The 2nd Prague Zouk Marathon took place April 29 to May 4th in beautiful Prague, Czech Republic. This event differed from a typical dance congress because there were no classes, workshops or shows; just social dancing in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere.

I spoke to the organizer, Zdeněk Brož, who described how he came up with the idea of this “marathon” style event. After observing the traditional congress format, as well as learning about events in other dance communities, he came up with the idea to focus on the social aspect of dance – its original purpose. Another radical difference is keeping the number of attendees limited (about 150) to create a “family style” environment and ensure that people get to know each other.

After having the pleasure of attending this event, here are the top reasons why I absolutely loved the Prague Zouk Marathon:

1. The large beautiful hall of the main venue set the mood with high ceiling, candles, elegant coats of arms on the walls and gorgeous chandeliers – a combination of both charm and grandeur.
2. The event itself is one long dance party! It went non-stop from noon until 6 am (and some days even until 8 am) the next day.
3. There was food (included in the price of event) served throughout the length of dance party, with scheduled buffet-style breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. It was great to wake up late in the morning, head to the venue at noon and sit down for a relaxed brunch with friends while the DJ warmed up and some dancers already spinning on the dancefloor.
4. The DJs! Of course, providing great dance music for 18+ hours straight is no easy feat, but the team of talented DJs, including DJ Kakah, DJ Shing and DJ Libre, inspired us with their art and kept the energy going.
5. There were so many little surprises, like the welcome package which included an embroidered face towel (so handy for wiping off sweat during the party), sample designer fragrances to try out and even Blue Energy pills to keep us dancing.
6. After each meal there were packs of Tic Tacs placed on the tables to refresh the breath (so thoughtful)!
7. Great dancing also left us quite thirsty. Luckily, there was plenty of free water infused with lemon, lime, orange and mint.
8. The quality of the dancefloor! The selected venue was impeccable in this regard – the wooden floor was smooth but not slippery. Perfection!
9. Prague’s central location and the event format attracted a wide array of dancers from across Europe. Very enjoyable!
10. Since the number of attendees was limited and the party was so long, there was a lot of space on the dancefloor to do all the favorite moves and be creative (but the floor was never empty)!
11. For the same reasons, it was not too hot – a huge plus!
12. When dancers were tired, they could relax on comfortable beanie bags placed on both sides of the dance hall. This idea was brilliant! Nothing rejuvenates my body like laying down for some chill time in between dances.
13. The social focus of the event was again highlighted by holding a “social dance contest” to award the most engaged and friendly dancer with a free ticket to the 1st Lebanon Zouk Congress to be held in Beirut in September 2015. The judges of this contest were all the dancers themselves.
14. The organizers even cared to ask the attendees ahead of time about dietary restrictions (vegetarian, gluten-free, etc). An impressive level of attention to detail!
15. There was chocolate fountain with strawberries presented for a 1am snack during the Saturday night party. It was an instant hit!
16. The Sunday night after-party was organized on the top floor of the Prague TV tower, 93 meters above the ground, literally “in the clouds.” The space boasted 2 dance rooms, a bar, white leather couches and my personal favorites; round “capsule chairs” – hanging from the ceiling to enjoy the panoramic view.
17. Prague is one of the most visited European capitals and is a UNESCO world heritage. It is nicknamed the “pearl of Europe” and is especially romantic in early May with blooming trees and gentle weather. On Monday, we attended a small tour organized with an English speaking guide who took us from the Prague Castle, across the Charles Bridge and onto the Old Square, sharing the history and culture of the city – All for just $7!
18. Great Czech beer. Oh, and did I mention that it’s really affordable?

The event just finished but I’m already looking forward to the next Prague Zouk Marathon. Space will be strictly limited to 111 ladies and 111 guys for 2016, so I’m definitely going to book early!