They already knew that music fraternizes, but that an international exchange brings so many beautiful new contacts and friendships, the Schermer dancers experienced to the fullest last weekend during their visit to Alkmaar's German partner City Darmstadt from 4 to 7 July.
The Fencer dancers were present at the Heinerfest at the invitation of Darmstadt. This festival was created 74 years ago to give the Darmstadters (the Heiner) courage and hope in the reconstruction after the city was completely destroyed by bombing at the end of the Second World War.
Official opening
The folklore group from De Schermer staged a beautiful performance during the official opening on Thursday 4 July. Also on Friday 5 and Saturday 6 July there were various presentations for a diverse group, in which not only the stage but also the forecourt was used. The group has created a beautiful Dutch picture. The Friedensplatz in Darmstadt had been converted into a festival site for the Heinerfest with a large stage for performances by music and dance groups. Around the festival site were wooden houses where the partner cities of Darmstadt could present themselves. In addition to a beautiful Alkmaar/Holland stand, which was of great interest, there were also presentations from Brescia (Italy), Saanen-Gstaad (Switzerland), Logroño (Spain) and Graz (Austria).
art Nouveau style
Of course, there was a city walk through the center of Darmstadt and there was a tour on the Mathildenhöhe, with a view of the Jugendstil dwellings of the Künstlerkolonie. This artists ' colony had been founded by Ernst-Ludwig Grand Duke of Hesse to introduce Art Nouveau/Jugendstil to Germany and had its heyday from 1898 to 1914.
Fraternization
The purpose of the visit was the fraternization and dissemination of Dutch folklore and culture. The contacts with the Darmstadters showed that this goal has been more than achieved. The fact that the weekend ended with a victory of the Orange team was a nice crowning of this wonderful weekend.
New generation
The group consisted of 29 dancers, including four musicians and five children. At some dances these children participated and at the beginning and end of the performances they carried the banner of the Schermer dancers and the flags of the Netherlands and Alkmaar. This made for a beautiful and attractive whole for young and old. Partly because of this, the idea of the jumelage thought was transferred to the new generation.
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