There was a cheerful pre-Christmas party on Saturday for the offspring of the Kehl gymnastics team. The KT youth proved their skills in an entertaining program with gymnastics, dance, judo and karate demonstrations and also delighted Santa Claus.
Let’s be happy and cheerful… This well-known song, which so aptly describes the anticipation of St. Nicholas, rang out from many throats of many throaters on the Saturday before the second Advent in the KT Hall. But he was (still) missing at the Nikolaus celebration of the Kehl gymnastics association. The loud calls for him went unheard. However, when they sang “Soon is Nikolauseve da” he stepped into the hall, the man with the white beard and red robe.
Around 150 pairs of children’s eyes between the ages of two and 16 began to light up and competed with the lights on the Christmas tree. All the more so because during the two-hour celebration, Santa Claus, who had traveled from afar especially for the KT offspring, gave everyone a small present. It has been a long time since there were so many visitors in the Jahn gym on Oberländerstraße. “There are a good 300 in total,” said Chairwoman Petra Langenecker. Like the families and relatives, she was happy “that after the two-year Corona break, a St. Nicholas celebration can finally take place again”. And together with the adults, she was excited to see what the young gymnasts had to offer the guest of honor and them.
“Are you all looking forward to this day?” – a long drawn-out, loud “Jaaaaaa” rang out in response to Leonie’s question. Leonie Luis, who worked for years on the youth committee, with the active support of six-year-old Hannah Adler, knew how to keep the impatient crowd happy and attentive, as well as managing the individual performances so that everything went smoothly.
“Kung Fu Fighting” – the program began spectacularly with Hassan El Masghili’s judokas. They showed how to fall down in this sport without injury, how to roll over – and the first judo moves. Friedhelm Biedermann brought two girls and two boys with him. The 73-year-old is the department manager and trainer of the karatekas. The enthusiastic spectators learned defensive techniques. “Well done,” praised Leonie – and a thumbs up from Santa Claus.
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Not the only time that afternoon. Because they all did an excellent job. For example, the girls trained by youth worker Catalina Paukstadt with rapid floor and jump rope exercises or when they twirled the hula hoop around their waists. Leonie Luis and Sandrine Schweiger-Luis’ demonstration of the competitive gymnasts deserved three stars.
“Show what you can do” – Martina Oertel’s five and six-year-olds didn’t need to be asked twice: they showed balancing, hopping, sliding and much more with a lot of fun and joy. Snowflakes, little white skirts were the motto of the parent-child gymnastics group, which was independently led by the parents and, supported by Lydia Beil and Tiphanie Mauser, made it snow with delightful, eager dancing. Of course, with so much “snow” there were also “snowmen” and “snowwomen”. As such, Martina’s children’s gymnastics group assured “Yes, we dance in a circle, that’s fun as everyone knows”!
balance exercises
The winter fun course was also a lot of fun. The “wild sleigh ride” (a slide), the “ice bay” (balancing on a seesaw bench) and the “snow cave flurry” (crawling under a “cave” formed by floor exercise mats) were mastered with great enthusiasm. And the fact that the chairperson provided help with the “snow cave” was a particular encouragement for the little actors.
“It was wonderful,” praised KT manager Langenecker, “everyone did a great job!” This also applied to the Christmas bakery. The delicacies produced there were not only sung about; In the run-up to the KT Santa Claus celebration, butter, flour and milk were mixed in many a Christmas bakery at home, where mums and dads baked delicious cakes for the celebration. Leonie Luis thanked them and all the helpers in front of and behind the scenes around hall manager Helmut Fritsch, including many fathers during assembly and dismantling, and there was great applause from Santa Claus and the children. The KT Santa Claus celebration fulfilled all expectations.
