Short introduction

Folk dance and artistic group De Krekels is a cultural organisation based in Bonheiden, Belgium, which aims to practice, promote, and spread Flemish folk culture in all its aspects.
We take various initiatives at national and international levels, exhibiting our extensive folk  cultural base and promote a broader view of folk culture in the world via our annual “Bonheidansfestival”. 
It is important for us to offer healthy relaxation in a good team spirit.

How do you start folk dancing? 

We are primarily a folk dance group, and each age group rehearses together on a weekly basis. Whether you have no dance experience or if you have not danced in a while, you are most welcome at the rehearsals to watch or try dancing with (one of) our group(s).  Folk dance is fun and good exercise for both young and old, however a good basic physical condition is certainly an advantage when you dance  with our group!

What else do we do?

Apart from our weekly rehearsals, we also perform each day of our own Bonheidansfestival. Beside these festival performances, we also participate at other events during the year, mostly in the local area.

Every year in October  we go away for a recreational weekend with all the groups to celebrate the performances during our festival and to get to know the dancers who have moved up to the next age group.  In February we go on a dance weekend where the different groups learn new dances ready for the festival in August and work hard practicing the festival dance programmes. The adult group also go away for another dance weekend in April during which dance programmes and finishing touches are worked on. 

Throughout the year the group also organises other activities in which both members as well as parents and family can participate. A popular example is our Bingo evening (vlaaienloten) in February where you can win pies and other prizes!  Have a look at our kalender for a complete overview of our  activities during the year.

Our dance groups

Krekeltjes

Hallo, we are the Krekeltjes, the youngest dancers of our group.  As from the second year of infant school, you are welcome to dance with us until you are 8 years old. Together with our dance teachers Fleur and Veerle, we learn fun dances and songs.  At the end of the rehearsal, we also play a game or two! 

Just like the older dancers in our group, we also perform on the big stage of our Bonheidansfestival and we all enjoy this a lot! During the year we go away with the whole group twice for a weekend.

Veerle and Fleur

Heikrekeltjes

The Heikrekeltjes are a great group of young dancers aged between 8 and 12 years. Like the Krekeltjes, we do some fun dances, but we learn slightly more difficult steps and movements in the dance. 

All the dances are explained in full so that everyone can participate. And all the practice is rewarded when we get to shine at our own Bonheidansfestival and during other performances. 

Of course, we have a lot of fun during and after dancing, both with our group and with the whole Krekel  family. For example, we go on weekends to dance together, do other fun activities, and we occasionally take a trip to an amusement park.

Jolien and Wouter

Jongkrekels

The Jongkrekels have been an important part of the Krekel family since February 7, 1976.  We are a friendly group of boys and girls, aged between 12 and 16 years old.  

During rehearsals we practice different dances such as Maartse Buien, Kegelaar and Dans voor Drie. All dances are explained in full so that everyone can participate. All that work is rewarded when we get to shine at our own Bonheidansfestival and during other performances. 

Of course, we also have fun not only dancing but also off-stage with our group as well as with the whole Krekel family. For example, we go on weekends to dance together or do other fun activities, and we occasionally take a trip to an amusement park.

Ine, Stefan and Kyra

Krekels

In 1973, the Krekels were the first group of the Krekel family, all young people between 14 and 20 years  old. More than 50 years later, we are still a young and enthusiastic dance group. The youngest are 16, the experienced dancers are in their twenties, thirties and even forties!
 
We are often asked to participate in foreign festivals and we try to participate in them at least once a year. In recent years, we have been guests in Canada, Germany, Estonia, France, Greece, Italy, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Turkey, USA, Sweden and Switzerland. 
 
We rehearse every Friday evening accompanied by a live orchestra. During these rehearsals, we work on traditional Flemish dances, some typical girls’ and boys’ dances, as well as contemporary creations based on the classical steps and figures. 
 
But we also do more than dance. The group atmosphere is excellent and therefore we enjoy our weekends, the annual trips, our own Bonheidansfestival and all kinds of other activities together.

Natascha and Jonas

Vendeliers – Artistic Flagwavers

Since its foundation in 1973, VKG De Krekels vzw has continuously counted good flag wavers among its members. Briefly practiced a little less in the group, the tradition was revived under the impulse of Jeroen. The torch has now passed to Jef, who teaches the tricks of the trade to the group’s new troupe. During performances, the troupe might perfom singly, synchronised or in sequence with patterns that amaze the audience with wing-like moves, hip-swings, and flags thrown up high.

Krekel orchestra

The Krekel orchestra provides the musical accompaniment for dancing and flagwaving.  In addition, our nine musicians also provide beautiful and varied musical intermezzos. The orchestra has a CD to its name, recorded in a professional studio. This contains a number of folk dances as well as some gems from the rich Flemish folk music tradition.  You can obtain this CD through members of the group or through our contact form.

Krekel choir

The Krekel choir is the newest group of the Krekels, in which members perform traditional Flemish
a cappella or accompanied songs at the Bonheidansfestival. They invariably provide the necessary ambiance with fine tunes that get everyone singing!

Krekellied – De Krekels van Bonhei

Wat leeft men blij in d’heidestreek bij kruid en mastebomen,
Met vrienden die welmenend zijn, van vreugde zingend dromen.
Sla daar het blijde volk eens ga, daar zingen allen vroeg en spa.
Als Krekels, als Krekels, als Krekels in de hei.
Kirre kirre kirre kirre kir,
Kirre kirre kirre kirre kirre kir.
Als Krekels, als Krekels, als Krekels van Bonhei.

De kind’ren die ter schole gaan, meest Jannekens en Miekens,
allen in zang of aan het spel, herhalen ook hun liekens.
Sla daar eens de scholieren ga. Zij zingen allen vroeg en spa.
Als Krekels (3x) in de hei.
Kirre …

Zoo hoort men in de heidestreek, altijd en elkeen zingen.
Wat moet er ’t leven lustig zijn voor ’t volk en vreemdelingen.
Ja ’t gaat er in Bonhei zoo schoon. Wat ben ik blij dat ik er woon.
En ik zing er en ik zing er met ’t Krekeltje der hei.
Kirre …
En ik ben er en ik ben er, ‘nen Krekel van Bonhei

Jan Leopold Verschueren (1832-1912), hoofdonderwijzer van de gemeenteschool Bonheiden