TANZGRUPPEN BERICHTEN OCTOBER 2008
AKRON TANZGRUPPEN
Forwarded From Akron Donauschwaben, German Family Society
Kindergruppe Updates photos to follow
The German Family Society's
“Kindergruppe” is a children's folkdance group presently consisting of
approximately 35 girls and boys ranging in ages from 3 to 7 years. The
“Kindergruppe” has weekly dance practices that are held inside the main
clubhouse on Wednesday evenings at 6:30pm, typically lasting for only one hour,
followed by a short social “fun-time”.
Jugendgruppe Updates photos to follow
The German Family Society’s Youth Group consists of teenagers and young adults ranging from 13 to 25 years of age that are interested in promoting their ethnic heritage by learning and performing traditional folk dances and songs. Meetings are typically held on Sunday evenings, and include time for socializing amongst friends as well as rehearsing for future performances presented at our clubhouse and at numerous other events throughout the United States, Canada and Europe. Some of our most beloved performances include “A Night in Vienna” (an annual dance held every January in our ballroom) with an elegant show of Strauss waltzes and Mozart minuets. We also perform at many other events such as at our own “Old European Days” festival, the “Kirchweihfest” (a traditional festival celebrated for over hundreds of years together with churches in many small towns of Europe inhabited by Danubeswabians – Folk Germans), and of-course at the famous “Oktoberfests”. Each Labor Day weekend our youth group also travels to various cities throughout the U.S.A. and Canada for the National Danubeswabian “Trachtenfest” and “Tag der Donauschwaben” where youth groups from across the country have an opportunity to meet, make friends, and take pride in their German heritage by dancing for the festival. (Check out links to related German youth groups). Additionally, on every third year, the National Danubeswabian Organization sponsors a first-class and very elite folk-dance competition named after Dr. Awender, one of our founding fathers. Proudly, our own Akron GFS youth were the first dancers in over 25 years of very difficult competitions to win the coveted first place prize twice in a row, while also receiving the first “Cristine Burmeister - Most Congenial Group” award that very same year. The authentic costumes such as the “Dirndls” and “Lederhosen” worn during many of our shows come directly from Europe and are very costly (as is traveling around the country and to Europe), so we often have fundraisers to help defray some of our expenses. Making and selling traditional homemade German sausage is by far our most successful fundraiser, and is another way that our young people have fun together while experiencing another piece of their culture and heritage. The Youth Group typically makes sausage twice a year. (Link to Sausage Information) Aside from rehearsing for performances, the GFS Youth Group also sponsors other social events such as camping trips, holiday parties, and field trips in order to promote friendships and family values. These have always been great ways to meet new people and make friends that last a lifetime! If you are interested in joining the Youth Group, feel free to contact our club leaders at any one of our events or by sending an inquiry through this website: http://www.germanfamilysociety.com/
photos to follow
The Junior Youth Group is a
dance and cultural group for children between 8 to 13 years of age. The
group’s primary objective is to educate our children on, and promote an
appreciation for, the cultural heritage of our Germanic and Danubeswabian
(folk-German) ancestors. Formerly known as the Middle Group, it was initially
founded in the 1980’s by the prompting of Mrs. Maria Rickert (our Ladies
Auxiliary Honorary President), and under the energetic and knowledgeable
leadership of Mrs. Barbara Tonhaeuser, the original Middle Group Dancers grew to
become one of the most entertaining and successful young performing groups at
the GFS.
CARPATHIA TANZGRUPPEN
Forwarded From Carpathia Donauschwaben
Kindergruppe Updates
The
Kindergruppe are busy preparing for their busy fall schedule. The kids will be
performing at Deutscher Tag at the Austrian Park on August 10th. A couple of
weeks later, the group will be in Cleveland for the Landestrachtenfest.
