To Kathreintanz with a dance partner
On udansa connect, you can find dance partners to go to Kathreintanz with. Describe whether you already dance Waltz or would like to join in for the first time at the folk dance lesson.
Folk dance festivals5 minutes
Join the Kathreintanz: Getting started as a guest
By Bernhard De LucaUpdated
- Guests who are not members of a dance club can attend a publicly advertised Kathrein dance, unless access restrictions are stated.
- For beginners, Kathrein dances with an introduction and explanations of the dances are suitable, but not every public dance evening is automatically beginner-friendly.
- A dance announcement often gives only the name of the dance and does not explain the figures.
- Waltz experience helps with open partner dances, but it is not enough on its own for an unfamiliar Française.
The Kathreintanz brings together a feast day and a dance repertoire
The name refers to the feast day of Saint Catherine on November 25. In predominantly Catholic regions, especially Bavaria and Austria, the Kathreintanz traditionally marked the end of the dancing season before Advent. Today, this does not imply either a general ban on dancing or a uniform event format. A club can hold a public Kathreintanz that you can attend without being a member.
For your first visit, the mix of dances on the program is what matters. An evening might combine open partner dances such as the Waltz and Polka with group dances featuring set figures. In a Waltz, you hear a 3/4 beat; a Polka is often in 2/4. This musical orientation helps you, but knowing the time signature does not mean you know a specific sequence of steps.
The difference is especially clear with a Française: several couples coordinate their paths with one another instead of dancing freely around the floor. Calling out “Française” may be enough for regulars, but not for newcomers. “With dance calling” does not necessarily mean beginner instruction. An announced introduction or a clearly described program item offers a different starting point from an evening that assumes you already know the repertoire. As a guest, you do not need to know a complete collection of regional dances, but you do need an accessible first part of the program. A brief explanation before a dance, in turn, teaches you only that sequence, not automatically all the dances that follow.
Date and musical focus
- Memorial of Saint Catherine
- 25.11.
- Waltz time signature
- 3/4
- A common time signature for polka
- 2/4
Partner Dance Events for More Dance Nights
On udansa, you can find more partner dance evenings; this selection isn't limited to Kathrein dances or folk dance with instruction.
Euro Dance Festival at Europa-Park
9. Feb, 09:00 - 14. Feb 2027, 18:00Europa-Park · Rust
Coswig dances! | Crash course Slow Waltz and Viennese Waltz
Fri, 18. December 2026, 19:00 - 20:30Gemeindezentrum Coswig - Saal Coswig tanzt · Coswig
Coswig dances! | Open Dance Evening
Sat, 19. December 2026, 19:00 - 21:30Gemeindezentrum Coswig - Saal Coswig tanzt · CoswigFrom the announced Kathreintanz to the first round
Check access explicitly first
If it explicitly says “open to the public,” “guests welcome” or “for everyone,” joining the club isn’t required for access. If the invitation is unclear, just ask: “Can beginners from outside the club take part, and will there be explanations?” A club-only celebration isn’t an open guest evening.
Plan to arrive for the introduction
If an introduction is announced before the Kathreintanz, plan your arrival for its start, not just for when the music begins. There, you can learn the formations and recurring terms. A later dance announcement may already assume you've had this preparation.
Identify the first part of the program
Listen for whether free partner dances or a set sequence to be performed together are announced first. For a Waltz, you can draw on your existing experience. For an unfamiliar Française, wait for the formation and explanation rather than starting it like a free partner dance.
Approaching a suitable dance partner
Before lining up, say: “This is my first time at the Kathreintanz, and I don’t know this sequence yet.” An experienced dance partner can show you the cues. For group figures, however, their help doesn’t replace an explanation for the whole group.
Take part in the entire formation
When an explained sequence begins, take your place as the pairs are assigned. Listen to the other dancers' pathways too: your next cue may depend on them. Start only with the designated music cue, not during the demonstration.
Stabilize the sequence through repetition
Use repetition first to work on direction, partner connection, and timing. Keep your steps small while you’re still figuring things out. Extra turns from your partner dance repertoire can disrupt shared pathways and should only be added when they’re actually part of the sequence.
Intentionally sit out unfamiliar parts of the program
If another sequence is announced by name only and started without explanation, you can sit out that dance. Wait until it ends before joining in again. In a fixed group formation, joining in midway through the sequence would change other people's places.
Frequently Asked Questions
A Kathreintanz traditionally takes place around St. Catherine's Day on November 25, but the event date does not have to fall exactly on that day. In 2026, November 25 is a Wednesday. So a weekend date that has been announced does not contradict the name. Historically, the occasion marked the last dance before Advent in many places, not the start of a dance course.
Traditional dress is not required just because it is called a Kathreintanz; an explicitly stated dress code is what matters. If no dress code is specified, neat, comfortable clothing that lets you move freely is a good choice. A full skirt or comfortable trousers make it easier to change direction than very tight clothing. Choose shoes that fit securely and let you turn without slipping on the floor.
You can go on your own if the invitation does not require you to register as a couple, but that does not mean you will have a regular dance partner. For open partner dances, you need someone to dance with for each round. Group dances may also require participants to line up in pairs. An announced partner rotation does not automatically mean that guests who arrive alone will be assigned a partner before every dance.
A Française is a group figure dance in which several couples dance set patterns and meet each other along the way. The local version may differ, so you should not assume without asking that it is the version you know. To get started, what matters is a clear formation and a demonstration of the sequence. Simply hearing the name of the dance does not teach you the patterns.
A partner dance course helps you develop a sense of timing together and learn familiar open partner dances, but it does not automatically teach you the Kathreintanz program. A ballroom figure you have practiced cannot be freely substituted into group folk dance patterns. If you get stuck on directions, exercises for telling right from left when dancing can help regardless of the local dance version.
You do not have to dance the whole program and can take a break between complete dances. Several fast partner dances in a row can put more strain on you than the initial explanation might suggest. Sit out a round before your concentration and sure footing start to suffer. The dance exertion self-assessment can help you gauge how hard you are working.
