Office Hours:
Monday-Thursday 9am-4pm
Dutch Dance
Dutch Dance Schedule
In 1933 High school gym teacher Ethel Perry trained twelve students to perform Dutch folk dances. The dancers were called the “Dutch Villagers” and performed to the tune of “Where, Oh Where, Has My Little Dog Gone?” Originally the dancers’ costumes were delft blue with white organdy caps and aprons. Today’s dancers wear costumes patterned after the traditional dress of the Dutch provinces. Each costume is handmade by local seamstresses and carefully inspected before it can be worn in the Klompen Dance performances. There are over 1,100 Klompen Dancers, including 675 alumni and community dancers.
To view a complete listing of the Dutch Dance Schedule please click below.
Dutch Dance Costume Closet
The Dutch Dance Costume Closet was created because of the generous donation of an anonymous donor. We need the community’s support to help develop this wonderful new program.
DONATIONS!
The Dutch Dance Costume Closet
Make a donation to help assist a new Dutch Dancer, with financial hardships, get a Dutch Dance Costume. Any donation amount is accepted – no minimum or limit. ALL DONATIONS ARE TAX DEDUCTABLE and as a donor, you receive applicable federal and state tax benefits. Your donation will help make our vision a reality in providing students the opportunity to participate in one of Holland’s nationally recognized activities Dutch Dancing.
Please make checks payable to: The Community Foundation of Holland/Zeeland Area Costume fund. Mail to: The Community Foundation, 70 West 8th St., Suite 100, Holland, MI 49423. Donations will be forwarded to the Tulip Time Festival Office by The Community Foundation.
Dutch Dance Style Show
NEW LOCATION......NEW DAY.....NEW TIME
Date: Tuesday, January 20, 2009 at 7:30pm
SNOW DATE: Thursday, January 22, 2009 at the same time and location.
Location: The Gathering Place, located at Christ Memorial Church 595 Graafschap Rd Holland, MI 49423
(Map Link: www.christmemorial.org/index.php?/category/about/topic/directions/)
Come for a fun night at our new location! Besides seeing various options for all 16 costumes, and taking a (sometimes humorous) inside look at the Dutch Dance program, see what's “new” in Dutch Dance, and look ahead with us as we anticipate the 75th Anniversary of Dutch Dance, in 2010.
This annual event is open to the public and free of charge!
Alumni Dutch Dance
Organizational Meeting TBA
Inspection: Thursday March 26, 2009
Practices for 2009 at Holland Civic Center:
March 18, March 25, April 1, April 15, April 22
Dutch Dance At Your Event
Our dancers perform at festivals, parades, weddings, anniversaries, reunions, as well as national and international events. To bring the Tulip Time Klompen Dancers to your special event, please contact: Judy Tuinenga, Dutch Dance Program Director, Tulip Time Festival, Inc., 238 South River Avenue, Holland, MI 49423, (616) 396-4221 ext. 114 or (800) 822-2770, judy [at] tuliptime [dot] com
DutchDance.org
Find Dancer Information, Costume Information, and Costume & Dance Instructor Information at www.DutchDance.org
Dutch Costumes
The Netherlands is divided into 12 provinces, 7 of which are represented in costume by the dancers in our festival. Many people are curious as to how the costumes are made and their cost. Each one of the dancers costumes is hand made to fit that individual, at an average cost of $60-$100 for fabric. In addition, wooden shoes, and in some cases, specially crafted hats or other accessories must be purchased. If the dancer or a family member makes the costume, they will save money in seamstress fees which vary from $70-$85 per costume, depending on the complexity of the costume. Total costume costs, including seamstress fees, shoes and all accessories range from $180-$240 per costume.
Dancer costumes are cut from hand made patterns, available only from the Tulip Time costume directors. Before a dancer can perform, the costume is inspected to assure that it meets the standard for authenticity and construction.
Community Dutch Dance
For those adults who have always wanted to learn Dutch Dancing but never had the opportunity, The Tulip Time Community Dutch Dance program is for you! Practices are held twice weekly, in the evenings, from January through mid-March and weekly thereafter, until the festival. Please also keep in mind that attendance at the Dutch Dance Style Show held in January is strongly recommended.
Organizational Meeting: Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2008 - 7 p.m. at Tulip Time Festival Office
Snow Date: Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2008 - 7 p.m. at Tulip Time Festival Office
Practices will be held at East K-8th, 373 E. 24th St., Holland, MI.
Monday and Thursday evenings beginning on January 5, 2009.
Community Dutch Dance costume inspection will be held on March 5, 2009.
