Scandinavian Dance Workshop

Cost: $20 (sliding scale to $12)

Slängpolska is an easy dance to start learning. There are no complex pivots–just walking. Fabulous music for our dance adventures will be provided by lydia ievins (nyckelharpa & 5-string fiddle) & Andrea Larson (fiddle), whose large slängpolska repertoire includes some very catchy tunes.

One of the missions that lydia & Andrea brought home from Sweden with them is to introduce the awesomeness of the dancing that is Actually cool in Sweden now. Slängpolska — as danced in Stockholm and Uppland and among the multigenerational set — is more freeform-y nonchoregraphed-y improv-y swingdance-y than what you may expect from the Scandi-dance scene in these parts, and it is totally a great fit for our dance demographic. PLUS that is where a great many of the super-awesome accessible tunes are, so the increasingly many folks who want to play Swedish tunes will also be happy.

There will also be a slängpolska fiddle workshop at a nearby location in the afternoon. Learn a favorite new tune! Slängpolska tunes are groovy, accessible, and highly satisfying. Our session will be geared toward intermediate players who are comfortable learning by ear. Open to melody players and those willing to pretend to be melody players. Preregistration for the fiddle workshop is required, as there is limited space. Contact Donna to reserve your spot: donna.l.hopkins@gmail.com

More info: www.montaguescandia.org

YouTube: http://lydia.pw/sp — see the dancing, and snippets of how slängpolska looks at dance events.  These are pretty neat!