Scandia Camp Mendocino is a week-long camp focusing on the folk dance, music, and culture of Scandinavia, especially Norway and Sweden. Some of Scandinavia's most distinguished dancers and musicians are coming to share with us their cultural expertise and infectious love of their dance and music traditions. Dancers and musicians of all levels are welcome. Plan now to join us.
East Telemark, Norway
and
Western Dalarna, Sweden
We will explore and experience these rich and varied dance and music traditions.
All events are designed for both newer and more experienced Scandinavian dancers and musicians. We change partners frequently during classes and we encourage partner changing during parties. Musicians should have at least one year of experience, though not necessarily with Scandinavian music. Musicians are encouraged to bring a recording device, as tunes are taught by ear.
- Daytime activities include classes in dance, music, singing, folklore, practice sessions, and opportunities to enjoy the woodlands. Free time is scheduled in the late afternoon.
- Evenings include music and social activities before dinner, after-dinner concerts, and Scandinavian dance parties with live music by our staff and student musicians. The parties offer a chance to enjoy the great variety of Scandinavian dance and music.
- Scandinavian Dance Fundamentals will introduce newer dancers to the fundamental skills of successful turning dancing and partnering. More experienced dancers will have an opportunity to sharpen their skills.
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This year we welcome the following guests: | |
| Arnhild Brennesvik says: I'm at this time a student of nursing and I have 2 children, but I try to dance as often as I can. I practice dancing in different dance groups in the area where I live, for example Jondalen, Porsgrunn, Kongsberg and Bø. I started to dance in my mother's belly, and have danced ever since. |
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| Eivind Bakken says: I work full time as an electrician and I have one son. I practice dancing in Jondalen with the dance group "Små Jondølene", and am in general a very active person. I do performances as a single dancer (Halling/laus), and with a partner in the performance group "Frikar", and of course for "Små Jondølene". |
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| Kenneth de Gala started playing Hardanger fiddle at the age of 10. After a concert with Annbjørg Lien in 1989, he started taking classes with Anne Svånaug Blengsdalen (former Haugan) in the city of Kongsberg. |
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| Ewa and Tommy Englund are favorite dance teachers in Sweden and many other countries. They are known for their clarity of presentation and warmth to participants. Born in Hälsingland, residing in Sandviken, Gästrikland. They have both earned their big silver medals for polska dancing. They have won the Hälsingehambo contest four times. |
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| Jonas Åkerlund has his music roots in Western Dalarna. He is known for his expressive and traditional style of playing and his passionate relation to music. Jonas also plays tunes from Älvdalen and Värmland and from Småland where he now lives. |
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| Mattias Helje - springlek monster! Mattias has been playing the music of Western Dalarna since his teens. Early on he learned the tunes of Kalle Almlöf and has since developed his own fiddle style that has made him a very popular dance fiddler. |
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| Josefina Paulson grew up in Västmanland, Sweden, and in 1993, at the age of 9, started to play the nyckelharpa as her first instrument, learning traditional folk music at the local music school in Sala. It was during her studies at the Eric Sahlström Institute in 2005, that Josefina first considered a life as a professional musician. She became a "riksspelman" in 2008. |
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| Karin Loberg Code, a life-long string player, began intense study of the hardingfele, or Harding fiddle, in 1990. Today, Karin is a respected dance fiddler who has lived two years in Norway, playing for weekly dance groups in Oslo and meeting with master fiddlers. |
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| Karen Michaelsen is active in Seattle's Scandinavian music and dance community where she has lead and performed with a singing group for several years. She brings both Swedish and Norwegian tunes for dancing and just plain fun singing from Malung Folkhogskola summer courses and other Scandinavian camps. |
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| Harry Khamis has danced international folk dance since 1978 and Scandinavian dance since 1988. He received his big silver medal in Swedish polskas in 1999. In addition to his own teaching, he has been Roo Lester's teaching partner for numerous workshops and camps since 1990. |
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| Roo Lester's hallmarks include clear, positive teaching that incorporates background information, styling and technique and her ability to present the basic concepts of Scandinavian dance to dancers of all levels in a fun and lighthearted manner. She conducts workshops throughout the US, specializing in the turning dances of Norway and Sweden. |
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| Peter Michaelsen is known for his fiddling, teaching and music leadership. His powerful style and broad repertoire inspire musicians and dancers alike. |