Word of mouth if you know a few people who are active on the festival circuit.
Festival and Travel Planner 2025
- Thread starter azana
- Start date
desconocida
Son
I think I've paid about 120€ for a full pass in Amsterdam this year. Granted, it was a super early bird with a group discount, but still... Hence my being surprised about this price. But maybe it's just me not being up-to-date on salsa event pricing in general, because in my head, I still think a full pass is always almost twice the amount of a party pass, as it once was, but in all actuality, it's more like a 20€ difference nowadays most of the time. So I end up comparing apples with oranges
Yes these days full passes might be only €50 more. I started noticing that a while back. You are right - there was a time the full pass was twice or more of the party pass.
My first Warsaw congress the party pass was €80. Or may be lower. I skipped a year and the year after that it was €90. The locals had already started complaining.
PISC was costliest party pass always. Add the 2 pre-parties at €15 each. The pre-parties at PISC were totally worth it.
Magic when I first attended in 2019 was less than €100 I am sure. Then it started going up as Magic became popular. If I search my email which was where all my party passes used to go I am sure I will able to dig out how much I paid.
Ahhh I remember - I always got those promo codes from “ambassadors”. That would shave 10% to 20% off the price.
My first Warsaw congress the party pass was €80. Or may be lower. I skipped a year and the year after that it was €90. The locals had already started complaining.
PISC was costliest party pass always. Add the 2 pre-parties at €15 each. The pre-parties at PISC were totally worth it.
Magic when I first attended in 2019 was less than €100 I am sure. Then it started going up as Magic became popular. If I search my email which was where all my party passes used to go I am sure I will able to dig out how much I paid.
Ahhh I remember - I always got those promo codes from “ambassadors”. That would shave 10% to 20% off the price.
What benefit do those dancers get that market these events with a discount code?
salsaholica
Changui
I only know for one congress (Berlin), so not sure whether it applies to all: they get a free pass themselves if 5 or 6 people buy a pass with their codes.
It depends on the organizer. I was an ambassdor once and got a free pass for recruiting 3 people to use my discount code. But that was EXTREMELY generous. They changed the rules the following year and it became 5Eur per recruit. I promptly bowed out from being an ambassador that year lol
desconocida
Son
Ufff.... don't get me started, I hate this whole "ambassador" crap with a passion. I get discount codes for dance schools: based on how many people a school brings in, their students save a certain percentage (the more, the more), or they might get certain benefits. For instance a room for their show team. I feel like at times the 'benefit' is the student team performing in the first place... But just random social dancers who'll pester you to buy your pass through their code - why?!? I don't think this type of (at least) two-tear social dancer system benefits any festival's atmosphere and I get annoyed very easily when I get private messages, as recently happened on an online school platform from people I never met about their code. Rant over. Unless you want me to go on... 
Then I could turn to "guest" or "invited" dancers... 
Then I could turn to "guest" or "invited" dancers... For Warsaw a friend had to sell 10 to get a free pass. 2019.
Rant over. Unless you want me to go on...
please do and continue. That was just starting when I started the circuit. I think Berlin was first one (2017)?
What's wrong with that? I like to be invited, this pretty much guarantees organizers care, and quality will be good. And I like to know that there will be some great dancers on the dance floor. This elevates party to festival.Then I could turn to "guest" or "invited" dancers...
I don't care about bs events like bsc, but smaller festivals get a big boost this way.
No, apparently she's not coming. There were pictures of some famous dancers like her on the website, but apparently just placeholders or they changed plans. Now it's Alexisstyle announced. The weekend looks centered around the DJ's, so I'm sure I'll need my earplugs.I just found out Bersy is also coming to Stuttgart Marathon one weekend later, so no need for me to take the airplane. She never had a chance to dance with me, I think it's just fair to her to change that.
