Dear ECTA and EAASDC members,

We would like to explain to you (once) why EAASDC & ECTA have decided to block selected dates for other Special Dances. At first glance, this seems to further reduce the maximum of 54 available weekends per year However, the idea behind exclusive dates for Jamborees and the European Convention is rather that every dancer should feel invited to attend. These events are among the largest gatherings of the Central European scene, serving both to forge relationships and personal meetings, combined with an appealing dance programme. These special characteristics of such meetings for the scene would be significantly damaged by alternative dance programmes.

This also applies to the ECTA Student Jamboree and the ECTA Round Dance Festival in terms of dance form.

Certainly, some dancers are deterred from attending the jamborees etc. by the travel time or the need to organise overnight accommodation, for example. However, it would still not be right to offer alternative dance programmes, even if they appear more attractive to the individual dancer. A community can only survive if it stands together, and those dancers and leaders who do not take part should at least respect and support the community meeting to the extent that they do not simply ‘do their own thing’ in parallel. We are well aware that the interests of the community sometimes conflict with personal advantage. In this case, however, a positive development of the scene can only be achieved if self-interest takes a back seat in favour of the community. In this context, we would also like to point out that members of both associations are in breach of existing association rules if they do not comply with them. We would therefore like to emphasise that no dance events should be held on the following dates:

• Spring Jamboree
• Fall Round Up
• ECTA Student Jamboree
• ECTA Round Dance Festival
• European Convention

The reserved dates agreed by ECTA and EAASDC are listed in the EAASDC Calendar of Events. This is the reference against which your plans should always be checked.
If you have any questions, please contact us. We count on your support in this regard. We all have fun dancing, calling, cueing, prompting + instructing.

July 2025