Culture from around the world at the Cottbus Open intercultural festival

The Cottbus Open sends a strong message of acceptance, diversity and open-minded coexistence. The festival provides a platform that brings together people from a wide variety of backgrounds. Treating one another with respect, getting to know one another and learning from one another – that is what matters most to the participating students from BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg. From 5.30 pm, they will be presenting a non-stop stage programme lasting over an hour. International student groups will bring rousing dance performances and music to the festival.

BTU President Prof. Gesine Grande emphasises: “Cottbus Open is a festival that has stood for peaceful coexistence in our city for over twenty years. For us at BTU, it is far more than just a date in the calendar – it is a celebration of diversity that enriches our university and the entire region. I am certain that sharing experiences and enjoying the event together will, once again this year, help to spark an interest in other cultures and strengthen our sense of community.”

The BTU students’ programme

The Iranian student group will be performing a solo piece by Kosar Norouzzadeh – a fusion of classical Persian dance, contemporary movements and spinning techniques. The performance by the Pakistani student group DesiKunst combines authentic folk dances from the various provinces of their home country with modern choreography set to the latest Pakistani chart hits.
The cultural team of the Bangladeshi Students’ Community brings the spirit of Bengal to life through traditional dances and melodic Bengali songs, and BTU alumna Dipannita Banik will enchant festival guests with the lyrical and interpretative dance style created by Nobel Prize winner Rabindranath Tagore. The Indian dance group Cottbus Beats also contributes to the friendly and cosmopolitan atmosphere with their performance.
Alongside these cultural highlights, international students from BTU will be serving authentic cold and pre-cooked dishes from their home countries in the international food court. 

About Cottbus Open

Cottbus Open is one of the most popular intercultural festivals in the region. As a highlight of the Cottbus City Festival, it invites visitors to celebrate cultural diversity. It is organised in collaboration with the City of Cottbus, the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg, and local associations and organisations. Alongside a colourful stage programme and the food street, this traditional event is characterised by, amongst other things, hands-on and information stands run by organisations promoting democracy, migrant self-help groups, and social and charitable organisations.