Dutch Folk-Dance group MARNIX

Introduction
Our plays
Our costumes
Information

Introduction

Dutch folk-dance Group MARNIX is a very special group: we show how wonderful Dutch dances are.

Our performances are small plays and each play tells a story. We have a play about sailors who go away to sea, leaving their wives all sad, but luckily returning (in a boat on stage!) to be reunited again. Or a play about farmers working on the fields, and celebrating at the fair that all work is done. Or a play which all kinds of old Dutch games and songs are performed.

We can perform six different plays; each one lasts about 20 minutes.
We use dancing, singing and various props in these plays. Our audiences are always very much taken by the liveliness, surprises and enthusiasm of our dancing.

Our goal is to promote Dutch dancing abroad. We have been to France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Denmark, Romania, Utah (USA) and Belgium. April 2007 we are participating in the World Folkdance Festival Mallorca. http://www.worldfolkdance.com

When we do a performance, we need about 30 minutes in between plays to change into another costume. If you want, our dancing instructor can dance with your guests during these breaks. We usually do two or three plays per performance.

The group consists of eighteen dancers and two musicians (violin and accordion). Together with people for management, dressing, props and sound, the total group comes about thirty people.

West

In this play, all kinds of games and dances are performed from the regions along the Dutch coast, including a windmill and a dance with a drunken sailor.
The dancers wear different costumes each from villages along the Dutch coast and the IJsselmeer.

East

After the work on the field is done, life really starts. During this play from the eastern part of Holland, you will be taken from autumn to winter and then to spring. There is skating; the midwinterhorn is blown and there are even witches present. Fortunately they disappear again and it's time to Easter, with a real Easter bonfire and eggs. Finally, the Count of the May-guild chooses his Countess and everyone dances around the May-pole.
Costumes worn are the ones from the Veluwe, all black with the Sunday lace caps.

Summer

It's midsummer. A fisherman tries to catch a fish, but catches a girl instead! The women do a dance with roses for the St. John feast. There's reaping and sowing on the field, and real scarecrows appear on stage. Finally, there is a fair, with games and dances.
This play is danced in the black Veluwe costumes, with the bonnet and apron used during the week.

Fisherman's Life

The fishermen are going to sea, leaving behind their wives. The wives wipe a tear away and go on with everyday life. They even comfort themselves with other men sailing in (in a real ship on stage). Luckily, their own men come home again and there's the joy of a safe return. Alas, such is a fisherman's life: the sea calls again.
But now the women want to come along too!
In this play, half of the women wear the costumes of Scheveningen, and the other half different costumes from the province of Zeeland with the beautiful big bonnets.

Rhythm of life


The play starts with a little baby, and all the family members come and visit the young family. The baby grows up and becomes a young woman, who chooses a Dutch farmer to be her husband. At the end, the wedding is celebrated. Costumes are from various regions of Holland.

Magic Lantern

The play starts with a photographer taking a picture of the whole group. Then everybody enjoys themselves with various games from grandmother's youth, like dances over clay pipes and pulling the rope.
This play is danced in beautiful costumes and hats, dating from 1895-1920, which gives a very nice view of the development of dresses in that period.

Our costumes

We take particular pride in our costumes. They are either authentic or made from old patterns with original cloth.
We use a different costume for each play. The costumes come from various regions in the Netherlands.
Before each performance, we tell the audience a lot of interesting details about our costumes.

Some examples:

Costumes from several villages along the Dutch coast.	A sailors costume, a farmers costume and costumes from several villages along the Dutch coast.
Costumes from Volendam	Costumes from Zeeland
A couple from the island Terschelling	A couple from Marken
Hindeloopen

Information

If you want more information about the Demonstration group Dutch, please mail to: demo@marnix-apeldoorn.nl