dance WORKSHOPS
I am a dance teacher and student of dance therapy — moving at the meeting point of rhythm, imagination, and inner listening.
My personally crafted swing solo jazz workshops are small choreographies of experience: a blend of hand-picked exercises, somatic explorations, and movements shaped to tell their own stories. I usually give my workshops at Swingscouts in Winterthur, where I also work as a dance teacher:
https://new.swingscouts.ch/kurse/solo-jazz-mit-monika
All workshops are bookable, and I am open to creating custom workshops on specific topics, developed in dialogue and according to your needs.
Soon, I will also offer dance therapy workshops, centred around themes that invite people to meet themselves through movement.
I also offer private sessions, tailored to what you seek: technique and musicality, a stronger sense of presence, reconnecting with your body, or opening the door to creativity and improvisation. My approach weaves together swing dance, theatre and the somatic tools of my dance therapy studies.
In all my work, I try to create spaces where dance becomes more than steps —
where it becomes a way to listen, to express, and to feel at home in your own movement.
Im
JOSEPHINE BAKER SPECIAL
20s Charleston workshop
Craving power, elegance, and a whole lot of movement?
In this workshop, we dive into the world of the iconic Josephine Baker — with a high-energy Charleston choreography inspired by her legendary film performances (Zouzou, La Sirène des Tropiques).
We’ll dance fast, expressive, and full of joy — in the true spirit of the roaring ’20s and ’30s. Alongside the choreography, you’ll explore creative exercises that help you translate Josephine’s energy, playfulness, and stage presence into your own dance.
This workshop isn’t just a tribute — it’s an invitation to experiment with your personal style, push boundaries, and play with expression, attitude, and humour… just like Josephine herself.
Im
IMPROVISATION: WALKING BASE
Solo jazz improvisation workshop
Discover the art of improvisation and experience the flow of Solo Jazz!
In this workshop, you’ll learn how to move creatively to the music and develop your own expressive voice in dance.
We begin with the essentials: basic footwork, weight shifts, and simple rhythmic variations. Step by step, we explore: dynamic patterns, from linear to circular movement, turns, direction changes, and accents, syncopated rhythms, pauses, and creative phrasing.
Inspiring exercises help you discover your personal connection between music, space, and movement.
BACK TO THE ROOTS
Solo jazz workshop inspired by west african rhytms
Inspired by my time at the École des Sables in Senegal, I guide you through movement qualities rooted in traditional West African dances and help you playfully translate them into Solo Jazz.
We work with earthy rhythms, expansive upper-body movement, and fresh ideas for arm swings and expression. Through small sequences and free variations, you discover your own personal, vibrant groove.
The workshop is made in two independent parts.
MUSICIAN EDITION. OSCAR PETERSON:
Solo jazz musicality workshop
How does your body move when Oscar Peterson’s piano rolls over you?
In this workshop, you will explore the unmistakable swing, lightness, and rhythmic precision of Oscar Peterson’s music. We dive into footwork, play with dynamic accents, and transform piano grooves into dancing responses.
Short sequences, lots of musical listening, and a focus on flow — perfect for anyone who wants to make their Solo Jazz more musical, more nuanced, and more free.
MUSICIAN EDITION. NINA SIMONE
Solo jazz musicality workshop
How do we translate Nina Simone’s depth, rebellion, and soul into movement?
In this workshop, I invite you to meet your own qualities: groundedness, strength, slowness, tension — and also sudden bursts, clarity, and fearless expression. You let yourself be carried by her voice and her piano, interpret moods, and discover new spaces of expression for Solo Jazz.
Improvisation, groove, feeling — a workshop that encourages you to become more personal and powerful in your dance.
This
