Who'sWho

The Donau Dancers is run by an elected committee. The current committee is:

• President: Rolf Eberl
• Vice President: Walter Marzinko
• Dance Coordinator: Kathryn Thompson
• Secretary: Joel Wideman
• Treasurer: Ed Ries
• Costume Director: Mary Kraehling

The Donau Dancers participate at the 2004 Oktoberfest parade.

The Donau Dancers perform at the 2007 Oktoberfest with their fast paced dance "Auf Gehts"

The Donau Dancers perform at the 2007 Oktoberfest with their fast paced dance "The Rheinländer"

The DONAU DANCERS 

The Donau Dancers are one of the dance groups of the Schwaben Club in Kitchener, Ontario.  The group started a few years back and is largely for dancers aged 35+, similar to the “Trachtengruppe”, which was a very large and active adult group out of the club in the ‘70s through to 1994. The group performs at club functions, community events and festivals all across North America.

As a folk dancing group, our intentions are to preserve and offer a unique glimpse into the rich Donau culture and traditions. The Donau style of folk dancing is fun, slow, fast, unique, exciting and interesting. The Donau folk dancing style encompasses the area from Germany through to Turkey – all along the Donau –

including dances from southern Germany, from Austria, the Czech and Slovak Republic, former Republic of Yugoslavia, Hungary, Romania, and Russia. The core group focus is on “Donau-Schwäbische Tänze” with the intention of keeping those dances alive as we have done to date.

• The women’s costume is a dirndl, consisting of a black skirt worn with a coloured, chequered apron. On the top a white cotton blouse is worn with a black vest over top.  The dirndl is worn with nylons and black shoes with 1 – 2” heels.
• The women’s formal costume is the traditional ”Tracht”. This consists of a flowered, pleated skirt with a black apron tied in the back. On the top a white cotton blouse is worn with a black vest over top.  Under the “Tracht” are two starched white petticoats. White socks and black shows are worn with this costume.

• The men’s costume is a black vest with silver buttons and the club crest.  This is worn with a white dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up above the elbows and black dress pants.  Any leather-soled black dress shoes can be worn, with black socks.  Many men also were pins on their vests.

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please note:
For more information on who we are, what we do and how you can join us, or wanting to book the dance group for a performance contact the Schwaben Club  at 742-7979 for up-to-date contact information! Annual dues are $24/year, plus Schwaben Club dues. 

Beim Älterwerden ist’s ein Segen,
sich regelmäßig zu bewegen.
Wozu - das weiß schon jedes Kind -
Fahrräder sehr geeignet sind:
Sie bringen, wenn wir Pedalieren,
das Herz vom Trab zum Galoppieren
und halten so durch schnellen Lauf
des Blutes die Verkalkung auf.
Auch bringen sie die Muskeln, Sehnen
zum Kontrahieren und zum Dehnen.
Das wieder steigert den Verbrauch
von Kalorien, was den Bauch
schön fest macht, ebenso die Hüften.
Auch ist man draußen und kann lüften,
hat Sauerstoff und Sonne pur,
genießt die Schönheit der Natur.