Fall Fest 2017 was wonderful! It featured Norwegian dance and music of the unique hardingfele (traditional Hardanger fiddle) as well as regular fiddle and guitar.
Festivities began with a special concert Thursday evening !
The Thursday evening concert, November 9, featured Loretta Kelley and Vidar Skrede, highly regarded specialists of the unique Norwegian Hardanger fiddle. This was a rare opportunity to enjoy Scandinavian folk music played by these tradition bearers.
Concert venue: First United Methodist Church, 203 S 200 E, SLC 84111. See guest musician bios and venue maps below.
The Thursday evening concert, November 9, featured Loretta Kelley and Vidar Skrede, highly regarded specialists of the unique Norwegian Hardanger fiddle. This was a rare opportunity to enjoy Scandinavian folk music played by these tradition bearers.
Concert venue: First United Methodist Church, 203 S 200 E, SLC 84111. See guest musician bios and venue maps below.
Hallingspringar! This wonderful folk dance from Hallingdal, a mountain valley in southern Norway, west of Oslo, was the focus of 2017's Fall Fest. The Friday evening session Introduction to Hallingspringar was taught at a level accessible to all, including beginners. Subsequent sessions built on this introduction. Instruction on other, mainly Norwegian folk dances was interspersed throughout the weekend sessions. These include Finnskogspols, from the border region with Sweden northeast of Oslo. More than 50 people enjoyed this fabulous group of highly regarded instructors and musicians!
Video Clips
Video clip from workshop, Finnskogspols by Vidar Dance workshop participants practice steps of the Finnskogspols to music by Vidar
Video clip from workshop, a Gangar by Loretta and Vidar Guests at the Saturday evening party were treated to a mini-concert by Loretta and Vidar
Video Clips
Video clip from workshop, Finnskogspols by Vidar Dance workshop participants practice steps of the Finnskogspols to music by Vidar
Video clip from workshop, a Gangar by Loretta and Vidar Guests at the Saturday evening party were treated to a mini-concert by Loretta and Vidar
Program
Thursday, Nov 9, 7:30 pm: Concert featuring Loretta Kelley and Vidar Skrede
- First United Methodist Church, 203 S. 200 East, SLC, UT 84111
- This historic and beautiful church sanctuary and organ have recently been restored!
- $10; doors open at 7:00 pm
- Free parking available in church lot, enter from 200 East on south side of church;
- more free parking in lot on corner across 200 East;
- metered street parking available on 200 East and 200 South.
- First United Methodist Church, 203 S. 200 East, SLC, UT 84111
- This historic and beautiful church sanctuary and organ have recently been restored!
- $10; doors open at 7:00 pm
- Free parking available in church lot, enter from 200 East on south side of church;
- more free parking in lot on corner across 200 East;
- metered street parking available on 200 East and 200 South.
Friday though Sunday events will all be at the E.W. Garbett Center for Choral Arts, 700 N 200 West, SLC, UT 84103
Dance on the new floors, installed Spring of 2017!
Full package, $120: Concert, Workshops, Scandinavian Dinner.
A la carte pricing available, see preregistration form.
Dance instruction by Roo Lester and Larry Harding.
Guest musicians Loretta and Vidar will share music instruction and dance accompaniment.
*Music instruction will include sessions for hardingfele and regular (flat) fiddle. See note above for details.
Dance on the new floors, installed Spring of 2017!
Full package, $120: Concert, Workshops, Scandinavian Dinner.
A la carte pricing available, see preregistration form.
Dance instruction by Roo Lester and Larry Harding.
Guest musicians Loretta and Vidar will share music instruction and dance accompaniment.
*Music instruction will include sessions for hardingfele and regular (flat) fiddle. See note above for details.
Friday, Nov 10
- 3:00–4:30 pm: Afternoon Dance and Music Sessions. Dances are to be determined but will NOT include Hallingspringar.
- 7:30–9:30 pm: Evening Dance Session, Introduction to Hallingspringar. Beginners welcome, $15.
- 7:30–9:30 pm: Music Workshop Session
- 3:00–4:30 pm: Afternoon Dance and Music Sessions. Dances are to be determined but will NOT include Hallingspringar.
- 7:30–9:30 pm: Evening Dance Session, Introduction to Hallingspringar. Beginners welcome, $15.
- 7:30–9:30 pm: Music Workshop Session
Saturday, Nov 11
Dance and Music Workshop sessions continue:
- 9:30 am–12:00 noon
- 1:30–4:00 pm
- 4:10–5:15 pm, Allspel
6:00 pm: Scandinavian Dinner, catered by Brenda Goodwin ($15; must preregister by Oct 30)
6:30–8:00 pm: Swedish Store, various goodies including chocolate, candy, crackers, lingonberry and other jams and cheeses.
7:00 pm: Grand March and Dance Party with music by Loretta Kelley, Vidar Skrede, and our own Scandi Band. Free admission.
Dance and Music Workshop sessions continue:
- 9:30 am–12:00 noon
- 1:30–4:00 pm
- 4:10–5:15 pm, Allspel
6:00 pm: Scandinavian Dinner, catered by Brenda Goodwin ($15; must preregister by Oct 30)
6:30–8:00 pm: Swedish Store, various goodies including chocolate, candy, crackers, lingonberry and other jams and cheeses.
7:00 pm: Grand March and Dance Party with music by Loretta Kelley, Vidar Skrede, and our own Scandi Band. Free admission.
Sunday, Nov 12
Dance and Music Workshop sessions continue:
- 10:00 am–12:00 noon
- 2:00–4:00 pm: Joint Review (with package only)
- 4:00 pm: Fall Fest concludes
Dance and Music Workshop sessions continue:
- 10:00 am–12:00 noon
- 2:00–4:00 pm: Joint Review (with package only)
- 4:00 pm: Fall Fest concludes
Write SaltLakeScandDance@gmail.com with any questions.
Guest Instructors and Musicians
Loretta Kelley is the foremost American performer on the hardingfele (the traditional Hardanger fiddle), an intricately decorated fiddle native to Norway with sympathetic strings, a nearly flat bridge, and a 300-year unbroken aural tradition. Loretta specializes in slått music, dance tunes rooted in the 18th century with sometimes unique asymmetrical rhythms, modal scales with "floating" intervals, and haunting tonalities.
Loretta's website, with CD links |
Roo Lester is a nationally acclaimed dance instructor known for her clear teaching style and skill with beginners and experts alike. Roo is a recognized authority on and foremost exponent of Scandinavian Dance.
Roo will be accompanied by her dance partner and husband, Larry Harding. Roo and Larry were here in 2014. Click here for more information (near bottom of that webpage). |
Vidar Skrede, from Haugesund, Norway is a freelance Nordic folk musician on guitar, harding fiddle, fiddle and Greek bouzouki. He has a background in the traditional music from Rogaland (South West of Norway), and has a master degree in Nordic folk music at the Royal Academy of Music in Stockholm.
Vidar's website — listen to his music |
Archives: workshop registration forms. We are sorry if you missed the weekend! Come back next fall!
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Thank you for helping us publicize this event, especially the concert! Download and print the posters; give to friends and put up wherever you can: schools, churches, coffee shops, neighborhood stores, etc! (Posters are two sizes, full page and half page, plus a half-page version with additional text.)
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Concert: Thursday, Nov 9, First United Methodist Church, 203 S 200 East, SLC |
Scandi Fest: Fri–Sun, Nov 10–12, E.W. Garbett Center, 700 N 200 West, SLC |
Last update: 10 May 2018