C L U B - H I S T O R Y

It was the 8. April 1998 as a group of 16 quite different people joined up to form the first Square Dance Club in Trier, the oldest city in Germany. The only question, which remained was the question of a name. Well, each child needs a name and so does a club, but it needs a good deal of thinking. It was clear that the name should give a hint, that the club was going to be in our beautiful town Trier. The most famous building of the roman empire, which was still situated in Trier was and still is the "PORTA NIGRA". There it was an important part was found for our name. After a long thought did someone come up with the second part. The last call we did learn the night before was "Zoom", so why not making a "Zoomer" out of each member. It was brilliant and settled, since that day are we the PORTA NIGRA ZOOMERS.

The 2. September 1998 was a big thing, we hosted our first Graduation. All Students were excited and proud and so where we. Soon afterwards did our Caller Kevin take us as "Angels" and we 'opend' our first class. Slowly but surely did our club grow to the size of 25 members.

On the 13. March 1999 did our Club make a big step forwards as the EAASDC took us in and we were officially calles a club. Each year do we end up to make a traveling-tour together. Each member, who wants and has time joins in. In August 1999 did we stay in camper and tents at the 'Liblarer See' in 'Brühl' (near Cologne) and did visit Square Dance Clubs near by. In July 2000 did we haunt the area or better the clubs around ‚Stuttgart'. In Juni 2001 did we try to think all oldfashion and country-like and traveled down to Pullman-City close to 'Eging am See' (Bavaria).

While those travels were intentional, did we also have to take up some surprise travels. We moved from the 'Remise' (a center for family-education) to the Youth hostel in Trier, where we couldn't stay long as it was small and we had to squeeze, so that we had to move on. Our new place, where we met was the restaurant "Zum Kranich". Because of personal differences did we split up in September 2001, which led us to the search of a new place. We came by chance across the dance-club 'FANTASY' in Trier, who had great room and we got the possibility to us those. We are owe a special thanks to Stephan, who was happy to support us and actually opend that door for us.

Naturally do we try to arise to our own joy, to show that joy and for advertising purposes with meetings. Some of these occasions were:

1998 - Fastnacht in Trier-Pfalzel; - Konzer Heimatfest; - at "Trier Spielt"
1999 - Altstadtfest in Trier; - German-Amerikan Festival; - Meeting with canadian Square Dance Folk at 'Zurlauben Trier'
2000 - Ball of the nations; - 100 year anniversary of the 'Walzwerk' (a company) in Trier; - Commercial and Industrial Show in Wittlich

A special Highlight was for us our 1. Viez-Special on 14. Oktober 2000.

In 2001 did we have some performances and spezial-meetings, too. Special attention was paid to our TOTALLY NORMAL ;) Club-evening, the "Junior-Gladiators-Night". On this special night did we have many visitors from other clubs and all students could show what they have learned!
Another highlight in that year was your joined club-vacation, which we held in "Pullman-City" close to Eging am See. Here did we enjoy a weeks pure country and prairie feeling. The evenings were also amusing, as we visited some Square-Dance-Clubs, like the "Twirling Kangaroos" in Landstuhl, "Square Wolfes" in Passau and the "Salt Traders" in Freyung.

http://www.porta-nigra-zoomers.de/history.html