Dance
S.G.T.V. Alpenblumen Schuhplatters
"The auerhahn is a wary bird, but love is its undoing.
The only time a hunter can approach is during its song of wooing."
- Virginia Kraft
A Schuhplattler performance is a window into Germany’s ancient past. The Schuhplattler (“shoe-slapping”) dance is believed to be the oldest surviving folk dance, dating to the Neolithic period. The men's plattler (series of shoe, thigh, and ground-slapping movements) mimics the behavior of the auerhahn (Tetrao urogallus) during its courtship ritual. This canny and extremely elusive grouse is found today primarily in Austria. During the throes of courtship, however, the auerhahn drops its guard and can then, and only then, be felled by hunters.
Schuhplattler Tracht (costume) preserves the association with the feather in the cap and the man’s arm (bent with the thumb tucked under) representing the wing of the auerhahn. His strutting entrance and screeching calls echo the cries and primal sounds heard in the mysterious Alpine forest. Originally a solo men’s dance, women later accompanied the men with a series of turns and spinning movements.
Announced by the procession of the Münchner Kindl through the club, the S.G.T.V. Alpenblumen will perform the traditional Holtzhacker (woodcutter’s trade dance) and modern Bankltanz (bench dance) to live music. The Kindergruppe (children’s group) will demonstrate a courtship dance.
Following the performance, the Norwegian musical trio SAMspill will perform a series of traditional Scandinavian dance tunes. Bring your dance shoes!
Exact times of performances TBA. Please check back soon.
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