German-Austrian Folk Dance Association
Tanz Treffen 2000

Friday, June 16th was quite a stormy day here in Cleveland, but several of the GAFDA members ventured out to our club for a little gathering and dancing. The Gottscheer Tanz und Spielkreis hosted the "Tanztreffen 2000". It was quite an eventful weekend.

Members of the GAFDA came out on June 17, 2000 at around 7:30 a.m. for breakfast and the dancing started around 8:30 a.m. Including the Gottscheer Tanz und Spielkreis, we had approximately 48 people in attendance. I myself did not participate in the dancing with the exception of one dance, since I was busy with the preparation of the meals. From what I saw from the back of the hall, everyone had a terrific time and the dances being taught were excellent. Michael Gelman was an excellent instructor. It was also nice to see Morry Gelman, he too was excellent with his instructions. All in all everyone had a wonderful time and everyone learned quite a bit.

The instructors -- Michael Gelman, Morry Gelman, Carol and Herbert Traxler, Lois Lynch, Ginvor and Pete Bullard, and Margit Grajzl -- we thank. Also, Herb Traxler and Alfons Schermaier had some songs ready for the singing in the Music room right after lunch.

The day of the dancing instructions ended at around 3:30 p.m. and everyone went back to the hotel to get ready for the evening program and dance. Guests started to arrive at approximately 5:30 p.m. and dinner was served at 6:30 p.m. Dinner was delicious as always; the ladies in the kitchen, who are members of the Ladies Auxiliary (I am President of that group), did a wonderful job in preparing the meal with the greatest love and care. The program then started at 8 p.m.

The program was put together by Margit Grajzl and Alfons Schermaier. They are just unbelievable when it comes to assembling a program such as the "Summer Solstice". They have the knowledge and know how. We all appreciate their efforts. They spent endless hours in preparation for this program, and also in getting the stage ready. They also practice on a weekly basis with the Hausmusik (Monday evening is their practice night), and one can see what they present is really done in the greatest of care. They are a plus to our club, whenever we have a function, the Hausmusik is always ready to participate. Then we have Ed Seifert, who plays the button box. Ed is also the President and Director of our Gottscheer Brass Band. He does an excellent job with that group, they will be in existence 30 years this August. Ed devoted all of his life to the Brass Band and is still doing it. We have such great talent in our group, that is the reason we are able to present such wonderful programs to our guests.

The dancing at the intermission was really wonderful, I observed the guests in the hall, they truly enjoyed watching the group's performance. All in all, it was a wonderful two days and the finale was tremendous; everyone is still talking about these two days of the "Tanztreffen".

We thank all of the instructors, the attendees, the Tanz und Spielkreis for all of the help that was given to each of us. It will not be a forgotten weekend by any means.

We thank all of the guests from out of town, they were the highlight of it all. Programs such as you saw that weekend require a lot of work, but they are enjoyable. Then when you see the faces of the little children as they perform, that is meaningful, since they will be our future. Hopefully from what you saw at our club is just a beginning of it all.

We again thank you for participating and coming to our program, we thoroughly enjoyed it.

And of course, I personally would like to thank our president and dance instructor, Margit Grajzl, for putting in all these endless hours, just to instruct the children and the young, and of course the adults. Without Margit and without Alfons Schermaier's help and their spouses, it would be almost impossible to have such a group and to have such wonderful programs. We also must not forget to thank our President, Joe Sieder and the members of the EOUV club, for all the support they always give us. We especially are very fortunate that they have such a wonderful home for us, where we are able to practice and then eventually perform, and where guests are always welcome and are happy to be there. We are just a very fortunate people, the Gottscheers and their members are hard working people, they come from all walks of life and all different countries, since they married into the Gottscheer nationality. Through the members we met up with so many other different nationalities, who are an asset to our club. God has been very good to us.

Thanks again GAFDA for coming and getting a taste of our club life, we hope this will repeat itself sometime soon.

With best regards and dancing feet, I remain respectfully yours

Hilde Kobetitsch, Secretary of the Gottscheer Tanz und Spielkreis

Videotape of Tanz Treffen 2000