Scandi Fest 2014 ~ May 8-11
Dance and Music Workshops featuring the popular Hambo and other Swedish and Norwegian dances
We have a wonderful program lined up! Something for everyone!
Nationally acclaimed dance instructor Roo Lester and her husband and dance partner Larry Harding will teach the Hambo on Friday evening through Saturday afternoon, with a Sunday morning review. Talented fiddler Char Bostrom will accompany the dance instruction and will also lead Music Workshop sessions. All instruments are welcome! Roo will also teach the lively Finnskogspols during additional à la carte sessions on Thursday evening and continuing Friday afternoon, and the lovely Bodapolska on Sunday afternoon.
The special Saturday evening program will begin with a catered Scandinavian Dinner followed by a Dance Party, with music provided by Char Bostrom on fiddle, playing both solos and leading the Allspel of our local Scandinavian Dance Band.
Preregistration is closed! But you can still register and pay at the door; if convenient, please download and fill out registration form in advance and bring it with you. You can also download the event poster and workshop schedule; see immediately below. Dinner or lunch reservations and payment were due Tuesday, May 6.
Nationally acclaimed dance instructor Roo Lester and her husband and dance partner Larry Harding will teach the Hambo on Friday evening through Saturday afternoon, with a Sunday morning review. Talented fiddler Char Bostrom will accompany the dance instruction and will also lead Music Workshop sessions. All instruments are welcome! Roo will also teach the lively Finnskogspols during additional à la carte sessions on Thursday evening and continuing Friday afternoon, and the lovely Bodapolska on Sunday afternoon.
The special Saturday evening program will begin with a catered Scandinavian Dinner followed by a Dance Party, with music provided by Char Bostrom on fiddle, playing both solos and leading the Allspel of our local Scandinavian Dance Band.
Preregistration is closed! But you can still register and pay at the door; if convenient, please download and fill out registration form in advance and bring it with you. You can also download the event poster and workshop schedule; see immediately below. Dinner or lunch reservations and payment were due Tuesday, May 6.
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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. More on Roo below! |
Char Bostrom plays fiddle with Ole Olsson’s Oldtime Orkestra of the Twin Cities area and has appeared on ‘A Prairie Home Companion’. Char loves to play for Scandinavian dances and her favorite workshops are with Roo. Char will both teach music and play for dancing.
More on Char below! |
Program
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Beginners Dance Workshop
featuring the popular Swedish Hambo - $55/$65 at door Everyone is welcome! Partners not required; we change partners often Hard-soled shoes encouraged Price includes Saturday evening Party Friday 7:30 pm-9:30 pm – COT* Saturday 10 am-Noon, 2 - 4 pm – UNI Saturday 7-10 pm, Dance Party – UNI Sunday review 10 am-Noon – STU Sessions are progressive. Please attend all! Scandinavian Dinner Saturday 6 pm, $12, Must reserve by May 6. Catered by Copper Kettle – UNI Saturday Lunch, $7, Variety of Sub Sandwich choices; must reserve by May 6 Dance Party - LIVE MUSIC! - UNI Saturday 7-10 pm, $7 Party is included with workshops Featuring Char Bostrom on fiddle, Scandinavian Dance Band, and Allspel with workshop participants * COT, UNI, and STU: See Maps for Venue locations |
Music Workshop
Music for Dancing - $30/$35 at door All instruments welcome; by ear and by note Price includes Saturday evening Party Thursday 7:30 pm-9:30 pm – STU Saturday 9-10 am, 1-2 pm – UNI Saturday 4-5 pm, Allspel – UNI Saturday 7-10 pm, Dance Party – UNI Sunday 1-2 pm – STU Beyond Basics Dance Workshops à la carte sessions Finnskogspols of Norway Thursday 7:30 pm-9:30 pm, $15/$20 at door – STU Friday 3-5 pm, $15/$20 at door, Thurs prerequisite – COT Bodapolska of Sweden Sunday 2-4 pm, $15/$20 at door – STU Download the full Workshop Schedule below
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Scandi Fest 2014 Instructors
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Roo Lester is one of America’s foremost folk dance instructors and authorities on Scandinavian Folk Dance; she is especially great with beginners! Roo will be accompanied by her husband and dance partner, Larry Harding.
A California native, Roo began folk dancing as part of rainy day PE at school. Her interest in Scandinavian dance began with the Hambo and a college folk dance class. These led to a Masters in Dance, with a focus in Dance Ethnology, from UCLA. Roo began teaching Scandinavian dance after studying with Ingvar and Jofrid Sodal during her first visit to the San Diego Folk Dance Conference. Her work in dance has taken many different paths, including teaching folk dance in public schools, dance camps and workshops, performing in and choreographing for performance groups, and directing dance camps. It is Chicagoans’ good fortune that she lives in a near suburb and teaches a weekly dance class. Since 1983 Roo has traveled extensively in Scandinavia studying dance and participating in dance and music events including testing her skills and dancing in courses and competitions. Roo received her Big Silver medal in Swedish polska dancing and continues testing the additional dances offered for those who have achieved their 'Big Silver' medal. Roo’s hallmarks include clear, positive teaching that incorporates background information, styling, and technique, and the ability to present the basic concepts of Scandinavian dance to dancers of all levels in a fun and lighthearted manner. She is a master teacher who can smoothly guide the student from a basic exercise through to a turning step with all parts of the progression seeming equally accessible. As an active researcher who has published articles, a guide to Scandinavian dance basics, and detailed descriptions of Norwegian dances including Telespringar, Hallingspringar, and Valdresspringar, Roo is recognized as one of the foremost exponents of Scandinavian dance in the US. |
Char Bostrom is from St. Paul, Minnesota. She began playing Scandinavian dance music in 1991 as a hobby, and it quickly became a passion. Char got her start playing for dance at Dick Rees' Sunday night dances at the Good Templar Hall in Minneapolis, and from there began playing for dance workshops and dance groups around the Twin Cities.
Char met Roo Lester and Larry Harding at Folklore Village in the early 90's and eventually began playing for Roo's dance workshops. It is her favorite gig. For Char there is nothing like playing for dancing and watching people learn and move and have fun on the dance floor. She considers it her privilege to play for dancing! Char has traveled from Battery Park in Manhattan to Thousand Oaks, California, as well as the region around the Twin Cities. With Dick's band she made an appearance on Garrison Keillor's A Prairie Home Companion, playing for the polka competition after the show. Char currently plays for the Twin Cities’ Swedish folk dancers at the American Swedish Institute, the Norwegian folk dance group, Norskefolkedanslaget, and a pan-Scandinavian performing group called North Stars, as well as for hambo workshops and dances at Tapestry Folkdance Center in Minneapolis. Char is a member of Ole Olsson's Oldtime Orkester, and plays regularly with Skålmusik from Brainerd, Minnesota. |
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This project was supported in part by the Utah Arts & Museums, with funding from the State of Utah and the National Endowment for the Arts.
We are also sponsored by Sons of Norway, Lodge 6-83. |
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Last updated 13 March 2014
