Staff
Your Trainers
Thibault & Nicole Ramirez
For the first time at German Open!
Since officially partnering in 2019, Thibault and Nicole have become four-time West Coast Swing Showcase World Champions, with a combined ten World Championship titles. Thibault, a French Title holder in Boogie Woogie, made history as the first European to win an Opus at The Open. Nicole, with eight Showcase World titles, has also performed on Dancing with the Stars and So You Think You Can Dance.
Traveling to over 40 events annually, they are celebrated for their artistry, vibrant energy, and engaging teaching style. Known for creating a supportive and inspiring learning environment, they help dancers of all levels grow in confidence, technique, and creativity.
Jakub Jakubek & Emeline Rochefeuille
Jakub and Emeline are the most requested WCS teachers from Europe at the moment. Winning the US Open Championships in the Classic Division made them even more famous.
The goal in their workshops is to a space where the students find comfort, confidence, joy and curiosity in exploring their own body, movement, sensation and artistry …
John Lindo & Mejrem Halidovic
John Lindo and Jessica McCurdy are some of the most popular West Coast Swing-Dancers in the world! Countless titles speak for themselves.
Good tips and tricks, high quality technique and a lot of fun is guaranteed.
Maxime & Torri Zzaoui
Maxime and Torri Zzaoui are two of the top superstars of the international West Coast Swing Scene. Both are dancing their whole lives and are very successful at all kinds of competitions. We are looking forward to their great workshops with that extra entertainment.
Igor Pitangui & Fernanda Dubiel
Igor and Fernanda embody the Brazilian soul: vibrant, warm, and full of life. Their partnership blends experience with freshness, technique with playfulness, and artistry with human connection. On stage, in class, or in competition, they share their vision of West Coast Swing as a dance of smiles, creativity, and joy in the music.
Paul Warden & Jula Palenga
Join Paul and Jula teaching for the first time together at the German Open WCS.
Paul is a Champions-level dancer with over 15 years of international experience, top competitive success, and dynamic, inspiring teaching.
Jula, Germany’s first Champion, dancer, brings an empathetic and musical approach rooted in her own dance journey.
Together, they blend technical excellence, creativity, and authenticity in fun, accessible classes.
An inspiring opportunity to learn from two passionate professionals who truly love the dance.
Philipp & Ekaterina Wolff
Philipp and Ekaterina have been dancing together for over ten years now. Competing on Champions level, they bring experience and skill, alongside passion and humour to the dance floor and their classes.
Holger Nitsche
Feel your movement and transform your dance.
Holger Nitsche is a former European – and World Champion in Latin American Dance and today one of the most sought-after trainers at the international elite level. As the founder and director of the Nitsche Teacher Academy (NTA), he has spent years redefining how dancers & athletes connect with their bodies.
With his innovative approach of helping dancers & athletes feel their movement through specially designed belts, Holger has found great success across disciplines — from dance sport and martial arts to professional football, including clubs like Galatasaray Istanbul.
In this workshop, discover the power of Tonemeup-Pro Belts, created by Holger himself.
Experience sophisticated application techniques that enhance body awareness, precision, and control — and take your dancing to a whole new level.
Be inspired. Feel the difference. Move smarter.
Rudi Nunes de Souza & Laila Wittenberg
When Partner Dance meets Contemporary Flow
Rudi, West Coast Swing dancer and instructor, and Laila, trained in ballet, modern, and jazz, have created a unique style that blends partner dance, contemporary movement, and spectacular lifts.
In this workshop, they will guide you step by step through impressive lift techniques with real show character — clearly explained, accessible, and fun to learn. Whether you want to add highlights to your dance or explore new movement possibilities, this workshop will inspire you to move together in a whole new way.
Dynamic. Expressive. Effortless.
Get ready to lift, fly, and shine on the dance floor.
Your DJs
Justin Petersen | Head DJ
Jula Palenga | Social Head DJ
Further DJs
Andreas Palenga, Ekaterina Wolff, Philipp Wolff, Mejrem Halidovic, Daric Lion, Matt Mickle, Florian Gräbe, Toni Messer, Romy Nguyen, Tobias Heinlein, Alicia Speckmann, Lino Vierheilig
Your MC
Wayne Powell
Master of Ceremony
Speaks British English. Most time funny.
Always on time. Creates great atmosphere.
Your competition team
Andreas Kasper
Scorer
Meet the man behind the magic.
Andreas loves computers — and somehow makes them do everything.
He has taken scoring to the next leveland brings the competition straight into your living room with seamless live streaming.
Precise. Reliable. Innovative.
Without him, it’s just dancing.
With him, it’s a real competition experience.
Andreas. Powering the score. Powering the show.
John Lindo (First chief judge)
& Marc Heldt (Second chief judge)
Mejrem Halidovic
Your photographers
David Goffin
Photographer and graphic designer
David has been involved with dance photography since 2014. He covered all different kind of events, just as: The Euro Dance Festival in Europa-Park, the European Dance Award in Baden-Baden, West Coast Swing events like Warsaw Halloween Swing and, of course, The West Coast Swing German Open ever since its first iteration as an official WSDC event in 2017.
Your good soul in the background
Tine Palenga
Right hand of the boss
Supervises all volunteers.
Takes wonderful care of our Masters and Newcomers, making sure they feel welcome and confident by clearly explaining how the event works and guiding them every step of the way.
Does everything to help the WCS community grow.
Your security
Mia
French bulldog
Loves to be petted. Loves everyone.
Twerks if she’s happy. Detects food.
Your event director
Christian Spengler
The boss
Loves DANCING. Loves TEACHING.
LOVES to make people happy.