Anticipation for an increased backing for the dance festival by Green-Gold

Bustling Bremen prepares for the Green-Gold Dance Spectacle

Anticipation for an increased backing for the dance festival by Green-Gold

The city of Bremen is buzzing with excitement as dancers from around the globe prepare for the weekend's dance-off.organized by the Green-Gold Club, taking on a considerable financial risk.

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The atmosphere is electric, even by mid-morning on Friday, inside Bremen's Congress Center and Hall Four. Hundreds of dancers of all ages, races, and nationalities wandering the halls and corridors, eager for their competitions. In the thick of it all, you'll find Roberto Albanese, the Green-Gold Club's trainer. He's everywhere—organizing, calling, representing, all while under constant stress.

The clock is ticking, and Albanese can't afford to watch the initial competitions. Instead, he must ensure a smooth start to the Dance Sport Festival, an event green-gold has organized for the fifth time, alone.

"To be honest, I'm not sure what possesses me to do this," Albanese admits with a smile. "But it's a labor of love. I mean, just look at it—over 1,500 participants from more than 40 countries! That's simply incredible."

Green-Gold Strives for a Balanced Ledger

The Dance Sport Festival is one of Germany's most prominent events, but unlike in other locations, it does not share the organizing risk with a community of clubs or regional associations. "In simple terms, we're in this for the passion, not the profit," says Jens Steinmann, chairman of the Green-Gold Club.

The festival's budget hits around 300,000 euros, with most of the funds coming from entry fees, ticket sales for the gala night, and a handful of sponsors. "We improvise a bit, collect here and there, to just eke out a profitable outcome in the end," Albanese explains.

Festival Brings Thousands of Overnight Stays to Bremen

The Bremen economic development agency offers a 20,000-euro guarantee to support the festival. Still, the Green-Gold Club wishes for more assistance from the city itself. "Bremen does help us, but just a little. If we could get a bit extra, it would be lovely," says a hopeful Albanese, who acknowledges that dance is a niche sport.

Nevertheless, Bremen sees consistent successes by the Green-Gold Club, making dance a strong presence in the city. The festival also hopes to establish itself as a significant showcase for the north, according to Steinmann. Albanese adds, "I believe it could become a massive spectacle in the future." And the event brings Bremen approximately 6,000 hotel overnight stays from the dancers and their entourage, as well as boosting gastronomy and retail markets.

Embrace the Rhythm: Bremen Invites You to Dance - Dance Sport Festival Welcomes 2,000 Participants

More Financial Support Desired

Albanese feels that the city of Bremen may not yet fully appreciate the potential of the Dance Sport Festival, due to the city's generally tight budget. "I believe that this event has the potential to accommodate at least 2,000 couples," Albanese insists, "and I think there aren't many events in Bremen that can gather so many people to the city for three to five days."

Financial backing, particularly in the advertising department, could significantly help the Green-Gold Club. The event has already become an annual fixture for those who have attended, with the family atmosphere and 200 devoted volunteers being highly prized among participants. "Everyone who comes here adores this tournament and can hardly wait to dance again in Bremen next year," Albanese beams.

His 18-year-old daughter, Luna, will compete in the Latin ranking tournament in the youth category, alongside her partner, Dimitri Kalistov, who are currently among the top pairs. Meanwhile, 15-year-olds Yigit Bayraktar and Lukrecija Kuraite aim to secure a slot in the World Championships' ten-dance finals.

The Green-Gold Club's dancers continue to triumph in competitions both nationally and internationally, solidifying Bremen's reputation as a dance hub. The upcoming Dance Sport Festival is poised to continue growing, "as long as we can keep it financially stable," says Albanese.