Tanzorchester Schmidt @ Nordstadt together - das Hafenfest

Nordstadt Together – One Day, Many Highlights

On July 11, 2026, the harbor district on Speicherstraße will transform into a lively gathering place for the entire city. Mayor Alexander Kalouti invites everyone to experience the diversity and sense of community in Nordstadt. The evening program will turn the harbor area into an atmospheric summer stage—filled with music, dancing, and a lively atmosphere.

True to the Ruhr region’s motto, “If it doesn’t fit, we’ll make it fit,” Dortmund’s “Tanzorchester Schmidt” draws on a wide variety of styles, with its members bringing diverse cultures into their music—a particularly important source of inspiration being the energetic music of the Balkans, as well as reggae, dub, and hip-hop influences. The Tanzorchester Schmidt blends traditional melodies and rhythms with well-known pop songs, while the lyrics, delivered with Westphalian brashness, affectionately poke fun at the working-class culture of the Ruhr region.

The horn section delivers a spicy Balkan-ska mix, refined by the accordion with authentic Balkan melodies.

The rhythm section reliably lays the foundation for the audience to get their dancing on. Should further inspiration be needed, the dance crew leads by example and gets not only their colleagues on stage moving.

The result is a unique and extremely danceable mix of styles.

“Balkan style from downtown Dortmund—hey, you guys, do you want it? Yeah!”