Following the Landestrachtenfest, the group will be performing a special dance
at Mexican Abend. At the end of September, the kids will be dancing at the
Rochester Mills Brewery Oktoberfest. Chris
Pesta
Kulturgruppe Updates
Hello from Carpathia’s newest Untergruppe, the Kulturgruppe We are currently 27 members strong, and are always looking for new people to help the group grow. We hope to see all of you at these up coming events, and if you’re passionate about both your culture and dancing, feel free to join us at our practices at the Carpathia Club on Sundays, or email us at: donaudancers@sbcglobal.net for more information.
Reprinted with Permission Carpathia Club 38000 Utica Road Sterling Heights, Michigan
CHICAGO AID SOCIETY TANZGRUPPEN
Forwarded From Chicago Aid Society Donauschwaben
Kindergruppe Updates
The Kindergruppe (Children's Group) of
the American Aid Society was formed in 1968. Our children range from
preschool to 8th grade. Knowledge of German is not required.
Children do learn some German vocabulary through our activities. The
Kindergruppe performs German folk dances at various events throughout the year.
They also sing German songs and perform skits and poems in German at our
Mother's day and Christmas programs. We are very proud of our kids - they
do a great job. The Kindergruppe usually meets twice a month on Friday nights at 7:30 at our clubhouse in Chicago. If you are interested in joining, please contact Angela Balcerak (630)329-2877, Linda Byrom (773)774-6478, or Erika Cwan (773)774-3952. Our Kindergruppe is currently selling cookbooks, titled "Was Gibt's zum Essen?" with a mixture of German and American recipes. Cookbooks sell for $12 each. For more information, please contact Christine Slabinger at 847-692- 2416.
Jugendgruppe Updates
Our Youth group was established in 1953
to carry on our great tradition and customs. The Jugendgruppe ranges in
age from High school to their early twenties. They do a variety of skits,
sing traditional German folk songs and perform various ethnic folkdances.
They perform throughout the Chicago land area and travel to many other city's
within the United States. They have also performed in other countries as
well. Every three years they compete in the national folkdance competition for prestige and honor. They are a great, talented and enthusiastic group that makes us very proud of our German heritage. The Jugendgruppe gathers every Friday at our Chicago location to socialize and practice for upcoming events. Come join Ron, Renee and the gang. Interested parties are always welcome at The American Aid Society.
CHICAGO DONAUSCHWABEN TANZGRUPPEN
Forwarded From Chicago Donauschwaben
Kindergruppe Updates
Our children’s folk dance group is for children 3 to 13 years of age who are
interested in folkdance, songs and German culture. The group meets twice a month
on Friday evenings from 7 to 8:30 pm. The group performs at fundraising events
and also at various community events in the area. We also offer fun social
events for the entire family, such as bowling, swimming and roller skating
parties. The children are also involved in community service, by visiting area nursing homes and supporting the Des Plaines Self Help Closet and Food Pantry. An annual toy collection is organized for the needs of the community.
CINCINNATI DONAUSCHWABEN TANZGRUPPEN
Forwarded From Cincinnati Donauschwaben
Kindergruppe Updates
The children are between 7 and 13 years old. They meet Mondays at the Donauschwaben Haus to practice dances, as well as poems and songs. The Children's Group is an important part of our club, not only because of its beautiful performances, but also because it supplies the Youth Group with members and, in so doing, insures the future of our club.
Kleine Kindergruppe Updates The Little Children's Group was brought into being in 1996 in order to teach our smaller children the customs and way of life of our forefathers. Linda Igel and Erin Sucher took over the leadership of this new group. In 1998, Mrs. Barbara Waldeck came on board as a leader of the group. At this time, the Little Children's Group consists of 35 members. The members of this group are between 4 and 7 years old and meet every Monday in the clubhouse to practice German folk dances and songs. Wherever our children perform, the crowd is always enthusiastic and the praise for their performances has no end.
Jugendgruppe Updates
At this time, our youth group consists of more than 30 members. The goal of the Youth Group is to maintain the customs and way of life of the old country through songs, folk dances, and performances of plays. The biggest events of the year for the youth are the Kirchweih and the Strauss Ball. In the future, it will be the job of the club to preserve and promote the youth, for the youth is the cornerstone of the club's future existence.
