A touch of Bavaria returns to Bucks County this summer as the River Valley Schuhplattler Troupe don their lederhosen to perform at the Tinicum Arts Festival on July 11 and 12. (courtesy photo)
A touch of Bavaria returns to Bucks County this summer as the River Valley Schuhplattler Troupe don their lederhosen to perform at the Tinicum Arts Festival on July 11 and 12. The Schuhplattler is thought to be the oldest known European dance, dating from about 3000 BC, but the River Valley youngsters give a lively, contemporary rendition, filled with all manner of leaping, bouncing, stamping and choreographed horseplay.
The Schuhplattler kids, aged 8 to 11, are part of an after-school German club at River Valley Waldorf School in Upper Black Eddy. They performed their signature “River Valley Plattler” at Tinicum, the Peace Fair and other Bucks County venues last summer and fall. This year they are adding two new dances: the “Gamsprung” (Goat-Leap) and the “Reit im Winkel” (Ride-in-the-Corner). They will also be offering free Schuhplattler lessons to kids and adults who want to learn the famous Bavarian shoe-slapping dance.
Schuhplattler performances at the Tinicum Arts Festival will take place in the Discovery Tent at 2:15 p.m., on Saturday (July 11) and at 12 and 4:15 p.m., on Sunday (July 12).
For more information, call Peter Ray at 215-794-5816.