Norsk Folkedans Stemne 2008 welcomes folk dance group Symra August 12-17, 2008, in Seattle and Mt. Vernon, WA. Symra from Oslo is one of the most active folk dance groups in Norway.
Symra performs all types of Norwegian folk dances: figure dances, song dances, village dances, old-time couple dances as well as historical dances. The group dates back to 1960 and was started by folk dancers from the western part of Norway in the More and Romsdal province. Today the 100 members live in Oslo, but come from all parts of the country. Thus there is great variation in the national costumes among the members of Symra. Many of the members are also active in other folk dance groups in the Oslo area. Symra is a member of the Norwegian Youth League/Noregs Ungdomslag. They are also active in national events such as Noreg Ungdomslag’s yearly festival kappleikar/competitions, and Nordleik.
Due to the large number of young adults interested in halling or laus dans special instruction will take place during the weekend. The halling allows the performer to show off his flexibility, dance ability, and athletic ability with gymnastic steps done to the rhythmic music of the halling. In a final moments there is the hallingkast where the man kicks off, with his foot, a hat dangling at the end of pole held at least six to eight feet from the floor.
Norsk Folkedans Stemne 2008 celebrates 20 years at Camp Brotherhood. This year the camp has built a permanent sprung floor for dancing with many donations from participants of Norsk Folkedans Stemne. Learning and sharing Norwegian dancing and music with folk dancing groups of all ages from Norway, Canada, and the United States are the primary purposes of Norsk Folkedans Stemne.
Norsk Folkedans Stemne
August 15, 16, and 17, 2008 at Camp Brotherhood near Mt. Vernon, WA
Norwegian folk dancing performance with Symra
August 12, (Dinner at 6 p.m., performance at 7:30 p.m.)
Leif Erikson Hall, 2245 NW 57th, Seattle WA 98107
www.seattlestemne.org