Der Deutsche Volkstanzverein von San Antonio mit dem Beethoven Maennerchor

Der Deutsche Volkstanzverein von San Antonio was formed in August 1988 in order to preserve and promote the folk dance heritage of the German settlers of the San Antonio area.  The first actual performance by the fledgling group was in July 1988 at the Lutheran Youth Convention held at Hemisfair Plaza, before the group was officially organized.

In December 1988, the Volkstanzverein performed for the German Wives Club at the Alsatian Inn in Castroville...folk dancing and singing German Christmas carols.

1989 saw the Volkstanzverein march in their first Battle of Flowers Parade and perform for the first time at the Folklife Festival, San Antonio College Folk Dance Festival, and at Wurstfest.  The first costume of the group was a Miesbach for the women and Lechtal for the men.  The group has continued since, adding costumes from Glottertal (Baden-Württemberg), Boerde-Lamstedt (Hannover), Gladenbach (Hessen), and Bodensee (Switzerland); dances from all of the German-speaking lands; new dancers; and performing in Mexico, Germany, and Austria, as well as festivals across Texas.

 In 1990, Der Deutsche Volkstanzverein von San Antonio added “mit dem Beethoven Männerchor” to its name.  That same year, the Volkstanzverein became a charter member of the statewide German folk dance group — Der Deutscher Volkstanz Verband Texas. On a rotating basis with other statewide German folk dance groups, the Volkstanz hosts the Deutscher Volkstanz Lehrgang in which German folk dances are taught by renowned teachers from Germany.

In 1994, it became a charter member of the North American Federation of German Folk Dance Groups and its Tanzführer, Dr. Doug Hall, was elected treasurer of the national group and has held that position since.  In addition, he has been chosen to head the High School Division.  As a part of its outreach in the promotion of German culture, members of the Volkstanzverein have helped the German folk dance groups at high schools statewide, many of the groups having placed first in the statewide German folk dance contests.

Members of the group have attended German Folk Dance Workshops in the United States and Germany, as well as participating in festivals in Germany, Austria, Mexico, and Texas.

Its repertoire of folk dances from German-speaking regions has grown to over 35, with costumes from different regions of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.