WHO WE ARE

S. G. Edelweiß-St. Paul was founded in 1961. Our purpose is to promote, through the instruction and performance of folk dancing, the appreciation and preservation of German and Austrian heritage, with the State of Bavaria as the main emphasis. We strive to uphold the customs and cultures of the Bavarian and Tyrolean people through the dances we perform and the clothing we wear. We have performed throughout the upper Midwest at many different celebrations and also across the United States and Canada. Our group has made two trips to Germany and Austria to learn more about the traditions, customs and dances. We have also performed at festivals held in Germany as a part of the celebrations of the groups we were visiting.

We are a family oriented organization. Our group consists of dancing and social members that range in age from toddlers to grandparents, all with the goal to uphold the traditions of the German and Austrian peoples. Our Kinder Gruppe (Children's Group) is comprised of school age children, ages 5-14. They perform a variety of dances from simple figure dances to the complicated Schuhplattler. In our Erwachsene Gruppe (Adult Group), we have members who have been dancing since their childhood as well as those who are just beginning.

WHAT WE WEAR

We take much pride in our “Tracht” or traditional regional costumes. We wear what is called a “Gebirgstracht” or “Mountain costume”, which has it’s origins in the Alpine regions in the State of Bavaria and the Tyrol in Austria. Considerable time has been spent researching our Tracht for authenticity.

The women's costumes are hand sewn to replicate our research, while the majority of the men's costume, such as the Lederhosen (leather pants), are ordered directly from Germany.

OUR DANCES

We perform dances such as the Laendler and the Schuhplattler. The Laendler is a figure dance with intricate figures and waltzing. The Schuhplattler (or shoe slapping dance) is a more complicated dance, with specific leg and shoe slaps required. Typically, in the Schuhplattler, the women turn for much of the dance while the men perform the slapping of the thighs and feet. Most of the dances are representative of a region or town and are usually named as such. The dances that we perform are traditional German and Austrian folk dances, most of which have been passed along from generation to generation. We also perform audience participation dances.

Membership/Booking Information

Our membership is open to anyone with a desire to uphold the customs and traditions that we strive to maintain.

We practice every Monday, beginning at 7:15 p.m. at The Klub Haus–1079 Rice Street-St. Paul

Contact Mark LaCourse (612)840-3431 for membership or booking information

S. G. Edelweiß
P.O. Box 211291
St. Paul. MN 55121