Oliver Wessel-Therhorn

Posted on November 15, 2010

It is with sadness that we report that Oliver Wessel-Therhorn, a colossus in international dancesport, has died, following a battle with cancer.

Oliver and his first wife Martina Wessel-Therhorn were multiple German Amateur and Professional Ballroom champions during the 1980s and 1990s and, representing Germany, were medallists in the European and World Championships.

Oliver became the national coach of the German Amateur Team in 2001.  He received the Bill and Bobbie Irvine Award in 2008 and, in 2009, the President’s Award from the World Dance Council.

Mentored by Bill and Bobbie Irvine, whom he considered to be his second parents, Wessel-Therhorn wrote The Irvine Legacy, which was published in 2009.

Last month at the BDF’s Night of 100 Stars, he was presented with the BDF Overseas Award 2010.

Our thoughts are with the Wessel-Therhorn family.

Nicola Rayner

Nicola Rayner was editor of Dance Today from 2010 to 2015. She has written for a number of publications including The Guardian, The Independent and Time Out Buenos Aires, where she cut her teeth as a dance journalist working on the tango section. Today she continues to dance everything from ballroom to breakdance, with varying degrees of success. Her debut novel, The Girl Before You, was published last year in paperback, ebook and audiobook.