REGISTRATION

Event Highlights

Registration will open here Sunday 03.05.2026 20:00

Franconian Switzerland Steam Train Journey
Travel through the rolling landscapes of Franconian Switzerland aboard a historic steam train—accompanied by live blues music, a wagon for dancing, and space to relax and take it all in. A day of movement, nature, and quiet magic, with shared moments along the way.

Ball of a Thousand Worlds
Step into a grand ballroom transformed into a place of imagination—where dancers, costumes, and music meet. An evening of elegance, creativity, and connection, inviting you to become part of a world beyond the everyday.

A City Alive with Art
During the International Comic Salon Erlangen, Erlangen’s city center becomes a vibrant exhibition of comics, art, and culture—offering endless inspiration just outside the dance floor.

Community & Skill Sharing
At the heart of the exchange is an open, welcoming space shaped by its participants—skill shares, conversations, and time to connect, create, and simply be together.

Welcome Potluck & Opening Night
Begin the weekend by gathering around food and shared stories at the Friday potluck, before easing into an evening of blues and fusion dancing.

Three Days of Blues & Fusion
A musical journey across the weekend: from mixed sounds on Friday, to fusion-rich nights on Saturday, to a blues-centered Sunday with live music.

Our Vision

This exchange is created by the community, for the community—a space to share our love of dance while welcoming others into the spirit of Erlangen and the surrounding region of Franconian Switzerland.
It brings together dancers of all levels to connect, contribute, and shape the experience together.

By weaving together social dance, local culture, and the vibrant energy of the International Comic Salon Erlangen, we create a space where different worlds meet and inspire each other.

Our aim is to offer moments you won’t find anywhere else—and to leave you not only with memories, but with new connections, new friendships, and the feeling of having been part of something truly special.

A day in Frankonian Switzerland

Your Sunday begins at the station in Ebermannstadt. You board a historic steam train—inside, live music by Donohue and Wendling is already filling the wagon. The horn sounds, steam rises, and as the train begins to move, you find yourself dancing—coal in the air, a gentle rattling beneath your feet, and the landscape of Franconian Switzerland drifting past the window.

Time softens. You dance, you talk, you pause to take in the view—then return to the music. After about an hour, you arrive in Behringersmühle, stepping out into nature for a shared picnic: food, fresh air, and dancing under the open sky.

From there, the journey continues to the Franconian Switzerland Museum, where history and atmosphere meet. Surrounded by striking rock formations, you explore, connect, and dance together in the courtyard as the music carries on.

Deeper into the woods lies the Esperhöhle—a place shaped by gathering, movement, and ritual. In this natural space, you connect not only with each other, but also with yourself and the surrounding nature. Leaves rustle under your feet, voices soften, and the forest becomes a shared space of presence and togetherness—a place to arrive, to breathe, and to simply be.

As the day unfolds, you return to Behringersmühle for a final pause before boarding the train once more. The journey back feels softer now—the train carrying you gently out of this magical space and back to Ebermannstadt, with music, memories, and a sense of quiet arrival.

Ball of a Thousand Worlds and a city transformed

On Saturday evening, the Ball of a Thousand Worlds becomes our central dance night—a grand costume ball where dancers and dreamers of all ages come together in a space shaped by imagination.
In a beautiful ballroom setting, you’ll find two dance floors with international DJs, blending fusion and blues into a night of continuous, immersive dancing—enriched by performances and special moments along the way.

The ball unfolds as part of the International Comic Salon Erlangen, connecting our dance floor with a much larger world of creativity and expression.

Throughout the weekend, Erlangen itself transforms. What seems like a small city opens into a vibrant cultural landscape filled with exhibitions, readings, workshops, and artistic encounters across many venues. Alongside established artists and publishers, young creators from art schools bring fresh perspectives into the city, making it a lively meeting point for different forms of visual storytelling.

And you won’t experience it alone. Together with other dancers, you can wander through exhibitions, discover new ideas, and see the city in a way that goes far beyond a typical dance event.

This is what makes the exchange more than just a weekend of dancing—it becomes a shared cultural journey.

Live music: Donohue & Wendling

Ryan Donohue (guitar & vocals) and Klaas Wendling (double bass & harmony vocals) form the duo Donohue & Wendling.
They first met in the early 2000s during studio recordings for Take a Butcher’s Knife—and two decades later, as established artists, came together again to create their own project.

Their music is poetic and deeply moving, blending blues, swing, jazz, and American folk into a rich and expressive sound.
With a style inspired by New Orleans, they explore the full range of human emotion—love, longing, sorrow, and joy—creating an atmosphere that invites you not only to listen, but to feel and to dance.

More info at: https://blues-booking.com/blues-band-donohue-wendling/

Good to know

Arrival & Pre-Party (Thursday & Friday)
If you arrive early, you’re warmly invited to a casual pre-party on Thursday evening.
The International Comic Salon Erlangen already begins on Thursday, so you can start exploring the city right away.
On Friday, our venue opens at 16:00—we begin with a shared potluck dinner, followed by the opening party.

Saturday: Co-Creation & Grand Ball
Saturday daytime is a co-created space—shaped by everyone who is there. Expect skill shares, spontaneous sessions, and time to connect, rest, and contribute your own ideas.
In the evening, we come together for the Ball of a Thousand Worlds, our central dance night. Whether you bring your wildest, most fantastic costume or choose an elegant, festive outfit—this is a space where all kinds of characters and expressions come together.

Sunday: Journey & Farewell
Sunday is dedicated to our trip into Franconian Switzerland.
In the evening, we gather one last time for a relaxed farewell party.

A Space to Arrive & Rest
Our community is known for its sense of connection and cuddliness. Throughout the weekend there will be a dedicated cuddle area that you are welcome to join: a soft, quiet space to land, relax, and share calm moments together during the parties and daytime.

Blues & Fusion Balance
This is a true exchange between blues and fusion. You don’t need to be experienced in both—curiosity is enough.

• Thursday & Friday: a balanced mix of blues and fusion
• Saturday: stronger focus on fusion (especially at the ball)
• Sunday: more blues during the live music journey, with a mixed farewell in the evening

Come as you are, and explore the rest.

Dance culture & what to expect

Our event is rooted in a culture of respect, awareness, and connection.
We want everyone to feel safe, welcome, and free to express themselves on and off the dance floor.

Dancing is always an invitation—not an obligation. You can say yes, you can say no, and both are equally respected. We encourage clear communication and awareness of your own boundaries and those of others.

We share responsibility for the space together: taking care of our partners, the people around us, and the atmosphere we create. This includes mindful dancing, respect for personal space, and looking out for each other.

There is no fixed idea of who dances with whom—roles are not tied to gender, and everyone is welcome to explore.

Blues dancing, and many of the dances we share, are rooted in African American culture and other cultural traditions. We approach them with respect and appreciation—seeking to honor their origins and celebrate them with awareness.

At its heart, this is a community built on openness, kindness, and connection—where great dancing happens because people feel comfortable, respected, and at ease.

This is a link to our code of conduct.

An Open & Queer-Friendly Space

We are a queer-friendly event and an open space for everyone.
People of all identities, backgrounds, and expressions are welcome here—on and off the dance floor.

We value diversity, respect, and the freedom to be yourself.
Come as you are, dance as you feel, and be part of a community that celebrates you.