GOC Press-Release 3/2001
15th GOC and European Championships of Latin Professionals
by Werner J. Braun
On August, 28th, the European Championships of the Latin Professionals will take place in the Congress Centre of Mannheim's Rosengarten, where the reigning European Champions, Bryan Watson and Carmen, Pforzheim, will do their best to defend their title. in this season the couple has won the British UK-Open and the Italian Open at Alassio. In Blackpool they have been put second behind their biggest rivals, Jukka Hapaleinen and Sirpa Suutari from Finland. The Finnish couple, that has won the silver medal at both, the European and the World Championships 2000, will challenge the German couple. But Watson/Carmen won´t give the victory away easily.
Due to the retirement of the third last years WC and EC, Allan Tornsberg and Serena Lecca, Italy, the couple from Pforzheim has lost another hard rival. But in the Background there is waiting another couple, which was third at Blackpool: Paul Killik and Hanna Kartunen, dancing for England.
40 top couples from 25 nations will compete against each other in this contest.
This highlight of the German Dancing Season
marks the beginning of the German Open Championships - October 28th till September, 1st, a series of overall 28 competitions for Professionals and Amateurs of all age groups and disciplines. 2500 couples from 40 nations are expected to participate.
Within the European Championships the GOC Award "La Danse",
the "Dance Oscar 2001", will be given to the Danish/Italian couple Allan Tornsberg and Serene Lecca, Italy, who recently at the British Open at Blackpool have retired from their active career on the dance floor. Whether with Vibeke Toft, Carmen Vincelj ore Serena Lecca, right from the first start in Mannheim, Allan Tornsberg has always been one of the winners in both, the competition and in the favour of the audience.
The further award will go to the Italian Professional Champions, Fabio Selmi and Simona Fancello as well as to the President of the Russian DanceSport Federation Pavel Dorokhov, an award as recognition for all the
members of the Russian DanceSport Federation for their assistance of the GOC from the very beginning,
and it is thanks to him, that Russian couples represent since several years the major part of the foreign couples.
Tradition and Modern Times at the opening event.
Well-established and new elements share the program of the Opening event of the GOC on August, 28th. The "La Danse"- Award-giving ceremony will continue the tradition and as in the last years the Wolf-Kaiser-Big-Band will provide the music for the competitors as well as for the public. Star Helena Paul will make her debut at the GOC - she has been newly engaged for the show program.
Contest of the Standard Professionals is part of the Grand-Prix-Series
The contest of the Standard Professionals on August, 30th, gets a special importance as the result counts for the Grand-Prix-Series of the German Professional Association DPV, in which at the end will be selected the German participants for the World Championships in Italy at the end of October.
DanceSport on the big Screen
As a premiere there will be observation without restriction for the public in the Mozartsaal, the second biggest competition hall in the Rosengarten. In addition to the competition in this hall all other contests will be broadcasted on two big screens on the right and left side of the stage.
Lectures for the first time on three days of the GOC
The demand for the lectures with well-known top-class couples has been great for years. Thus for the first time this year the lectures of the different disciplines will not take place just on one day, but will be held on three continuing days: From Wednesday to Friday, always at 1 p.m., alternatively in the Mozart- and in the Musensaal. In the Standard Section the Italian couple William Pino and Allessandra Buciarelli will teach. Bryan Watson and Carmen, Pforzheim, Allan Tornsberg and Serena Lecca, Italy, as well as Michael Wentink and Beata, South Africa, will cover the Latin-American section.
So they dance at the GOC
Preliminary timetable of the 28 contests
Tuesday, 28th of August
1st round Amateurs Latin; 1st round Juniors Standard I; 1st round Juveniles Latin, 8 p.m. opening ball: European Championships Professionals Latin. GOC Award giving ceremony of "La Danse 2001"
Wednesday, 29th August:
Amateurs Latin; Youth Standard; Juniors I 10 dances; juveniles 10-dances; Professionals Rising Star Standard; Germany Cup Tango Argentino; 1st round Seniors II Standard. Lecture Standard with William Pino/Allessandra Bucciarelli; Lecture Latin with Bryan Watson/Carmen; Allan Tornsberg/Serena Lecca; Michael Wentink/Beata.
Thursday, August 30th.
Seniors II Standard; Juniors II 10-dances; Juveniles Standard; Juniors I Latin; Professionals Latin Seque, 1st round Amateurs Standard; Germany Cup Swing; Professionals Standard, Team match Amateurs. Lecture Latin - like Wednesday.
Friday, August 31st:
Amateurs Standard; Juniors II Latin; Youth 10-dances; 1st round Seniors Standard; Professional Rising Star Latin; Team match Juniors; Lectures Standard and Latin - like Wednesday.
Saturday, September 1st:
Seniors Standard; Youth Latin; Juniors II Standard; Jazz- and Modern Dance-Formations; Professionals Standard Seque; Professionals Latin; Lecture Standard - like Wednesday.
Advance sale of tickets runs at full speed
This year the tickets for the German Open Championships are directly sold by meet ideas. On the website www.goc-mannheim.de one can find the exact timetable and the ticket prices as well as download the ordering form.
Requests for tickets are also received by phone. Please call:49 (O)621/4106-125 or49 (O)621/4106-8686. By fax-order:49 (0)621/4106-201 or49(0)621/4106-8687
Werner J. Braun
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