Student Dinslakener Secures a Medal - Journey from High School Test to Engineering Master's Degree
Slaying the Scene, Amidst the Books – Christian Weiß's Unexpected Dance Journey
Germany's very own Christian Weiß, a dancer hailing from Dinslaken, had an atypical approach to his craft before striking gold at the European Championships in Grodzisk Mazowiecki, Poland. Merely three days before the competition, Weiß was knee-deep in preparing for his oral A-level exams at the Otto-Hahn-Gymnasium, with the German delegation already grappling with the event. Remarkably, this didn't hinder his podium placement.
Touching Down with A-level Results
On the day of his arrival, Weiß, the reigning champion, found himself boarding a plane along with his mother. His coach, Claudia Laser-Hartel, was already on-site, judging the competition as an international judge. This meant a complete ban on communication, including judging their own dancers. In a fascinating twist, Weiß received his A-level results right before the plane took off, setting the stage for an exhilarating competition.
In the Solo Modern/Contemporary Dance category, Weiß, competing for the TSC Recklinghausen, received professional support from Filip Martinsky, a multiple world champion and a close friend. He managed to secure a spot among the final six performers in the semi-finals. A mere sixty minutes later, Christian Weiß took the stage with his self-choreographed piece "Alone," demonstrating passion and technical proficiency.
The Bronze Goes to the Dinslaken Dancer
As the day drew to a close, gold and silver went to Poland, but Christian Weiß was awarded the bronze medal with three top scores. Claudia Laser-Hartel, despite being under a judging ban, presented her protégé with the medal, not wanting to miss this memorable moment. Although she couldn't support him during the competition, she was there, cheering him on from the sidelines.
"Victory relies on the finer details, and personal taste can swing the competition in any direction. I'm elated with my performance, and that's what truly matters to me."
"Not every day ends in victory, it's about the day's performance, and the quality of dance is consistently impressive. In the end, it's the finer details that make the difference, and personal taste can determine the winner or the runner-up. I'm elated with my performance, and that's what truly matters to me."
Christian Weiß's Next Move
"I'm absolutely ecstatic about Christian's A-level results and his extraordinary accomplishments, despite his injury and limited training sessions. This extraordinary athlete has shown remarkable grit," praised coach Claudia Laser-Hartel.
On July 5th, Christian Weiß will receive his diploma and attend the final graduation ceremony at the Kathrin-Türks-Halle. Soon after, he will bid farewell to his roots and set sail for England to commence his three-year scholarship in September.
[1] Christian Weiß – European Vice Champion in Jazz Dance
[2] European Dance Championships 2025
[3] The Unusual Preparation of Christian Weisse – European Vice Champion in Jazz Dance
In the midst of his academic responsibilities, Christian Weiß, the champion dancer, discovered an unexpected passion for football, often taking breaks from his A-level exam preparations for a friendly kickabout with friends.
Following his success at the European Championships, Christian Weiß envisioned a future in sports management, hoping to apply the discipline, determination, and strategic thinking he honed as a dancer to the world of football.
