) stops away: Boddinstr. https://all.accor.com/hotel/1894/index.en.shtml
Grand Hostel Berlin URBAN, Sonnenalle 6, 12047 Berlin 3 Subway (U8) stops away: Herrmannplatz https://grandhostel-berlin.de/urban
Hotel Ludwig van Beethoven, Hasenheide 14—15, 10967 Berlin Neukölln 3 Subway (U8) stops away: Herrmannplatz https://www.hotel-ludwig-van-beethoven.de/home-en/
→ The U8 runs every approx. 5-10 minutes
If you’re not lucky here, get in touch — we’ll find accommodation for you! We can also arrange hotels further afield or help out with Airbnb or a couch; 0) *Should you have trouble getting a room, just let us know — we’ll find something for you! We can recommend hotels further away or help with Airbnb or a couch; 0) *
Longer impression of DanceFest
Our AGB apply. No refunds after purchase. If you have any problems, please contact us — we’ll see what we can do.