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North American Federation of German Folk Dance Groups

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2001 Seminar: Dances, Folklore and Crafts of Germany's Slavic Minority:
The Wends and the Sorbs

Sabine and Frank Sieg

Cottbus, Germany

February 16-18, 2001

The 7th Annual Folkdance weekend of the North American Federation of German Folkdance Groups featured dances, folklore and crafts of the Wends and the Sorbs. It took place the weekend of February 16 to 18. It was hosted by the Texas Wendish Heritage Museum in Giddings, TX (near Austin).
Rt 2, Box 155
Giddings, TX 78942-9769
(Maps: wide view, medium view, very fine detail)

Program
The program began on Friday afternoon, with several crafts to explore the folk culture of the Wends and Sorbs - Germany's Slavic minority. Crafts included
decorated butter gifts ,
'Sroki' magpies (dough chicks) ,
and dyed eggs painted with feathers (these are similar to the famous Ukranian eggs, but a little diferent).

through dance workshops, craft sessions, costume exhibits, 'Culture Corner', Museum tour and an opportunity to browse through the costume library. Friday evening there were two hours of "get acquainted" dancing with light instruction at the American Legion Hall in Giddings. This hall is where the rest of the weekend events took place.

Saturday had dance workshops during the day. and Saturday evening was the the dance party and banquet. Most attendees wore their folk costume or other festive folk dance clothes for the Saturday banquet and dance party. The dance band for Saturday night was the Czech Melody Masters out of Austin, TX.

Sunday morning the weekend closed with final workshops and the annual membership meeting of the NAFGFDG after lunch.

For information please contact
Beulah Dicus
Tel. 830-606-0844
dicus@swbell.net

Tel: 860-875-3559
Fax: 860-875-0595

Tel. 979-366-2441
Fax 979-366-2805

Partial list of dances taught:

Anka, ty sy kotowrotna (Anka, don't turn so clu...)
Annemarie
Comej mej do drjewa
Do Njabozkojc (To Nauendorf)
Graf von Luxemburg-Luxemburgska
Hory modre, ja was znaju (Blue Hills I know you)
Ja mam lubku z Bagneca (I have a sweetheart)
Marijanka
Medley of Sorbish Dances
Moja Marka, pojz by ze mnu (Come with me)
Och rozmilona luba moja (Oh my dearest girl)
Polski muz (The Polish Chap)
Rediwa
Schustertanz-Sewc (Schoemakers Dance)
Serbska reja (Sorbish Dance)
Slawkojc mama
Sluzylia Anka
Stup dalej (Keep moving)

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