That Middle-European Butt-Slapping Dance
Ashley Yakeley
TV. All I remember was that it was performed by men wearing shorts, had a
hearty (rather than bawdy) jolly middle-European peasant feel (German,
Swiss, Austrian or maybe Belgian) and involved lots of slapping --
themselves and each other -- with at one point involving two men slapping
each other's butts, one standing holding on to the other, who was inverted
with his legs around the first. Maybe it also involved lederhosen,
accordians & beer, I don't remember.
Anyway, my friends think the idea's a product of my fevered and repressed
imagination, so I'm looking for video evidence or at least a clue as to
what the dance is called and where it comes from.
--
Ashley Yakeley, Seattle WA
bar...@rpi.edu
Ashley,
Here is a response, I'm posting for a friend who had more time to write an
eloquent response.
- Elisa
bar...@rpi.edu
http://www.rpi.edu/~barnee2/GermanaiHall/dance_german.html
>From "Morrison, Erech: ATB" <Morriso...@ic.gc.ca>
Thank you for expressing interest in the Schuhplattler. My purpose in
writing you is to let you know that the dance to which you refer is
called the "Schuhplattler", direct translation "shoe-slapping". I
would like to take a few moments to brief you on the derivation of these
dances, and the movement behind their preservation.
The Schuhplattler is a traditional folkdance from the Alpine regions of
Europe, mainly Bavaria, a province of Germany.
There are over 85 Groups (Vereine) in North America, and perhaps 800 in
Europe (mostly Bavaria) organized to perform these dances, which are
steeped in tradition and the culture of the region. The performing
members of these Vereine main objective is to preserve Bavarian (and
Tirolian) traditions through these dances, costume (which differs from
region to region), music, language (dialect), and song. Competition
Schuhplattler (Schuhplatteln) are conducted throughout Germany and North
America, and prizes are awarded to the best traditional performance.
There are 17 Associations in Europe which organize the Vereine there,
and there is one association in North America called the Gauverband
Nordamerika, Inc.
In North America, these competitions are conducted every two years, with
the next one planned for St. Paul, Minnesota on the July 1-4, 1999.
There are many inter-regional and local festivals also conducted at
various times during the year, and many groups perform at Oktoberfests
or other special Bavarian, Tirolian functions. Most of these are open
to the general public.
There is a form of Schuhplattler called the Watschenplattler
(smacking-slapping), which involves smacking butts, faces, and sometimes
involving upside down movements. With all due respect, these kinds of
performances are aberations of the original Schuhplattler, and are
derived from well-meaning but misguided individuals, intended strictly
for the purposes of pleasing/entertaining tourists. They are not what
we call "Echt" (true) to the "Heimat" (homeland). Also they are
discouraged by associations on both sides of the Atlantic. Few of our
North American member Vereine (groups) would perform such a dance.
True Schuhplattler, without the butt and face smacking, is a serious
form of traditional folkdancing and should not be equated with the
Watschenplattler.
We have passed along your e-mail to one of Taenzerin, Carolyn Marquardt,
who is 1.Vorstand (President) of Enzian Schuhplattler, a group based on
Seattle. She is planning to invite you to one of their practices to
complement the information I have provided you here.
You may also wish to dial into our Web Site located at the following:
http://www.paterson.k12.nj.us/~gau/
At that site you will learn a lot about our Bavarian and Tirolian
cultural objectives, and through our Library, all about our costume
(Tracht), music, the various dances, songs, schedule of functions, and
the Vereine in North America.
Should you have any further questions, do not hesitate to contact me.
Once again, thank you for your enquiry, and for providing me this
opportunity to clear up an all-too-prevalent misunderstanding about
Bavarian/Tirolian culture and heritage.
Mit freundlichem Trachtengruss, (direct translation - with friendly
greetings from the traditional costume).
Erech Morrison
1.Vorstand
G.T.E.V. Maple Leaf Almrausch
Ottawa, Canada.
-----== Posted via Deja News, The Leader in Internet Discussion ==-----
http://www.dejanews.com/rg_mkgrp.xp Create Your Own Free Member Forum
Paul E Frick
Ashley Yakeley <Ash...@halcyon.com> wrote in article
<AshleyB-2008...@blv-lx103-ip1.nwnexus.net>...
> A few years ago I saw a strange butt-slapping folk-dance performance on
> TV. All I remember was that it was performed by men wearing shorts, had a
> hearty (rather than bawdy) jolly middle-European peasant feel (German,
> Swiss, Austrian or maybe Belgian) and involved lots of slapping --
> themselves and each other -- with at one point involving two men slapping
> each other's butts, one standing holding on to the other, who was
inverted
> with his legs around the first. Maybe it also involved lederhosen,
> accordians & beer, I don't remember.
>
> Anyway, my friends think the idea's a product of my fevered and repressed
> imagination, so I'm looking for video evidence or at least a clue as to
> what the dance is called and where it comes from.
>
> --
> Ashley Yakeley, Seattle WA
>
I sent you an explanation of the "BOTTOM PLATTLE" performed by many German
and Austrian Folk Dance groups. Find picture on LITTLE GERMAN BAND of
Raleigh NC web site. Under the DANCERS section picture shows Jim Oliver and
Bill Oram performing that bottom plattle. We do it as a part of our Bench
Dance.
Hope that will convince your friends of your sanity..pefrick@mindspring.com
Ashley Yakeley
<pef...@mindspring.com> wrote:
> I sent you an explanation of the "BOTTOM PLATTLE" performed by many German
> and Austrian Folk Dance groups. Find picture on LITTLE GERMAN BAND of
> Raleigh NC web site. Under the DANCERS section picture shows Jim Oliver and
> Bill Oram performing that bottom plattle. We do it as a part of our Bench
> Dance.
> Hope that will convince your friends of your sanity..pefrick@mindspring.com
>
> http://prime.agafx.com/prosit
Thank you. I found the image at
<http://www.agrafx.com/prosit/photo/96unk01.jpg>.