Summer, sun, beach, and acrobatic performances of the highest level? This is exactly the combination promised by the Wolves Festival for ten selected show groups from all over Europe from July 2 to 5 in Rhodes. The event was organized by the current world champions in show group gymnastics, the Greek dance and acrobatics group named "The Wolves".
We were warmly welcomed at the Rhodes airport by the "Wolves" and taken by shuttle buses to the hotel. The groups from Switzerland, Austria, Portugal, Germany, and of course Greece stayed at the Rhodes Palace Hotel. The opening ceremony took place on Tuesday evening. We watched performances by the gymnasts of the Wolves Academy. With over 2000 gymnasts, the Wolves Academy is divided into different performance levels. All these levels showcased a performance at the opening ceremony. A show by the elite team of the Wolves formed the crowning conclusion of the opening ceremony. Afterwards, the shuttles took us to the beach for a welcome party. However, it was rather short because we had a stage rehearsal, the main rehearsal, and the first of two performances ahead of us on Wednesday.
During the stage and main rehearsals, we saw the other show groups in action for the first time, including participants from the TV shows: America's and Britain's Got Talent. The stage rehearsal and main rehearsal went off without a hitch, and we headed back to the hotel. Now we couldn't waste any time. The show starts in a few hours and all members of the Geckos still needed to be made up. This was done with the help of an airbrush system in the bathtub of a hotel room. Efficiency was of great importance. Like an assembly line, various layers of color were applied to faces and hair was adorned with glitter. A quick bite to eat, packing the show outfit, and back to the show hall. The hall was sold out on both Wednesday and Thursday, with some spectators even sitting on the floor. Our show was very well received by the audience and the other show groups, and we left the hall on Wednesday evening feeling proud and happy. We ended the evening on the beach. On Thursday, before the second performance in the evening, a joint training session led by the Wolves took place. We learned some new moves and even managed to (more or less successfully) work out a choreography from them. Unfortunately, a Gecko was injured during the joint training and we had to replan the evening show at very short notice. This was very successful, as the audience was enthusiastic on Thursday evening as well.
Finally, we ended the festival on Friday with all the other teams with a great day at the beach followed by a white party in the city of Rhodes.
We found the Wolves Festival to be a great enrichment and are already looking forward to a future edition of it!
Many thanks to the Wolves team for the fantastic organization!