Kinderfest at the Hansa Haus

This was not just their annual Kinderfest but also the 15th Anniversary of the Weiss-Blau Bayern - Brampton.

It was of special surprise to me to watch some of the many pictures Echo Germanica had taken being displayed on the big screen in the Hansa Haus.
Each picture not only let me re-experience the time and place, standing or kneeling while taken that picture but also he emotion and admiration I  felt when I shot that image. And I realized that the emotion I felt at the time was always one of pleasure.
It is therefore that I congratulate especially the founding members of the Weiss-Blau Bayern for their outstanding commitment to each other and each new member that joined, the willingness with which they handled with great affinity, reality and communication the difficulties that crossed their pass, their love for the children and their professionalism.
This deserves truly a "very well done"!
Rolf Rentmeister

Dick reports...Kinderfest at the Hansa Haus

The Weiss-Blau Bayern Juniors' Kinderfest took place, as usual, on the first Sunday in May at the Hansa Haus, Brampton.

The "Kinderfest" groups of dancers

The annual Kinderfest is a festival for children, focusing on traditional folk dance performed by children and youth dance groups. It had its roots in Germany and, like many traditions, was brought along to Canada by the immigrants. What makes this Kinderfest different is that it not only staged for German heritage dance groups but – since this is multicultural society – it seemed only fitting to invite children from other ethnic dance groups to come and celebrate with the Bavarian Juniors in a unique and non-competitive fun environment.

Henry Lopez, the M.C. for the afternoon, mentioned in his opening address "Our goal today is to provide a venue in which we can display, share and celebrate our respective cultural backgrounds through dance and music while promoting fellowship, interaction and friendship. We feel it is important for our children to learn and help preserve our traditions, as they are our future. Let us help them be proud of their heritage and have fun in the process." He also greeted some of the Weiss Blau Bayern alumni, past presidents such as Erika Compregher, Diana Kladiakovic as well as Carmen Harany, the current president, who was also honoured by the Hansa Club at its recent anniversary dinner– who all helped make this group what it is today. He also thanked Peter Henkel for providing the musical background when required.

After the ‘march-in’ of the participating groups, Rainer Walter, president of the Hansa Club, welcomed the assembly and after clearing the dance floor, the hosts performed the first – but not the last in a series of dances.

The hosts, being the Weiss-Blau Bayern Junior Schuhplattler - Brampton, performed on this day three variations, one by the Juniors, the second a girl-boy-girl humorous episode, the third with former members.

Weiss-Blau Bayern Juniors
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A humorous episode
Dance with former members

The Hula San Village Dance Troupe in turn followed them. They have been spreading their love of Polynesia since 2002 in Mississauga and have performed in many events in the community since then.

Hula San Village Dance Troupe

The next group in the program was the Latvian children’s folkdance group Menestins, who range in ages from 5 to 15 year olds.

"Menestins" Latvian Children's Folk Dance Group  - Toronto

The KG Loreley Youth Dancers are actually a spin-off of the original prize-winning carnivalistic Girl-Guards – founded in 1970 - and now encompass seniors, juniors and a Kinder and Kindertots Dance Group as well. They charmed the audience with some wonderful show dances and – of course – a Guard Dance. (Their ‘Seniors’ Can-Can show dance is legendary and has to be seen to be believed.)
Here they brought us four performances, one by Kinder Group before and one after the intermission, one by the Showdance Dancers and after the intermission another by the Garde.

Club Loreley Youth Dancers  Kinder
Loreley Showdance
Loreley Kinder
Loreley Garde

After the intermission it was the Kitchener Donauschwaben Club’s turn to fascinate the guests. Their goal is to provide a fun and exciting cultural experience for the children and youths while teaching them how to dance and be part of the ‘Danube Swabian’ heritage

Kitchener Schwaben Club Kindergruppe & Jugendgruppe

Some of the most beautiful costumes in evidence this afternoon were those of the Club Hispano dancers. The Hispano Club is Toronto’s largest Spanish social and cultural centre since 1964.

Club Hispano Spanish Dancers - Toronto

The next event looked like chaos to the uninitiated. The various groups all got on the dance floor together and each was instructed to pick a dance partner from one of the other groups. That was great fun and apparent by the reactions of the kids that they also thought that it was ‘cool’.

Pick a partner from the other group

Thanks to Danielle Bourre – you may remember her singing with the Harmonie Brass Showband in the past – the door prizes were 4 passes to the CNE this year, gift baskets by Brandt Meat, and the Tombola prizes were also more ‘child oriented’.

Danielle Bourre invites to the CNE

The final excitement of the event was the Piñata game that almost everyone was waiting for. It was not easy to hit the piñata with a stick - even if your eyes were not covered like they were last year – yes, some of the kids remembered. But when they finally got to scramble for the candy out of the "Sun", one of the youngsters told me that the piñata last year was a moon! I didn’t even remember this! Must be getting old!

Piñata game

By the way, there is more fun in store for music lovers. On Tuesday, May 19^th from 4:00 to 10:00 pm there will be a ‘Styrian Harmonika Workshop’ by the Austrian musician Peter Lamprecht at the Hansa Haus. If you need more info call the club at 905-564-0060 or e-mail info@hansahaus.ca. or peter.lamprecht@sympatico.ca or call 905-567-0054.

As always

Dick Altermann