Tulip Time Festival Celebrates Dutch Dance Anniversaries, Announces Important Upcoming Dutch Dance Meetings and Official Launch of Kinder Dutch Dance
HOLLAND, MI - November 19, 2009. The 2010
Tulip Time Festival marks the 75th year of Dutch Dancing, 40th year of Alumni
Dancers and 35th year of male participation in Dutch Dance.
The history of Dutch Dance
began in 1935 with local high school girls performing at the Tulip
Time Festival. They were dressed in costumes and were called “Klompen Dancers.”
The precursor to these Dancers began 2 years earlier when a high school gym
teacher Ethel Perry trained twelve students to perform Dutch Folk dances. The
Dancers, then called the “Dutch Villagers”, performed to the tune of “Where, Oh
Where, Has My Little Dog Gone?" but did not perform as part of the
Festival. Originally the dancers’ costumes were delft blue with white organdy
caps and aprons. In 1953 a compilation of Dutch Folk music was created, Dutch
Dance as we know it was choreographed and standards for costumes were
developed. Over the years, as information became available, additional costumes
were added and revisions were made. Today’s Dancers wear costumes patterned
after the traditional dress of the Dutch Provinces. Each costume is handmade by
local seamstresses and carefully inspected before it can be worn in the Dutch
Dance performances. There are currently over 1,300 Dutch Dancers!
In celebrating Dutch Dance
history, the Tulip Time Festival is pleased to announce the official launch of Kinder
Dutch Dance. Children in 3rd, 4th or 5th grade are
invited to participate. Children from the greater Holland/Zeeland area schools,
church groups, neighborhood groups or any community group are invited to
participate in this parent sponsored and supported activity. Without
parental/guardian support Kinder Dutch Dance cannot take place. An adult
informational meeting will be held at Herrick Library Auditorium, in downtown
Holland, from 6:30-7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, December 1, 2009. Registration will
begin immediately following the meeting and end December 10, 2009. The program is open to a limited number
of participants.
Updated Marken and Friesland costumes will also be revealed at the 2010
Festival. If you would like a preview of the updated costumes you can visit the
window display exhibit, sponsored by Fields Fabric, at the Tulip Time Festival
office located on the corner of River Ave. & 10th St. The costume window
exhibit begins this Friday, November 20, 2009.
IMPORTANT DUTCH DANCE
DATES AND INFORMATION:
Community Dutch Dance: Tulip Time Festival Community Dutch Dance program is
for adults who have always wanted to Dutch Dance but never had the opportunity!
To register for the 2010 Community Dutch Dance program, contact Biz at 335-2161
or ebizaterhaar@gmail.com. Please
be sure to put "Community Dutch Dance" in the subject line. Registration
for Community Dutch Dance closes on December 1st. An organizational meeting
will be held on Wed. Dec. 9, 2009 at 7 p.m. Location will be provided after
registration.
Alumni Dutch Dance
Meeting: Will be held February 24,
2010. More details will be available at a later date.
Dutch Dance Costume
Closet: The Tulip Time Festival
Costume Closet is open to those who are committed to participating in the Dutch
Dance Program but are unable to do so due to financial hardship. A supportive donation towards the
Costume Closet will provide a dancer the opportunity to actively participate in
this unique cultural community event. All donations are tax deductible and may
be sent to Tulip Time Festival, Attn: Accounting/Costume Closet, 238 S. River
Ave, Holland, MI 49423. Any
donation amount is accepted. For more information contact Pat VanderSchel
399-8110.
For all other questions
regarding Dutch Dance please contact Judy Tuinenga, Tulip Time Festival, Dutch
Dance Program Director, judy@tuliptime.com
or 396.4221 x114.
The 2010 Tulip Time Festival
is May 1-8. For more information
on the Tulip Time Festival call 800.822.2770 or visit www.tuliptime.com.
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