Liederkranz Youth Dance Group keeps German tradition alive

MANSFIELD - Kimberley Romoser and the Liederkranz Youth Dance Group are keeping old German traditions alive in Mansfield.

Romoser, who started dancing in the Liederkranz dance group when she was 4 years old, said she took on the role of dance leader about three months ago.

The original youth dance group was started sometime between 1972 and 1974, Romoser said. She started the new group about three months ago.

Romoser said she grew up at the Mansfield Liederkranz, 1212 Silver Lane, where the youth dance group practices. She danced in the group, her sisters danced in the group and now her kids dance in the group. Her daughter, Bailey Romoser, 14, is the ambassador of the Liederkranz Youth Dance Group. She said she travels to other states and cities to tell other Liederkranz clubs about what the dance group is doing, and tries to recruit kids. She stands in the front of the group, and announces dances to audiences.

"(Liederkranz Youth Dance Group) is really fun because it's outside of school, it's not a sport, and so I have friends I see outside of school," Bailey said.

The dance group performed in front of the new Brickyard stage in downtown Mansfield during a Final Friday concert this summer. Kimberley said that was the group's first community performance. She said they will perform at the Liederkranz club's annual Christmas party. Kimberley said Donauschwaben dance groups around the country meet annually for a dance competition. She said the last competition was held in California. She plans to take the youth dance group to a Donauschwaben competition in the future.

Mansfield Liederkranz is more than just a dance group, Kimberley said. It offers soccer and golf leagues, and serves as a place to form a family of friendship for those with German heritage in Mansfield. She said she wants more people to become involved with the organization.

"It's the best-kept secret in Mansfield," Kimberley said. "People who come here who are from my generation grew up here. There are so many people in Mansfield with German heritage who don't know about (Mansfield Liederkranz.)"

She said she loves teaching the kids different German dances.

"I love these kids," Kimberley said. "I've been friends with their parents for a long time."

Joel Vega, new member of the Mansfield Liederkranz, said he wants to contribute to the organization by leading choral groups and teaching old German songs. He said The Ohio State University-Mansfield has a lot of that music, which they obtained from the Mansfield Choral Society. He said he believes bringing back choral groups would be a great way to bring people to the Liederkranz. Kimberley asked him to help teach the kids songs in German, which is a requirement for some dance competitions.

"It's my way of adding to the group," Vega said. "I'm going to coach the kids through German carols for December (events)."

For more information on Mansfield Liederkranz, visit https://www.facebook.com/Millerlite32323/?fref=ts.

dhess@gannett.com

419-521-7283

Twitter: @dhessnj