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ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE! Scandinavian folk dancing is challenging and often appeals to the experienced Ballroom, Contra, or Folk dancers. Locally the Skandia South Folk Dance Club organizes this form of folk dancing from the Nordic countries of Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Denmark. The dances are mostly couple turning dances where typically the man and woman have different footwork to learn. They must also learn leading and following techniques while dancing in harmony with each other and with the music. We Scandinavian dancers enjoy Gammaldans (old time dance), which includes the Hambo, Waltz, Schottis, Snoa, Mazurka, and occasionally, Tango. We also learn the more challenging regional dances, called Bygdedans (roughly -- village dance) that are from the different regions of each country, including various versions of Polska, Pols, and Springar. There are also mixers and figure dances that are relatively easy to dance. Most of the dances are traditional, being either living tradition or having been rescued by dance researchers from old people, rather than being choreographies by folk dance teachers. Most date from the last few centuries, so they have historical appeal to some. Classes are held weekly, in Culver City and Anaheim, starting in September and running through June. Our local teachers Donna Tripp, Ted Martin, Cameron Flanders and John Chittum lead us through easy transitional patterns of learning. Our experienced dancers, some with 5 to 25 years of folk dance training, also attend. This helps the beginner a great deal, since we rotate partners throughout teaching and dancing. Both couples and singles of all ages are encouraged to attend. In the course of a year you may be introduced to several variations of a particular dance form. Each one has slightly different footwork or a unique way of holding your partner. Several times each year dance teachers and musicians visit us from Scandinavia who teach us their dances or play and teach the music of their region. Scandinavian Dance Classes - Anaheim | ||
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