Welcome! We are Ella’s Fellas, a Zürich-based dance school specializing in Lindy Hop and Solo Jazz. The name “Ella’s Fellas” is inspired by Ella Fitzgerald’s iconic 1960 performance of “Mack the Knife” in Berlin. Taking on a song often associated with male performers, Ella delivered a groundbreaking rendition, saying, “We haven’t heard a girl sing it.” During the performance, she forgot the lyrics but improvised with brilliant spontaneity, singing the line “Ella and her fellas.” This moment symbolized breaking free from male-dominated norms and celebrated creativity, freedom, and the joy of embracing the unexpected—values we strive to embody while honoring and uplifting women artists in jazz.

Jazz dance has deep roots in African American culture, emerging from the rich history, community, and creativity of Black artists. We try to approach this tradition with respect and responsibility, remaining committed to preserving its origins and addressing issues of cultural appropriation and systemic racism. In our classes, we spotlight an “Artist of the Week” — a legendary dancer or musician from the jazz era — and spend a few minutes learning about their life, style, and impact on the culture. In the spirit of how Lindy Hop was originally passed down in ballrooms, we focus on learning by watching and doing, keeping explanations minimal and letting the rhythm and movement speak for themselves. In respect for the jazz continuum and its evolution, we also offer House dance classes—taught by Mike Bredy, a.k.a. Noodles—celebrating the ongoing legacy of Black dance traditions.

We encourage dancers to choose their roles freely, as we believe that dance roles are not inherently tied to gender. We do that by letting dancers try both roles at the beginning, offering classes taught by same-sex teaching pairs, featuring male teachers following and female teachers leading, and providing ELEF classes to explore both roles.

From the beginning, our goal has been to foster a community where people connect, collaborate, and grow. On Saturdays, we host free open training sessions where the room is available for students to come in, practice, and explore at their own pace. We strive to provide a welcoming space that celebrates individuality, artistic growth, and diversity, including socio-economic differences. We offer reduced prices for anyone who needs it—no questions asked. To read more about our Code of Conduct, click here.