Swiss Tap Dance Championships 2025: A weekend full of rhythm, emotion and enthusiasm in Crissier
On the weekend of 13–14 September 2025, the town of Crissier in the canton of Vaud was all about tap dancing. At the 2025 Swiss Championships, the best dancers from across the country showcased their skills in tap dancing at the highest level – and offered spectators an unforgettable experience.
The venue was the Salle de Spectacle Chisaz theatre in Crissier/Lausanne, whose special atmosphere contributed significantly to the success of the event. The warm yet professional stage environment lent the performances an extra depth and turned each one into a true piece of art. On both days – Saturday and Sunday – the theatre was filled to capacity during the finals: around 500 spectators cheered on the dancers, and the theatre literally shook with the applause and enthusiasm of the audience.
A total of 212 dancers took part in this year’s championship – an impressive number that speaks for the steadily growing importance of tap dancing in Switzerland. The coaches and dance schools did an extraordinary job in the run-up to and during the weekend: the choreographies were not only technically demanding, but also full of creativity, energy and emotion. The best Swiss tap dancers were selected in various categories by a high-calibre expert jury consisting of internationally renowned tap dancers from all over Europe.
In addition to the quality of the dancing, another aspect stood out in particular: the tangible friendship and solidarity within the Swiss tap dance scene. Despite the competitive nature of the event, the weekend was characterised by mutual respect, support and genuine camaraderie – both among the dance schools and coaches and among the participants. This friendly atmosphere was clearly noticeable throughout the event and contributed to the very special mood that made the occasion so unforgettable.
The Swiss Championships were organised by the Planet Dance dance school, under the direction of Fabrice Martin. It is thanks to him and his dedicated team that the event ran smoothly, professionally and with great passion.
In terms of results, Edwin Berchtold deserves special mention, securing the Swiss championship title in the Elite Men’s category for the third time in a row. With this success, he has long been one of the established names on the national tap dancing scene – and now has justified hopes for the World Championships, which will take place in Prague from 22 to 26 October 2025. There, he will represent Switzerland on the international stage together with the other podium finishers.
Another highlight of the weekend was the ‘Vintage Routine’ category, in which Edwin Berchtold and Morena Candido shone with an extraordinary performance. With impressive precision, attention to detail and perfect synchronisation, they recreated Bouncin’ the Blues from the 1949 film The Barkleys of Broadway – a tribute that deeply impressed both the jury and the audience.
But even the youngest tap dancers had the opportunity to show off their skills in front of an audience on Sunday during the Mini Kids Show. They proudly made the stage shake with their performance.
The full results of the 2025 Swiss Championships can be found at https://championship.swisstap.ch.
