In principle, ticket returns are not possible. In justified exceptional cases, the organizers will facilitate the transfer of the ticket—subject to the fees listed below—provided they can find a replacement dancer for the same role.

For requests made up to two months before the start of the marathon, we refund the participation fee minus a €15 processing fee; for requests made between two months and one month prior to the start, the amount retained is €25. For the period between one month and two weeks before the start, the processing fee is 50% of the ticket price.

We are introducing this change compared to the previous marathon because we handled approximately 50 ticket return requests last time, each requiring one to two hours of work. In total, we spent an entire week dealing with ticket returns, which distracted us from the actual marathon preparations.

Ticket return requests will only be processed up to two weeks before the start of the marathon. After that point, we are unfortunately unable to process such requests due to capacity constraints, as our focus shifts entirely to marathon preparations.

During the half-hour *Nocturna* sessions, the dance area will be completely dark and empty (except for the DJ/VJ station). The doors must remain closed.
Leaving the room is only possible in a dire emergency; otherwise, light would spill in, interrupting or ending the *Nocturna* for everyone else.

Should an emergency arise (which, fortunately, has never happened so far), you are of course free to leave the room or speak to one of the helpers stationed at the doors. Needing to use the restroom does not count as an emergency. Please take care of that beforehand!

If you simply feel a bit uncomfortable or dizzy, you can step to the side or sit on the stairs and watch. That is a lovely experience, too.

Please remove smartwatches or other glowing items beforehand so they don't light up while dancing. Also, please keep your mobile phones in your pockets or jackets so they don't disturb the beautiful dance experience.

Don't worry about collisions—you will be able to sense the other dance couples and the walls, and spot them with the help of the phosphorescent markers.

Dance partners are swapped after every song; here is how it works: the leaders hold up the arm wearing the phosphorescent band (away from their face, so their identity remains hidden ;-)), and the followers take an offered hand.
If you can't find a dance partner, don't panic—you can choose another person with the same dance role who is also without a partner, dance alone, or simply watch for a song. That is lovely too, I promise; the goal is to relax, not to stress.

After the final song, you part ways and move away from your partner. The lights will slowly come back on.

Important notes for the *Nocturna*:

- High heels are not permitted during the *Nocturna*. Please bring dance sneakers or socks.
- There is no talking during the *Nocturna*; it is all about feeling the movement. - If you have trouble dancing in the dark or maintaining your balance, or if unexpected physical contact with many people makes you uncomfortable, you might consider watching the Nocturna from the edge of the dance floor at first. You can join in later once you feel secure.

Watching: If you prefer to simply watch the Nocturna, you can do so from the seating areas on the stage. Please do not talk when the music is very quiet (dancers are more sensitive to sound since they cannot see), and please remain seated rather than walking around (as the risk of injury would be too high).