People across the island were treated to a display of traditional German folk dancing.

The dance group Volkstanzgruppe-Besse visited the island last week, performing a number of free open air shows in Douglas town centre, Laxey square, outside the old courthouse in Parliament Street, Ramsey and on the promenade in Port Erin.

The group, dressed in elaborate traditional costumes, gave colourful and engrossing displays of German cultural dances and music, taken from the Hesse region of central Germany.

The group were invited to the Isle of Man by the members of the Manx Folk Dance Society, who also gave their own performances, before joining in and learning some of the German routines.

Maureen Robinson, secretary with the Manx Folk Dance Society, said that they have close links with the group, and that they have taken part in many exchange trips in the past.

’We have been lucky to have the Volkstanzgruppen Besse visit us on quite a few occasions,’ said Maureen.

’They have been in existence since 1964, and are from a small area in Germany, called Edermünde.

’We first came into contact with them quite by accident, after one of our members, Joan Cowell, met with their leader at a wedding of a mutual friend in Birmingham.

’They got chatting, and they agreed to hold an exchange, which led to them coming to the island in 1992 for a weekend, and us going to visit them in 1993.

’We have kept in touch ever since, and they have danced here many times since.

’The last time they were here was for our 60th anniversary festival in 2011.

’And through them we have made contact with many other groups in Europe, such as a Swedish group who have also been our guests here.’