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History
The Swiss Folk Dance Club Alpenroesli was formed in November 1981 by 9
members of the Swiss Club Matterhorn, Calgary Alberta. The founders of our club
were: Maya Ackermann, Margot Bigler, Kaethi Gyger, Roesli Rutzer, Helga Wagner
and Li Zahnd and by November 1981 Marianne Spielmann, Edith Furber and Maria
Krohmer had joined. Naegli Nigg played the Schwyzeroergeli and Heidi Arikan the
Accordeon. Still actively involved with dancing are Kaethi, Helga, Li, Edith and
Maria.
Folk Dance in Switzerland is an art form that continues to change and develop both in form and function. The main elements and dance forms have their roots in the 18th and 19th century. They are: the "Schottisch, Walzer, Laendler, Marsch and Polka". Most of the dances the club performs have been created during the past 100 years and include both very traditional old dances as well as contemporary dances to popular folk songs.
The dances and the colorful mosaic of the different
regional traditional dresses (Tracht) represent a small sample of the diversity of Switzerland (a country that fits 16 times into Alberta.)
Some of our dancers had their "Tracht" handed down from mothers or grandmothers.
The club is the only Swiss folk dance group in Canada. The group has been able to participate at the Unspunnen Fest in Interlaken, Switzerland in 2007 where the dancers had the opportunity to showcase their skills and learn more about the development of Swiss folk dancing. The Club also performed at the North American Yodeling Fest in Banff in 2009. The highlight in 2010 was our participation at the Eidgenoessische Trachtenfest in Schwyz, Switzerland. This event happens only every 12 years!
This year.....2011....The Swiss Folk Dance Club Alpenroesli
................is celebrating its 30th Anniversary!
Folk Dance in Switzerland is an art form that continues to change and develop both in form and function. The main elements and dance forms have their roots in the 18th and 19th century. They are: the "Schottisch, Walzer, Laendler, Marsch and Polka". Most of the dances the club performs have been created during the past 100 years and include both very traditional old dances as well as contemporary dances to popular folk songs.
The dances and the colorful mosaic of the different
regional traditional dresses (Tracht) represent a small sample of the diversity of Switzerland (a country that fits 16 times into Alberta.)
Some of our dancers had their "Tracht" handed down from mothers or grandmothers.
The club is the only Swiss folk dance group in Canada. The group has been able to participate at the Unspunnen Fest in Interlaken, Switzerland in 2007 where the dancers had the opportunity to showcase their skills and learn more about the development of Swiss folk dancing. The Club also performed at the North American Yodeling Fest in Banff in 2009. The highlight in 2010 was our participation at the Eidgenoessische Trachtenfest in Schwyz, Switzerland. This event happens only every 12 years!
This year.....2011....The Swiss Folk Dance Club Alpenroesli
................is celebrating its 30th Anniversary!