German parade ‘Queen’ by way of Glendale

For the Rom clan of Glendale, celebrating their German heritage is a family affair. Mom Connie, dad Richard and daughters, Christina, 19, and Cindy, 16, are all members of a Bavarian dance troupe from Long Island.
“We are all like one big family,” Christina said about the Schuhplattler V.V. Original Enzian, the second oldest ethnic dance group of its kind in the country. In German, Schuhplattler - the name of the group - translates roughly to shoe slapper.
The troupe, which meets Thursday evenings for practice during the fall, winter and spring, performs at a number of festivals and private parties like weddings throughout the summer.
On Wednesday, August 1, the family, clad in dirndls and lederhosen for the women and men respectively, danced with the rest of their troupe at the original Ridgewood Savings Bank, located on Myrtle Avenue.
Many of the names of their dances, Connie said; derive from places in Germany, including Reit im Winkl, Ruhpoldinger, Wendelstoana and Ammerseer.
“It’s all about the performance, but it’s also about having fun,” Christina said, explaining that many of the summer events are in anticipation of the 50th annual German American Steuben Parade on September 15 in Manhattan.
Recently, Christina, a sophomore at St. John’s University in Jamaica Estates, beat out four other finalists for the title of Miss German-America, and in September, she will lead the parade as its Queen, dressed in a white ball gown and a silver tiara adorned with cornflowers.
“It’s a big honor to represent the German American community,” Christina gushed, explaining that she has been involved with the parade for nearly a decade.
In 1997, she was chosen as a “Junior Princess,” and organizers told her, “Christina, come back in 10 years. We want you for the 50th,” she remembered.
However, Christina’s history with organization alone did not clinch the title.
“It was very apparent to the judges that Christina Rom had the talent, knowledge, and enthusiasm for the German-American culture that earned her a first place position in this contest,” contest organizers wrote.
Moreover, the aspiring pharmacist graduated with honors from the German American Language School in Ridgewood and serves as the Vortnzerin - female leader - of her dance troupe’s children’s group. Her dad is the male leader of the group, or the Kinder Vorplattler.
At the end of Christina’s yearlong tenure as Miss German-America, she will visit Germany, the country where her parents first met. During the four-week trip, likely to be scheduled for July 2008, she will be a “goodwill ambassador” for America and foster cultural exchange between the two countries, organizers said.
The itinerary for the trip has not been set yet, but Connie hopes that her daughter will get to visit the areas where her and her husband’s ancestors were from - Gottschee, now Slovenia; Bavaria; and Plattduetsch.
Once Christina returns home, her involvement in cultural activities will not end, she said. Christina is constantly trying to raise awareness about her family’s traditions.
“Most of my friends have never heard of it, and many of them are involved in things that are very different … But everyone is supportive,” Christina said, explaining that she invites friends to events to see what the group is about.
“I grew up with the club. I’ve made friends within the club … I love doing it,” Christina said.