CLEVELAND DONAUSCHWABEN TANZGRUPPEN
Forwarded From Cleveland Donauschwaben
Kindergruppe Updates
History of the Kindergruppe: The children’s dance group, the Kindergruppe, was started in 1971, by a committee that saw that there was an interest among younger children to dance. The Kindergruppe originally was formed for children between the ages of 7 — 12. Interest has not diminished and today the kids are interested at an even younger age. They perform many times throughout the year. The Kindergruppe is a self-supporting group. That means we have fund-raisers throughout the year. Some of the fundraisers include our Mother’s Day Luncheon and Program, Sommer Oktoberfest activities, and our Santa Brunch. We also perform at all the Donauschwaben functions. Other performances throughout the year may be at various locations (nursing homes, IX Center, church festivals). We also keep things fun for the kids, with parties and travels and fun summer things.
Contact Information:
Jugendgruppe Updates
In 1997, the role of leadership passed to Elisabeth Filippi with Anneliese Julian. Margot Maurer took on the responsibilities of dance instructor and moved into the leadership role in 1998. Under the direction of Anneliese and Margot, the group traveled to Los Angeles for the first time in 1999, to take second place in the Jakob Awender Wander Kulturpreis competition. In 2002, the group traveled to Milwaukee for the same competition, and won first place in the Jakob Awender Wander Kulturpreis for the third time. The Jugendgruppe will hold this title until the summer of 2005. Furthermore, the Jugendgruppe will travel to Germany, Austria, and Hungary in the summer of 2004 to perform a program featuring the music, songs, poems of our heritage.
Leiterin / Group Leader Margot Maurer
Kulturgruppe Updates
To promote and carry on the heritage and traditions of our Danube Swabian forefathers through dancing, music, plays, literature and other various cultural events. Founded in 1981
LOS ANGELES TANZGRUPPEN
Forwarded From LA Donauschwaben
Kindergruppe Updates
Jugendgruppe Updates
ST. LOUIS TANZGRUPPEN
Forwarded From German Cultural Society St. Louis
Kindergruppe Updates
Mittlere
Tanzgruppe Updates
Our group consists of boys and girls ages 10 through 14 interested in folk-dancing. It is a relaxed, yet serious atmosphere as you learn dances from the different regions of Europe. We would love to have you come down and see how much fun it really is to dance, and become part of our group. The group is led by Ruth Vanderpluym.
Jugendgruppe Updates
This group is for anyone interested in folk-dancing. It is a relaxed, yet serious atmosphere as you learn dances from the different regions of Europe. We would love to have you come down and see how much fun it really is to dance, and become part of our group.
Dance
Instructor: John Unterreiner Practice: Thursdays at 7:00 p.m.
PHILADELPHIA TANZGRUPPEN
Forwarded From Philadelphia Donauschwaben
Kindergruppe Updates
Children from toddlers to 12 years of age are taught traditional folk dances, songs, and poems. The children then get a chance to perform at various club events, including Mother's Day Dinner, to an audience of proud parents and grandparents. Each year during the Christmas season, the children have a festive party, with a show that includes both traditional German and American music, poems and skits. For more information, please call Connie Sommers at (215) 671-9778.
Jugendgruppe Updates
In the Jugend (Youth) group, traditional songs and dances are taught to members, who are primarily second and third generation descendants. The Jugend, from 13 years of age to 25, participate in many cultural activities in the Philadelphia area, including the Steuben Day German American Parade and the Sommerfest at Penn's Landing. They have also danced at festivals in the Pocono Mountains and at the Taj Mahal in Atlantic City. For more information, please call Fred Gauss at (215) 722-4253.
KITCHENER TANZGRUPPEN
Forwarded From Kitchener Donauschwaben
Kulturgruppe Updates
Our Repertoire
The Schwaben Dancers currently have a repertoire of about 20 dances, with new
ones constantly being learned. We are famous for our aerial maneuvers,
which are featured in several of our dances, and for the fast pace and quick
beat to which most of our dances are set.
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