SKANDIA
SPECIAL
EVENTS

Symra to be featured at
Norsk Folkedans Stemne

15–17 August, Camp Brotherhood, near Mt. Vernon, WA.

Encouraging dancers and musicians to learn Norwegian folk songs and dances is one way of learning about the culture and heritage of Norway. If you have dance instructors within your organization, encourage them to attend Norsk Folkedans Stemne (perhaps by providing a grant or scholarship for them to attend). Several scholarships are provided by Norsk Folkedans Stemne for youths from ages 13–18. Go to www.seattlestemne.org for registration forms and info.

For more information about Symra, visit their Web site: www.folkedans.com/symra/.

2008 Stämma: More noise at the Noyes'

Mark your calendars for 6 September, the date of Skandia's annual spelmansstämma, when musicians and singers gather for a day of music—oh, and some great dancing, too. This year, we will again be at the wonderful home of Jim and Margaret Noyes, near Maltby. As usual we'll meet around noon for workshops, then have an evening potluck and dance. Jamming is encouraged any time of day (or night); all in all, a joyful noise! More details later.

—Peter Michaelsen

Update on NW Spelmanstämma 2008

The plans for "NW Spelmansstämma 2008" have been moving right along.  As previously announced, it will be held the afternoon of September 6, again at the spacious home of Jim and Margaret Noyes in Clearview, WA for the second year.

Their address is 6618 196th St. SE, Clearview (Snohomish/Woodinville/Maltby area) The schedule hasn't been set yet, but many of the classes have been decided with most of the instructors confirmed. 

There will be the usual first Friday dance at Skandia the night before, Sept. 5.  If any musicians are interested in playing at this dance, please contact Peter Michaelsen spelman@u.washington.edu.

Fiddle classes will include Peter Michaelsen teaching tunes in AEAE tuning, something new for many fiddlers (This class is best for just fiddles because of the tuning).  Martha Levenson will teach tunes she learned in Malung last year. Bart Brashers will teach gammaldans styling for all acoustic instruments.  Instructors for the nyckelharpa and singing classes are unconfirmed as of this writing.  It is hoped to have a class on backup accompaniment as well as another class, TBA.  We will fill your day and evening with music and dance.

Recording devices are encouraged so you can practice the tunes you take away from the classes .  Other acoustic instruments are welcome to most classes.  Please bring some goodies to share and/or a dish for the potluck.  You can come as early as 12:00: Classes will start at 1 pm and end at 5:15 to prepare for the potluck at 6 pm, followed by dancing and jamming.

This event is funded entirely by the music committee and depends on your freewill donations to help with expenses, so a container for that purpose will be set out.

There will be a final update soon on this website with directions to the Noyes and a schedule, as well as in the September newsletter, so stay tuned!  Pun intended!

And oh, we do need a few volunteers to help keep things running smoothly, such as in the kitchen and other duties.  Please contact me, Martha, or Peter if you would like to play a part in this.  And many thanks!!!!

~Trella Hastings

Advance notice: First Friday Dance on 3 October

Andrea Hoag, Loretta Kelly, and Charlie Pilzer travel from the Washington, DC region to play for Skandia's First Friday Dance on 3 October at the Cedar Valley Grange, and the Bainbridge Island dance on 4 October. They received enthusiastic receptions from dancers when they last played in Seattle in October 2006. They will play a great mix of gammaldans, bygdedans, and springar. They have played on All Things Considered, Performance Today, and Prairie Home Companion.

Andrea led the Seattle Skandia Spelmanslag in the late 1980s and early 1990s and has several traditional music recordings. Loretta is America's foremost player of the Norwegian hardingfele (Hardanger fiddle). Charlie plays bass for the group, is an award-winning producer of traditional music, and is a member of Spaelimenninir, a Scandinavian folk band based in the Faroe Islands.

If you've enjoyed their CDs—"Hambo in the Snow" (2006) and "Hambo in the Barn" (1996), you'll love hearing them in person and dancing to their music.

—Frank Brown