14.02.2026 Newcastle Festival

Back in Newcastle – More Than Just a Competition

This year’s Newcastle Festival of Dance was something truly special for us – not only
because of the results, but because of everything that came with it. For the first time since
2020, Germany was back – and not just with one team, but with two: a Mixed team and a
Ladies team. That alone already felt like a small victory. What made it even more meaningful
was how these teams came together. Dancers travelled from all across Germany, joined by
helping hands and feet from Hungary and the Netherlands. Many of us had never danced
together before. Over two training weekends in December and February, we worked
intensively – learning, refining, repeating, and slowly growing into real teams. Those
weekends were about far more than steps and formations: they were about connection, trust,
and the shared excitement of working towards something special.

Arriving in Newcastle, there was immediately that unmistakable festival feeling I've heard so
much about. The buzz in the hall, the sound of music drifting from different corners, teams
warming up, last-minute run-throughs, familiar faces and new ones – it all created an
atmosphere that is hard to describe, but instantly recognisable to anyone who has been there.
Despite the competitive setting, what stands out most is the openness and support. People
watch each other, cheer each other on, celebrate good dancing wherever it comes from.

The Ladies team took to the floor with Portnacraig and Miss Milligan’s Strathspey. As the
first in our category, more than a few of us were a bit nervous and unsure what to expect, but
our performance was rewarded with an excellent second place overall – a result we couldn't
have dreamed of, especially in such a strong field. The Mixed team performed Auld Lang
Syne and The Charmer, and the moment they stepped off the floor, there was a sense in the air
that something had really come together. That feeling was confirmed when they were
awarded first place in their category. As an extra highlight, Auld Lang Syne was recognised
by the adjudicator Patrick Chamoin as the best dance of the entire festival – a very special
honour. We also took part in the Display category, which once again showed just how
creative Scottish Country Dancing can be. From storytelling to humour to impressive staging,
the variety was inspiring. The International Team were deserved winners with their Les
Misérables-themed performance, which made just about everyone in the hall join in during
the final chorus.

Of course, no trip is complete without a few challenges. We had three cases of illness within
the teams, and plans had to be adjusted more than once. But what stood out was how
everyone stepped up, supported each other, and gave their best regardless. That team spirit
was, in many ways, as important as any result. And then there was the journey home: A
snowstorm in Amsterdam caused major disruption, with flights cancelled across the board.
Suddenly, instead of heading home as planned, people were rebooking, rerouting,
improvising. Some managed to find alternative flights, others spent long hours travelling back
by train or even FlixBus. It was chaotic, exhausting – and, in hindsight, also strangely
memorable.

For me personally, this was my first time at Newcastle. And it exceeded all expectations.
What stays with me is not just the dancing at such a high level, but the atmosphere: the
encouragement from the sidelines, the shared nerves before stepping onto the floor, the
laughter in between, and the feeling of being part of something much bigger than our own
teams. Newcastle is often described as a competition – but it feels much more like a
celebration. A celebration of teamwork, of dedication, of creativity, and of the joy of dancing
together.

Text: Wiebke Ehlen Lüdtke
Foto: Martina Müller-Franz