It's basically MLM for salsa.Ufff.... don't get me started, I hate this whole "ambassador" crap with a passion. I get discount codes for dance schools: based on how many people a school brings in, their students save a certain percentage (the more, the more), or they might get certain benefits. For instance a room for their show team. I feel like at times the 'benefit' is the student team performing in the first place... But just random social dancers who'll pester you to buy your pass through their code - why?!? I don't think this type of (at least) two-tear social dancer system benefits any festival's atmosphere and I get annoyed very easily when I get private messages, as recently happened on an online school platform from people I never met about their code. Rant over. Unless you want me to go on...
Review Stuttgart Dance Marathon
It was a first timer, and the only thing known when I booked was the good DJ line up: Tuli, Dmitri, Rumbero, Anael, Sergio, Michelle and Julian the Duke. I live nearby, so no need to overthink for me but just try it out.
I wasn't salsa dancing for nearly three months and wasn't sure if find the groove again, also wasn't sure what I will find there. I started with saturday afternoon social - and it was pure magic! Great music, high dance level with fantastic followers and seemingly also good leads, the vibe was just great. I was overwhelmed and in the end there were standing ovations for the DJs. That afternoon was worth the travel alone.
In the evening I needed some hours sleep and only arrived at 3 a.m. at the night party. I didn't get into the groove again, had two meh dances, played congas a bit and then decided to get more sleep. That’s ok for me. I heard people danced until 6 a.m.
Workshop from Alexisstyle was interesting: doing mambo 234 678 stepping, later he talked a lot about history. Sunday afternoon party was great again, I had memorable dances.
The size was smaller than most other festivals, actually in a dancing school with a club vibe, but I like that. There were maybe 80 or 100 attendants, gender ratio about equal. AC was working hard but people were still sweating. Hollywood factor was low, several women wore flats even at night party. I was astonished it was not too loud, at afternoon partys it was below 90 db and I didn't even wear earplugs. So nothing to complain, I liked it and will come back.
It was a first timer, and the only thing known when I booked was the good DJ line up: Tuli, Dmitri, Rumbero, Anael, Sergio, Michelle and Julian the Duke. I live nearby, so no need to overthink for me but just try it out.
I wasn't salsa dancing for nearly three months and wasn't sure if find the groove again, also wasn't sure what I will find there. I started with saturday afternoon social - and it was pure magic! Great music, high dance level with fantastic followers and seemingly also good leads, the vibe was just great. I was overwhelmed and in the end there were standing ovations for the DJs. That afternoon was worth the travel alone.
In the evening I needed some hours sleep and only arrived at 3 a.m. at the night party. I didn't get into the groove again, had two meh dances, played congas a bit and then decided to get more sleep. That’s ok for me. I heard people danced until 6 a.m.
Workshop from Alexisstyle was interesting: doing mambo 234 678 stepping, later he talked a lot about history. Sunday afternoon party was great again, I had memorable dances.
The size was smaller than most other festivals, actually in a dancing school with a club vibe, but I like that. There were maybe 80 or 100 attendants, gender ratio about equal. AC was working hard but people were still sweating. Hollywood factor was low, several women wore flats even at night party. I was astonished it was not too loud, at afternoon partys it was below 90 db and I didn't even wear earplugs. So nothing to complain, I liked it and will come back.
At Stuttgart Marathon I knew many faces from southern Germany and Switzerland, so mostly regional from 300 km around. That's probably normal for a first time festival.
Thanks. Planning few trips for fall so wonder how wide a draw these smaller events get...
WellHelloThere
Changui
There is an interesting looking on2 weekender in Zurich in January from Magic Mambo
desconocida
Son
I've been there in 2024 and know people who've been there in 2025 as well. It's a very nice litte event, indeed. Definitely worth checking out if you don't mind Zurich prices.
Are you from the area? I was looking at going to see one concert and have some dances, but price is quite steep for me if dancing will be disappointing. I'd better go to some low key local party without expectations then.
Was there better dancing before or after the concert?