The Germans have a great carnival tradition, like the Oktoberfest, when lots of weak beer is drunk. Carnivals are held up and down the country. Each city and town has its own carnival king and queen, and of course they have to be protected by the 'Tanzgard's (dance guards). The uniforms they wear hark back to the days when Napoleon and Nelson were battling it out on the high seas. (Don't ask me when that was! I always used to get shouted at in history lessons!)
So here is a typical dance pair. You have to admit that the lower half of her outfit has improved amazingly since the 18th century!
Much as with majorettes in our carnivals, they take part in a large procession through the streets.
Here is a better view.
There's an extra bit on her tricorn (hat) which indicates she might have some special role. She's special as far as I'm concerned! All the other girls are wearing sensible long skirts! :-(
Here is a picture from 1965, with the carnival king and queen in the middle and a couple of jokers in front.
Presumably from 1988, a bunch of new recruits.
Haven't got any more street pictures unfortunately, so lets cut to the festivities.
That guy on the right doesn't look as happy as the girls about raising his leg like that! Maybe it's the tight trousers! (Men highkicking is just wrong!)
Just for a change, blue and yellow.
This lot don't seem to be bothering about all the kit. Just those sharply pleated skirts.
Look at that guy on the left! He's just damaged something!
Look how those girls are fanning out their pleated skirts. Could any other type of skirt be fanned out so prettily?"
All that fine action going on and that guy in front isn't even watching!
This is one way to change a lightbulb - but she doesn't want to stretch up to reach it yet!
Well, these are all the pix I had when I created this page. But Gerd has supplied loads more good quality pix, so I feel another page coming on!
Order your own Gardetanz skirt!
Sorry, it's all in German! Pleated skirts seem to be associated particularly with the Rheinische Garde.
Look down the page and you'll see 3 styles of Plisseerock (pleated skirt): Britta, Hilde and Karolin. The website has changed. There used to be instructions to specify your own Gardetanz Plisserock! Fortunately the English translation is still here!
We undertake Pleatwork in our own workshop. For this purpose it is to be noted that generally only material which consists of 100% synthetic fibres can be permanently pleated. Mixed fabrics should contain at least 55% synthetic fibre content. We pleat only full folds with 3-times material consumption! For trimming, satin ribbon is available in lots of different colours and widths.
The measurements we need are A the waist measurement, B the hip measurement, C the skirt length (measured from under the waistband).
The construction of the waistband can be chosen as follows:
1. approx. 3 cm wide elasticated,
2. normally approx. 2 cm wide band and zip,
or
3. approx. 8 cm wide professional band without zip but with 3 buttons.
As standard skirts you can order from us the following variants with 2 cms of knife pleats:
BRITTA: elastic waistband 3 cms, 2 satin stripes 10-mm width.
KAROLIN: normal 2 cms waistband, zip, 2 satin stripes 10-mm width.
HILDE: wide professional waistband, buttons, a 10 mm and a 16 mm wide satin stripe.
We gladly make you further variants to order.