In Memory of Ralf Josat: A Pioneer in Show Dance and Performing Arts

It's has been more the a month since that Monday, July 22, 2024, when we lost a dear friend and esteemed colleague, Ralf Josat, unexpectedly.

Ralf, was a native of Limburg, Germany, born on December 4, 1960, profoundly influenced dance both locally and internationally. His passion for dance began in his youth, blossoming during the disco era, and continued to grow as he became a renowned dancer, choreographer, and leader in the dance community.

Through the "Tanz-Centrum Josat-Dörr," Ralf shaped countless dancers' lives and left an indelible mark on the performing arts. His work with TAF Germany and the IDO, where he served as a respected judge and department chairman, demonstrated his unwavering dedication to the art of dance. Ralf’s warmth, creativity, and leadership enriched the lives of all who knew him. We will forever cherish his memory and the immense contributions he made to the dance world. He will always hold a special place in our hearts.

Thank you dear Ralf for everything.

The obituary:

On Monday, July 22, 2024, our friend and colleague, Ralf Josat from Limburg/Germany, left us forever, completely unexpectedly.

Ralf Josat has had a significant influence on dance events in Limburg and Germany as well as on the international dance scenes, often initiating them and always supporting them - especially the various dance forms of the performing arts and many other modern dances that are so strong today.

Ralf Josat was born on December 4, 1960, in Limburg, Hesse, and spent almost his entire life there. He recognized his great artistic talent early on, at school, first as a young singer, then as a dancer and actor, and later as an outstanding choreographer.

This passion for dance grew during the “disco fever” era of the late 1970s. It wasn't surprising that he achieved one of his first tournament placements with the choreography "John Travolta - Night Fever" - in a white suit. He always seems very happy talking about it.

Ralf completed his dance teacher training in Wiesbaden and later worked there as a young ADTV dance teacher. Wiesbaden's proximity to the music and dance scene of the American GIs stationed there had a great influence on him. Wiesbaden remained one of the centers of his life and he loved visiting the city very often.

In 1986, together with his partner and longest time friend for ever, Maria Dörr, he founded the “Tanz-Centrum Josat-Dörr” in Limburg and made it an institution in the city of Limburg and the surrounding area and later also known throughout Germany.

Ralf Josat developed the dances of the "Performing Arts" with friends and partners. In 1987 he founded the "Piccolo Show" and in 1990 the show dance formation "Ragazzi", which he led until 1995. Later many successful dance groups of all ages joined. And “Ragazzi” danced to great success both nationally and internationally and won the IDO World Formation Championships in 2013 and several World Cups during the years.

For Ralf Josat, music and dance were one and the same. He loved musicals in particular and enjoyed experiencing the "trendy" musicals, shows and concerts in New York, London's West End, Paris and "wherever in the world". He enjoyed it and, together with his colleagues, developed brilliant ideas for dance enthusiasts in the Josat-Dörr Dance-Center, in TAF Germany and in the IDO.

As an enthusiastic spectator at the first German Championship of Showdance Formations in the Wiesbaden Kurhaus in 1978, he soon decided to join the newly founded "TAF" (The Actiondance Federation) and, together with many friends and colleagues, developed today's "TAF Germany" over the course of the following years with its beautiful, colorful bouquet of different, popular and successful dance forms - in a sport-neutral tournament-structure with highly trained judges, teachers and choreographers.
Ralf Josat led “TAF-Germany” as president from 2011 with a very successful presidium.

As early as 1993, Ralf Josat already joined the IDO becoming highly respected as a German dance specialist and excellent judge in the IDO (International Dance Organization).
In 2018, on the occasion of the “TAF Jubi-40” anniversary, the IDO honored Ralf Josat for his many years of highly professional and successful work in the IDO by awarding him the “Certificate of Outstanding Achievement” in the field of Performing Arts.
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Ralf Josat was repeatedly elected chairman of the IDO Show Dance Department that he loved so much. He hosted countless national and international dance tournaments in an entertaining and knowledgeable manner, always with his wonderful warmth and great love for the dancers, as well as for judges and officials and the spectators.

We will never forget Ralf Josat as a special – extremely creative – personality in the national and international dance world – but above all as a great person who will remain unforgettable and will always live on in our hearts.