Folkdancing
Fjell og Fjord Folkdancers performs a wide variety of dances from the different regions of Norway, from reinlanders and springars to polkas and song dances. Dancers wear traditional Norwegian bunads and have performed at events including the Festival of Nations, Skandia Fest, Norway Day, Svenskarnasdag, and Mindekirken's Syttende Mai Celebration.
Although many people think of the square dance formations they learned at school when they hear the term 'folkdancing,' square dancing bears little resemblance to Norwegian folkdancing, which reflects the relationships, social values, humor, and sometimes even animosities of traditional Norwegian Society. Most of the dances are performed in couples (rather than squares), although you will sometimes find dances that feature three or more partners. Dances such as the Halling may only have one performer, who will go to great lengths to impress a breathless audience.
Although many people think of the square dance formations they learned at school when they hear the term 'folkdancing,' square dancing bears little resemblance to Norwegian folkdancing, which reflects the relationships, social values, humor, and sometimes even animosities of traditional Norwegian Society. Most of the dances are performed in couples (rather than squares), although you will sometimes find dances that feature three or more partners. Dances such as the Halling may only have one performer, who will go to great lengths to impress a breathless audience.
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About Norwegian Folkdancing Most recently popularized by dance company Frikar (featured on the Norwegian version of, So You Think You Can Dance), Norwegian folkdancing has enjoyed a long and vibrant history in both Norway and the United States. Thought to have originated in the 17th century, Norwegian folkdancing as it is known today made its way across the ocean to the United States in the 1800s.
Dancers are typically accompanied by Norwegian folk music (live or recorded), featuring instruments such as the fele (ordinary flat fiddles), trekkspel (accordion), torader (Norwegian concertina), tussefløeyte (recorder), langeleik (Norwegian zither), hardingfele (Hardanger fiddle), munnharpe (mouth harp), guitar, piano, and various horns and flutes. Folkdancing is a social art, originally designed for participation rather than presentation. Although our folkdancers do perform these dances on stage for an audience, the best part of folkdancing is participating in Nordic culture in a way that is vibrant, physical, and full of social energy. Please check out the videos to the left. The first shows a quite athletic Hallingdans (a competitive, ego building dance of courtship) from Danse Feber. The second is a stop-motion film from our group performing at the Landmark Center in St. Paul (2012). The last is a photo montage from our 2012 Syttende Mai appearance on KARE 11 Sunrise (celebrating Norwegian Constitution Day). |