Robin Witschi

Status:  
Specialty:  
Range:
 

Deceased
Swiss
Swiss

Robin Witschi

CLICK TO ENLARGE
Photo by Odette Sinclair


Rosely "Robin" Witschi, shown above in Appenzellar costume in 1951, was born on March 2, 1905 near Interlaken in the Bernese alps. She immigrated to the United States in 1926 to join husband Frederick who had come earlier to establish work and a home.

A certified seamstress for official Swiss costumes, Robin also took Swiss accordion lessons so she could teach her son folk dancing which remained her greatest joy

Robin and Fred danced with a Swiss group at the 1939 World's Fair in New York City and met Michael and Mary Ann Herman, who published and recorded her Swiss dances.

Her Swiss Children's Dance Group, that met from 1941 to 1952, performed widely and attended the first folk dance camp conducted by Jane Farwell at Oglebay, West Virginia in 1941.

Robin passed away on July 10, 2002. She danced into her mid-92s. Her daughter, Odette Witschi Sinclair of Louisville, Kentucky, continued the tradition of Swiss dancing and singing the songs that her parents taught her. Otette helped establish the Louisville international folk dance group in 1973.

Dances Robin taught include Alewander, Drei Ledrig Strumpf, Meitschi Putz Di, and Weggis.