BEST EVENT ON THE INTERNATIONAL CALENDAR

After five days, the 37th German Open Championships in Stuttgart have come to a successful close. This year, the world’s largest dance sport festival welcomed over 7,000 participants of all age groups from 59 nations, competing in 62 events for both professionals and amateurs.

“It was the best GOC since the restart after the pandemic,” said DTV President Tim Rausche, offering a thoroughly positive summary. “With stable registration numbers and increased ticket sales, the Presidium unanimously agrees that the atmosphere and overall spirit of the event haven’t been this good since the 2022 restart.” A key factor, he noted, was the return of live music for the top rounds of the evening sessions after many years. “That inspired the couples to deliver peak performances. The many new faces and voices among the masters of ceremony also brought a refreshing energy.”

DTV Summary: “Very satisfied with 27 medals and second place!”
From a sporting perspective, the DTV is also highly satisfied, finishing second in the medal table with 27 podium finishes (9 gold, 11 silver, 7 bronze), just behind Italy (11/5/5). “Important titles remained in Germany across all age groups. Even in the much-anticipated Youth Team Match, we came close to our first win in a long time,” Rausche said. “This event remains the most prestigious and best in the entire international competition calendar – despite or perhaps because of the ongoing overhaul, which will continue in the coming years.”
GOC Managing Director Wilfried Scheible added: “We are very pleased with the number of entries, spectators, ticket sales, and the smooth organization.” He also expressed gratitude to the City of Stuttgart “for its long-standing and consistent support” and praised the efforts of the 650 volunteers – “including 210 newcomers.”

“Boogie Woogie couples love Stuttgart!”
For many years, the German Open has also hosted a major international Boogie Woogie competition – this year, a Boogie Woogie World Cup. “The dancers love Stuttgart. You can see that especially in the strong field of 32 couples in the Main Class and 28 in the Senior Class,” said Katrin Kerber, President of the German Rock’n’Roll and Boogie Woogie Federation (DRBV). “Our Junior Class is thankfully growing again – this year, ten DRBV couples took part. Our strongest participation is traditionally in the Senior Class, though we didn’t make it to the final this time,” she summarized. “Our three new juniors did very well in their first World Cup – finishing sixth, seventh, and eighth is something to be proud of.”

Strong media interest
GOC press officer Petra Dres (Speyer) reported strong media interest: “Around 70 accredited journalists from 18 countries covered the event across photography, print, radio, and TV.” Social media engagement more than doubled compared to 2023. “And thanks to the WDSF’s livestream, the whole world was watching!”