Description of the dancing group EDELWEISS KLAGENFURT
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The Edelweiss Folkdance Group was founded in 1936. Since then it has established a reputation for preserving traditional Carinthian dancing and is proud to bring back to life the Gailtal dress. The members of the group come from different backgrounds and work in different professions, all sharing the love for Carinthian traditions. Their enthusiasm for this dancing kept these traditions alive and vibrant.
Invited by the town of Klagenfurt, the group has travelled a lot through the world: from Mexico to Russia, from Turkey to Israel, to Tennessee and to Missouri, to Bahrain, to the United Arab Emirates, to Oman, to Syria, and to nearly all European countries.
Due to the dedication and the commitment of the preservation of the traditional practices, the city of Klagenfurt and the Province of Carinthia, hometown and homeland of the group, have honoured the folkdance group with the “Stadtwappen” (city shield) and “Landwappen” (country shield).
Short description of the Gailtal dresses
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The pride of the folkdance group is the original dress from the Gailtal. Each element of the dress is in conformity with the original cut and materials used throughout their heritage. The women’s dress consists of a short pleated skirt over several layers of petticoats. The upper part of the costume is more complex, consisting of an embroided tunic, which is worn over a blouse with puffy sleeves. The collar has broad wings at the neckline and continues in the neck nearly up to the waist in shape of a large V. A very colourful cloth is wrapped around the breast. Another silk scarf covers the head. The colourful and pleated aprons are held by a unique leather belt embroided with peacock feathers. The admirers give the woman the colourful ribbons attached to the right side of the belt. Stocking sewn with lappets are fastened with a red band just below the knee.
The men’s clothing reflects the traditional attire worn by carriage drivers. It consists of leather trousers, boots made from the made from fine leather and reaching up to the knee and a silk or velvet jacket worn over a linen white shirt. Above the jacket is worn a vest. A silk scarf is knotted around the neck. A wide brimmed black hat is worn. In winter a wooden cap is worn under the hat.
The Music The folkdance group includes a group of musicians, called the “ensemble Variable”. They provide the group with the authentic music for the dances. Each of the musicians plays a variety of instruments. They have won numerous at contests throughout Austria. |
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CARINTHIA / AUSTRIA
Carinthia is the most southern of Austria's nine regions. It is located south of the biggest mountain range of Europe, the Alps. With it's 9534 KM2 Carinthia is one of the smaller regions of Austria. It's form is like a rectangle, and the borders are formed by the mountains which are surrounding the country in each direction. With 3798 meters one of these mountains is the highest of Austria.
The climatical conditions are very different to the rest of Austria due to the conditions which seems like these of Italy, the temperatures are climbing up to 30 degrees Celsius in summer and are reaching down to 20 degrees Celsius below zero in winter so that the more then thousand lakes where you can swim in summer are frozen and the mountains covered with snow for skiing. Toady's economic life was earlier based on agriculture and forestry but during the years it changed to industry, trade and, but today most important, tourism. The summer tourism is located around the many lakes which are in the lower part of the country, where you can practice each kind of summer sport meanwhile the winter sport is located in the mountain where you can go for skiing up to more than 3000 meters.
Three important societies, the Slavian, the Romance and the German, formed the culture of the country, which you can see in the language, songs and the typical dances and original costumes of Carinthia.
To arrive
at Carinthia you have each possibility because the country is located
at the most important motor ways and railways of Europe. In Klagenfurt,
the capitol of Carinthia, is an airport from which you can reach the most
important airports of Europe. 