Groups

Tanzleiter: Amy Kube

The Ballroom Dance Group is a group that forms bi-annually. Every two years we offer our youth between ages 14-20 the opportunity to learn introductory ballroom dancing. The graduating class consists of couples who over the course of eight months, have put great effort into learning such dances as the cha-cha, tango, Viennese waltz, slow waltz, rumba, polka and foxtrot. The members of this group are invited and encouraged to join our youth dance group after graduating.

The graduation performance takes place at our annual member’s night in April. Family, friends and club members attend to watch these young people demonstrate the dances learned and receive their graduation certificates. The dance instructor for this group is Amy Kube. If you would like to participate in ballroom instruction in the future, please contact the club office and a representative of the cultural group will contact you.

President: Jim Glasser
Director: Andrea Emrich

The Transylvania Hofbrau Band is a brass band made up of members 19-75 in age and rehearses on a weekly basis. The band has been entertaining us for over 50 years. They have performed throughout Ontario as well as in the musical tours of Germany, Austria and the United States. They play a variety of German folk songs, classical, marching and dance music. Over the past 50 years they played at the first Oktoberfest, have produced a record, a video as well as participated in a special feature production for Rogers Cable Systems. Their director is Andrea Emrich.

In 1932 the Saxon Women’s Organization was founded which was a part of the then Saxon Club Sick Benefits organization. There were both Schwaben and Transylvania Saxons in this group. The women were responsible for the successes of the dancing parties and picnics. In 1951 the Ladies Auxiliary Group (Frauenverein) became a reality. It provides a social interaction network for our female members. The group participates in all aspects of the club with particular emphasis on social events. The annual Frauenball or Ladies Banquet and Dance is held on the first Saturday of February. It is a themed event and draws a sell out crowd each year. In 2023 the theme was Czardas under the Stars. The Frauenverein is also involved in events such as Trachtenball, Oktoberfest making the pigtails and cabbage rolls, display at Pioneer’s Day, decorating the club for many of its events, setting up halls for banquets and in general promoting the Transylvania Club with archives, displays in the community, and supporting the other groups under the cultural umbrella. In December of each year the Frauenverein has a Ladies Christmas Dinner. It is a special event just for ladies and dinner is served to us by the men of the Transylvania Club board of directors.

President: Gerhard Griebenow
Director: Andrea Emrich

The Transylvania Choir consists of 45+ members ranging in age from 20 – 80+. They are a member of the German-Canadian Saengerbund and have made 4 tours to Europe to perform in Germany, Austria and Romania. They have performed their varied repertoire of both German and English folk songs as well as religious hymns throughout Ontario and the USA. at concerts, homecomings, anniversaries, council meetings and church services. This group was one of the first sub-groups to be founded in the 1950’s and is still very active and involved in club life. The highlight of their year is their annual spring concert, to which guest choirs are invited to perform. The Choir meets Monday evenings at 7 pm for regular practices. The Musical Director is Mrs. Andrea Emrich and the Choir President is Mr. Gerhard Griebenow.

President: Amanda Mooser
Vice President: Henry Hoffman
Secretary: Julianna Hesch
Treasurer: Connor Crouse
Miss Transylvania 2023: Grace Maier

The Transylvania Club Dance Group consists of our youth ages 14 – 23. They perform traditional folk dances throughout the year in two different costumes: the traditional Transylvanian Tracht (folk costume) and German Dirndl and Lederhosen. They take part in multi-cultural events, Oktoberfest, raise money for charities and are very active in our daily club life. In addition to performing throughout the USA and Ontario and most recently Austria and Germany, they have taken on the responsibility of being ambassadors for the club during visits of youth from across Europe and the United States.