In the last few days of the year, budget decisions for 2025 and 2026 will be made in municipalities and federal states. In recent years, politicians have repeatedly claimed that culture is the glue that holds our society together and that culture is also systemically relevant. Now, however, the red pencil is being applied and the bad news for culture is piling up. This also applies to dance. And the two states with the largest dance scenes are sending out alarming signals. In North Rhine-Westphalia, which sees itself as the ‘No. 1 dance state’, the International Dance Fair and IDAS NRW - International Dance Artist Service are no longer being funded for the coming years. In Berlin, the federal state with the largest dance scene in Germany, funding programmes are being cut and a large proportion of the cuts are being made to funding programmes for independent artists. 
Leading dance countries are damaging themselves. It is fatal that cuts are being made to the very programmes and projects that stand for internationality and diversity. Internationality and diversity characterise dance. The art form thrives on cultural encounters, on the diversity of origins and bodies. This is precisely why dance can reach and connect people, can reflect the diversity and internationality in our society. However, doubting the values and the future of this diversity of cultures and origins is something that radical forces have in their programme. 
As an umbrella organisation for dance, we therefore see it as a central task to continue our commitment to strong cultural funding, together with the networks in local and state governments and at federal level.