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Club Background
Alt-Washingtonia Schuhplattler- Verein's roots go back to post-World War II days when our founder, Dave Rosenberg, came to Washington, D.C. A Bostonian of Bavarian descent, he was already known as a pioneer and influential leader of the international folk dance community. He became associated with a group of men from Bad Tölz, Bavaria, who had come to the nation's capital following World War I and had danced together on and off over the years. They shared their knowledge and experience in Platteln, costumes, and crafts of their homeland with Dave. Many of these early sessions were held in the old German Embassy.
Dave Rosenberg
Over the next few years Dave Rosenberg developed a group composed of newly arrived German immigrants as well as other German-Americans. He supervised the growth of the organization, recruiting and teaching members and obtaining authentic costumes. He built the group's repertoire by researching, filming, and recording dances, music, and Alpine folklore material both in Europe and the United States.
Under the name “Tiroler Schuhplattler-Verein: with Dave Rosenberg as Vorplattler, the group was the first to bring Schuhplatteln and Bavarian folklore to the attention of the general public and the large German community in the Washington-Baltimore area. After a couple of changes, the group was finally named "Alt Washingtonia Schuhplattler Verein,” the group continued to influence the growth of interest in Platteln with regular performances in Washington, D.C.; at the Deutsches Haus in Baltimore, Maryland; Blob's Park in Jessup, Maryland; and even as far away as Wheeling, West Virginia, and Richmond, Virginia.
Over the years Dave continued his involvement in international folklore. He served as founder and director of the annual National Capital's Festival of All Nations; was coordinator of the President's Christmas Pageant of Peace on the Washington Monument grounds; and participated in the Cultural Olympics of the University of Pennsylvania and the Smithsonian Institution's Folklife Festival. He made presentations at national and international meetings such as the annual conventions of Sister Cities International. He focused, however, on Bavarian traditions and with the group, presented hundreds of performances at schools, universities, churches, and social clubs.
In 1974 Dave was recognized for his long-time dedication and service as our Vorplattler and an ambassador of goodwill by being presented the Officier Bundesverdienstkreuz Erste Klasse from the president of West Germany. He is the first Schuhplattler in the United States to be so honored.
Rudy Poelsterl
Rudy X. Poelsterl, a native of München, joined the Verein in 1958 and served as president for eighteen years until his untimely death in 1979. He helped set our pattern of preserving Bavarian customs – the blending of songs, music, dance, and Gemütlichkeit that marks the Alt-Washingtonia Group. He returned to Germany many times, establishing contacts with Bavarian officials and Schuhplattler- and Trachtenvereine. He demonstrated to Bavarian organizations and suppliers that German-Americans were truly interested in maintaining the old traditional customs of their homeland. This encouraged the Bavarians a growing number of Bavarian organizations to view the North American Trachtler with more respect.
Our Philosophy
Alt-Washingtonia Schuhplattler Verein, Inc. was incorporated as a Federally recognized non-profit organization, for tax purposes, in January 1978, when the group began a concentrated effort to expand its presentations to cover a wide variety of Alpine folk music and dance. Under the combined leadership of Vorplattler Rosenberg and Music Director and Vortänzerin Betty Heyman, the Verein's presentations now more strongly emphasized traditional musical instruments, yodeling, Berglieder, and folk theater, as well as Plattler and figure dances.
These presentations echo our group's goals, which have always been definite. They are well stated in the articles of incorporation:
The purposes and objectives are to investigate, preserve, teach, perform, and perpetuate for the people of the United States the contributions to American culture of the traditional customs, costumes, language, music, songs, dances, arts, and crafts of Bavaria and Austria in particular and of Germany in general, and to encourage both the study of, and participation in, the cultural aspects of Alpine folklore.
Because we are located in the nation's capital, we have adopted the flag of the District of Columbia to represent our group, awaiting the time we can reach the goal of creating our own design.
The Family Connection
Alt-Washingtonia has, throughout its history, stressed family connections. Second- and third generation members are now active in the group. For example, a recent Vorplattler, Fritz Edler, has danced with the group since birth. His still active parents, Karl and Barbara, were among the original members of the Tiroler Schuhplattler-Verein. Our members and friends traditionally gather as an expanded family group at annual events such as Thanksgiving and Easter to celebrate the holiday with both a feast and a Schützenfest. Our children are an integral part of our group, taking a material role in the many family-centered performances and activities. Even today, we are working on our fourth generation of dancers and talented young musicians.
Community Involvement
The Verein also emphasizes community involvement. We continue the practice begun in the immediate postwar years with a series of annual events. The group regularly performs in Jessup Maryland, at Blob's Park, where Bavarian customs have been preserved since the early 1920's.
For several decades, Blob's Park has featured our members under Dave Rosenberg's leadership. They perform during the Oktoberfest and the Maifest, at the Sonnenwendfeier in June and at Fasching festivities, and during the Christmas season. At Christmas time, the Verein's members provide traditional live music and games for the children and play the parts of both Santa Claus and St. Nikolas to share the spirit of holiday giving.
During the busy Oktoberfest season, Alt-Washingtonia takes part in the festivities at such varied locales as the German Embassy, Washington Arts Club, the German Historical Society Headquarters in Philadelphia, the National Press Club, and the Naval Officers club. Year after year we return to these places to provide our special brand of Gemütlichkeit. Along with the repeat appearances to these venues, we are consistently broadening our exposure to additional sites, to further the special brand of Gemütlichkeit started by Rudy and Dave.
The Verein emphasizes the taking of opportunities to visit and also host other groups from across North America and the Continent. Alt-Washingtonia delegations have gone to every Gaufest and to most Fahnenweihen, and its officers attend and actively participate in the Gau-delegates meetings held for furthering Gauverband goals.
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