You pursued degrees and danced in a top-level formation. How did you manage to combine these two interests?

Tabea: It was challenging, but dancing teaches you to be disciplined and organized. At peak times, we trained up to 25 hours per week and during my degree, I always had one or two part-time jobs and completed internships at the same time. During my semester abroad, I realized for the first time how much free time I had at weekends without dance training. I am pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Communication and Media Studies with a minor in Economics and just finished my thesis; unfortunately, I have not been able to keep to the standard degree duration. One of the reasons for this was my involvement in dance. I am fine with it, because personally I’ve learned a lot through the Latin formation.

Jakob: It was like having a second job, in addition to my degree. It requires a high degree of discipline. I am pursuing a law degree with a focus on environmental law and I’ve always tried to arrange my timetable around dancing. The fixed training times are challenging and often I had to cancel other things. But in the end, we knew exactly what we were doing it for and we made a conscious decision to do so. Dancing was more than just a sport for us.

How did you get into dancing and how long have you been dancing?

Jakob: I started going to a dance school because my older brothers did. I started with partner dance at the age of 11 and formation dance when I was 14 years old. At the age of 17, I switched to the Grün-Gold-Club and joined the A-team.

Tabea: I took kids dance classes when I was about two or three years old because my mother taught classes in a club. When I was about nine years old, I started to dance in amateur competitions. At some point, I wanted more and went to audition for the Grün-Gold-Club. In 2013, I danced in the D-team for one season, and in the B-team for two years starting in 2014. Since 2016, I’ve been a member of the A-team.

You recently won the World Championship. How do you look back on this victory?

Tabea: This is my fifth world championship title, but it is still special, especially because we were in Hong Kong. During our training, we still often talk about what we’ve experienced together. Even though I no longer dance, that time continues to be an important part of my life.

Jakob: It was the third title for me and the trip to Hong Kong is still unforgettable. Despite the successes, we have continued to train and further develop our technical skills because the demands increase every year. The team also changes and there are always new challenges.

For people not familiar with formation dancing, can you describe your sport and what makes the A team so special for you?

Tabea: There are the five Latin dances: cha-cha-cha, rumba, samba, paso doble, and jive. We present these in an approximately six-minute choreography as a team of eight couples, all synchronized. If you come from the world of dance sports, then the A-team from Bremen is the dream of many. I saw the A-team live for the first time when I was eight years old. I realized very quickly: That is where I want to be and that is where I’ll stay.

Jakob: Every movement is defined down to the last detail, from the direction of view to the position. Nevertheless, we manage to convey an emotional message, as in our current “Freedom and Peace” choreography. The A-team has been special for me ever since I first saw it in 2006. This team had incredible charisma. Many of us have dreamed of being part of the A- team for years.

You are also a couple outside of dance. How does that influence your dancing?

Jakob: It is important to keep sport and our private life separate. If you do sport with your partner, you may be a little more ambitious and impatient. You want to make sure everything is perfect.

Tabea: If you are a good team when dancing together, it’s much more fun. You can turn your head off and dance freely.

Editor’s Note: Jakob is now concentrating fully on his degree and preparing for his first state examination. Tabea has completed her bachelor’s thesis and moved to Austria to pursue an international master’s degree.