Sword Dance in Germany

          Sword dances are found in almost all European countries. Germany is no exception. We have early references to these dances but none, or sketchy, descriptions of the actual execution of the dance. Beginning in 1449 until 1539, the city of Numberg commissioned the documentation of the 'Schembart' processions, pre-Lenten parades staged by the trades­men's guilds of Nurnberg that resembled our contempo­rary Carnival parades.

          These documentations were in form of books which illustrated the costumes and formations of the various groups participating. These books also mention the names of the guild masters and their journeymen who marched. It was largely the guilds that staged the dances with the objective to represent their trade and to show their common interest.

        The dancers were linked by some object, swords, hoops, and in the case of the butchers guild, by leather rings that suggested sausages. In studying these illustrations one can see all the elements which we still see today in the various sword dances of European countries: there is the fool, the hobby horse, the man-woman, the bells and ribbons worn by the dancers.

       In all human societies, young single adult males gather together into loosely structured groups. In Germany they are called variously 'Knechtschaft', 'Rud', 'Zechen', 'Burschenschaft' etc. (the US we call them 'gangs') It is their job to organize dances and other public events for entertainment. When these young men get married, they drop out of the group.

          Beside the journeymen of various guilds, these informal young men's association used the dance as a means to show that they were united in some common cause or endeavor.

          Today we hitch the cart before the horse: the Sword dance no longer is a means to an end, but the end in itself.

        Over time the sword dance has become an elaborate event, with speeches, play acting, recitation and music..   The two best known Sword Dance groups in Germany are the 'Uberlinger Schwertlestanz Kompany' and the Traunsteiner Swerttanz Kompanie¹. Both groups are from southern Germany. The Uberlinger Kompanie was mentioned officially for the first time in the minutes of the City Council on the 8th of Feb., 1646; 'On the request of the single young men of this town, the Sword dance is permitted them between 12:00 and 5:00, but without musicians and social dancing with girls..'   While the dance was the prerogative of single men, it was later taken over by the guild of grape growers. It has remained to this day as the privilege of the those citizens who live in that part of the city which at one time was inhabited by vintners.

         In Traunstein the sword dance is first mentioned in the accounts of the city budget books from 1530. The bill states   '..to those young men who had the sword dance 1 Florin...'

          Today's sword dance was newly created in 1926 for the eight hundreds anniversary of the city. The costumes resemble the uniforms of the 'Landsknecht¹ (mercenaries) of the 30 years war. The dance is performed in conjunction with the 'Georgiritt¹ ( a horse procession in honor of St. George).   There are 16 dancers plus jesters, flag swingers, drummers and pipers. The presentation illustrates the battle between winter and summer; summer -of course- winning.

          Linked sword dances can be run, step-hoped or walked. The dancers are accompanied most often by fife and tabor, but some groups prefer the fuller sound of several instruments. There are even groups who don't use any musical accompa­niment, relying instead on the rhythmic, unified sound of their steps. Costuming is diverse as the groups which dance the dances. From medieval historical dress to simple black trousers and white shirts with sashes, anything goes. While the thought of death and resurrection strongly pervades British sword dances, German dancers are more given to making speeches. A characteristic of German dance is that the group interlocks their swords and hoists a speaker up above their heads. From here he will make a speech to the occasion, in someone's honor, or drink a toast. If there are two such groups dancing, the two leaders, standing on the locked swords might engage in a sword fight.

          During the last 20 years, German folk dance groups have taken more notice of this type of dance while Great Britain has always cultivated its ritual dance traditions, as did the Belgians. Recently England hosted an international gathering of Sword Dance groups which also was attended by German sword dancers. The British publication 'Rattle Up my Boys' ( a quarterly publication for those with an interest in sword dancing) reports on group activities and scheduled events. Indirectly it has been instrumental in establishing a network of sword dance groups all over Europe.

KPG

'Auf unsere alte Heimat auf Deutschland'-' To our new home, to America'

          The toast offered by the captains of the sword dance team of the Hartford CT.  Sängerbund