Norsk Folkedans Stemne 2012, August 17-19
with Bjerkreimringen
Plans are well underway for stemne this summer. Fortunately, even with the economy the way it is, we are able to keep registration under $100!
Bjerkreimringen has a wonderful program planned. Along with the group from Norway, local instructors, Peter Michaelsen (both a hardanger and flat fiddle player) and Rik Moseng (halling) will be teaching. Please bring your lur that has been standing in the corner of your room to stemne and learn how to play it!
Bjerkreimringen comes from the west coast Rogaland province. They hail from Vikeså, Brynes, Sandnes, Varhaug, Klepp, Ålgård, and Egersund. The group "was officially started in 1985, but some of the members have been dancing together since 1979. There are about 40 members who practice once a week. We like to perform and much of our practice is preparation for performances. For many summers we have had a special program for German tourists. The group travels a lot, both in Norway and abroad. We have been dancing on The Great Wall in China. This is our fifth trip to the USA." Odd Vegard Nedrebø is a multi-talented person who teaches dances and will bring along his harmonica, accordion, and torader. Jørgen Sagevik will be teaching accordion and torader. Signe Marie Feragen is bringing her lur and also conduct some classes in playing lur. Signe Marie and Magnhild Hadland will have lessons for the kids with a type of songleik . Gerny Nedrebø assisted by Sigurd Risdal will guide the songleik for the adults.
Peter Michaelsen, local Seattle fiddler, will be teaching both hardanger and flat fiddle during the stemne. He has been playing for over 30 years! Peter has been teaching a young fiddler in Seattle who received, on loan from the HFAA, a hardanger fiddle.
Our halling instructor is Rik Moseng, now a 25-year-old computer engineer. He grew up with the Poulsbo Leikarringen. At 13, he attended his first stemne and has gone to every single halling session during that time. "Norwegian dancing is one of my absolutely favorite hobbies. I now dance with the adult group in Poulsbo every Monday night, and love every second of it."
See the attached registration form for more information! Please be sure to fill in the instrument/s you play so Bill Boyd, our music coordinator, can make some plans for the evening dances.
We still need some housing for couples. If you are able to help, please let me know. The group is here in Seattle August 8 and 9, leave for Junction City and Poulsbo on August 11, 12, 13, return to Seattle for the 14th, 15th, 16th, and then at Camp Brotherhood for the weekend, and leave on Monday, the 20th.
See you in August if not before. There are the District 2 and District 7 Sons of Norway conventions in May, Syttende Mai in most of your communities, Folklife at the end of May, Midsommerfest in June.
If you have any questions, please be sure to contact us at cmadance@earthlink.net.
Christine Anderson, Norsk Folkedans Stemne 2012 treasurer
Scholarships for Norsk Folkedans Stemne 2012: One of the goals of stemne is to encourage the love of Norwegian dance and music in young people to continue this heritage brought to North America. Don't forget we do have several scholarships for young people at attend stemne! Many thanks to those of you who have contributed to our organization to continue this program!
Donations: Norsk Folkedans Stemne is an independent federal and state nonprofit corporation. We accept donations large and small to continue our purposes to teach, share, and promote understanding of Norwegian folk dances, music, songs, heritage, and culture through this annual gathering of Norwegian folk dancing groups from the United States, Canada and Norway. All monetary donations are tax deductible in the United States.
See you at Norsk Folkedans Stemne 2012 on August 17-19 at Camp Brotherhood!