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Buffalo Gap Camp

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Nordic Fiddles & Feet 2002

Description from the Brochure

Dance classes include Swedish, Norwegian and Basics and are designed for all levels of dancers. Dance basics is intended to give beginners an introduction to Scandinavian dancing while working on skills that help all levels of dancing. We change partners often (you need not register with one). Evening parties are varied with gammaldans, mixers, bygdedans, dances taught during daily classes, and your special requests. We dance to live music at every session and party!

Music classes include introductory, intermediate and advanced Swedish fiddle, nyckelharpa, hardingfele, and singing. To take a Swedish fiddle class, you must be a competent, solid fiddler in some tradition but may be new to Scandinavian music. For hardingfele or nyckelharpa, you need to have some musical background on any instrument. The kullning and singing sessions will include an introductory language session for singers without Swedish and Norwegian language skills. The gammaldans band is open to ALL instruments and singers. We also offer coaching with small ensembles.

Crafts and cultural sessions will be presented by various members of the staff throughout the week.

Swedish Staff

RUNE BÄCKLIN leads the folkdance group in Arbrå. He regularly teaches bygdedanser at Polskecirkusen in Rengsjö and other groups. He has, along with Monika, been active in a project to research, videotape, record, and describe the dances of Hälsingland.

MONIKA OLSSON has passed all the levels of the “polskeuppdansning” (polska medal testing) as well as the diploma dances so far. She teaches dance regularly both with Rune and independently in Arbrå, Rengsjö and elsewhere.

KERSTIN PALM plays for Polskecirkusen, Jonssonlinjen, and the dance workshops at Norrlandia Camp. She is a talented singer with a special interest in kulning and is an appreciated teacher at various camps in Sweden and the U.S. Bengt and Kerstin’s children Staffan (17) and Lena (15) will accompany them to camp. They are talented classical and folk musicians in their own right.

BENGT JONSSON has been playing fiddle since he was very young. His group, Jonssonlinjen, plays for Polskecirkusen, a dance group he organized in his home region of Hälsingland. He has played for the Hälsinge Hambo Contest and the uppdansning, and he leads the Bollnäsbygdens Spelmanslag. In 2000, he was awarded Riksspelman on cowhorn.

TORBJÖRN NASBOM began playing fiddle with the legendary Uppland fiddler Viksta-Lasse as a young boy. It was a natural progression to nyckelharpa. Torbjörn’s students rave about his teaching and find his playing to be inspirational. He has a sparkling technique that gives his playing an amazing emotional content while he retains a genuine Uppland feel.

Norwegian Staff

TORILL STAVE is an excellent (A-class) dancer and singer. She is a national champion both in hallingspringar and in folk songs. She has cooperated on several folk song CDs and has contributed to many concerts and workshops with hallingspringar and singing. She often teaches dance classes, and frequently judges dancing and singing competitions (kappleiks) as well.

BJØRN LIEN is an A-class dancer. He teaches and performs hallingspringar often and frequently judges dancing competitions (kappleiks). From 1993 - 1998 he was the chairman of the Norwegian National Organization for Folk Music (Landslaget for Spelemenn) including dancers, singers and fiddlers. As chairman he was responsible for the arrangement of "Landskappleiken"(the national championship). Currently he is coordinating a Norwegian folk music festival to occur in May that will include concerts and workshops.

EGIL SYVERSBRÅTEN was born in Hallingdal, Norway but now lives in the fjord district in western Norway. Egil combines fiddling with sheep farming as has been the tradition with many great Norwegian fiddlers. In addition to his expertise in Hallingdal music, he performs together with other musicians in traditional Norwegian and other genres. He is the 1993 recipient of the Øyvind Bergh Memorial Award and the 1997 Nowegian Tradional Music Fund award. He has two recordings.

State-Side Staff

Our state-side staff have extensive experience as musicians and teachers. They have studied and played with the finest musicians both in the United States and in Scandinavia. All excel in a number of musical/dance styles and add energy, variety, and unbeatable spirit to the program.

ROO LESTER and LARRY HARDING (Scandinavian Dance Basics) have a delightful way of teaching and are favorites of both novice and experienced dancers. They eagerly share their wealth of knowledge with attention to detail and good humor.

ANDREA HOAG (Gammaldans band, small ensembles) is an outstanding, energetic, group leader. Her experience and style comfortably introduce newcomers to Scandinavian music, and experienced musicians cherish the opportunity to play with her.

LORETTA KELLEY (Hardingfele) gently lures all of us toward a love of Norwegian rhythms. Her mastery of the music, exceptional skill, and unassuming manner are respected throughout the world.

BRUCE SAGAN (Music Director is only the beginning) doesn't know how to stop. He plays many instruments exceptionally well and has limitless musical enthusiasm and energy. The magic will last throughout the year.

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