We practice our dances and music at workshops typically held
on Sunday afternoons. Workshops are held at the
VFW Post 4380 in
Plano beginning at 2:00pm and running until 4:00pm.
Visitors
are always welcome at our workshops, and we’d really like to meet
you! We don't practice every week, so be sure to check our
calendar
of events to find out exactly when and where we will be practicing.
We have a large repertoire of Bavarian and Austrian folk dances that we learn, practice and perform. These dances are generally from the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, and can be basically described in three categories:
Ländlers: Intricate figure
dances where couples flirt with each other. From a hand-in-hand stroll
down a mountain path, to the “open window” where the man tries to
steal a kiss, these courtship dances tell the story of the Farmer’s
Daughter.
Specialty Dances and Music: These dances usually tell
a story, or honor an occupation like lumberjack, miller, or weaver.
Some of these are traditional dances, while others were choreographed
for the cabarets in the 1920’s and 30’s.
We also
play and sing Bavarian folk songs, and we keep another tradition
alive by playing songs on the Cow Bells!
Schuhplattlers: Powerful,
boasting dances where the men slap their thighs and the soles of their
shoes in a rhythmic fashion to show off for the girls. Yeah,
Ok... this style of dancing might have received a lot of [comic] attention
in the movie "European Vacation", but the real thing is a lot different..
and more interesting! Which guy can slap harder, jump higher,
and stomp louder? And which guy is tough enough to catch the
ladies’ eyes?
