Norske Runddansere in the News!
Below are links to some articles highlighting our vibrant group.
Photos above : December’s magical Snoball Dance in the Gorge and Matt Jolley and Terri Baker enjoy Scandinavian dancing at Nordia House in SW Portland.
"Beyond the Hambo: Discover the Scandi Dancing Community" By Robert Sisk
See article in PCDC September-October 2025 Newsletter here:
https://portlandcountrydance.org/current_newsletter.pdf
“Everyone enjoys a good hambo,” proclaims one long-time contra dancer. A dance teacher calls the hambo one of the most satisfying dances of her wide teaching repertoire. Indeed, Sweden’s national dance has long been a favorite after-the-break dance at contra dances coast-to-coast. With its lilting steps and smooth, graceful turns, all timed to the rhythm of lyrical folk tunes, the hambo is most contra dancers’ first exposure to Scandinavian dancing. While many Portland dancers learned hambo basics at the annual Hambo Fest held by the area’s primary and oldest (42 years) Scandinavian dance group, Norske Runddansere (NR), others have discovered other Scandinavian dances (both partner and group) that are also a wonderful complement to contra dancing. At Norske Runddansere’s Monday dances, dancers enjoy a wide range of Nordic dances just as satisfying and poetic as the Hambo. Partner dances that originated in tiny Scandinavian villages, such as the Boda, Bingsjö, and Roros Polskas, are taught and danced year-round, most often to live music that might include traditional instruments like the Nyckelharpa and Hardanger fiddle. Matt Jolley and Terri Baker enjoy Scandinavian dancing at Nordia House in SW Portland The instruction season goes from mid-September to mid-June. Simple, lively dances, such as the Schottische and Snoa, help kick off the lesson season, building steps and confidence as the season progresses to more advanced dances. Even then, the most challenging dances are taught in two lessons. Each Monday’s hour lesson is taught by experienced instructors who have learned the dances in Scandinavia or at workshops around the country. Open dancing follows the lesson with a variety of dances, sometimes requested from a list built on past lessons, but always including the dance taught that evening. Interspersed are easy, spirited mixers that bring people together to foster group socializing and a strong sense of community. Although the dance repertoire has expanded over time, the message at the door stresses that neither partner nor experience is necessary to join in. Newcomers to Scandinavian dancing are coaxed by experienced dancers into the joyful mixers and easy partner dances sprinkled through the evening, reinforcing that “all are welcome and anyone can dance something!” Norske Runddansere meets in the Great Hall of the beautifully crafted and spacious Nordic Northwest Center at 8809 SW Oleson Road in Portland. The center features a hand-carved front door, abundant natural light, and an immense artistically-rendered troll on its park-like grounds. With rare major holiday exceptions, doors open every Monday evening at 7 pm for sign-in, with lessons starting up on September 8 this year. The lesson goes from 7:15 to 8:15 pm, with open dancing following until 9:15 pm. Non-member drop-in fee is $10 ($6 for students), but an annual membership at $125 covers nearly 50 nights of dancing. NR also sponsors fall, winter, and spring special event dances, as well as December’s magical “Snoball in the Gorge” (see accompanying photo). For more information, visit norskerunddansere.org or call 503-560-5773.
See article in PCDC September-October 2025 Newsletter here:
https://portlandcountrydance.org/current_newsletter.pdf
“Everyone enjoys a good hambo,” proclaims one long-time contra dancer. A dance teacher calls the hambo one of the most satisfying dances of her wide teaching repertoire. Indeed, Sweden’s national dance has long been a favorite after-the-break dance at contra dances coast-to-coast. With its lilting steps and smooth, graceful turns, all timed to the rhythm of lyrical folk tunes, the hambo is most contra dancers’ first exposure to Scandinavian dancing. While many Portland dancers learned hambo basics at the annual Hambo Fest held by the area’s primary and oldest (42 years) Scandinavian dance group, Norske Runddansere (NR), others have discovered other Scandinavian dances (both partner and group) that are also a wonderful complement to contra dancing. At Norske Runddansere’s Monday dances, dancers enjoy a wide range of Nordic dances just as satisfying and poetic as the Hambo. Partner dances that originated in tiny Scandinavian villages, such as the Boda, Bingsjö, and Roros Polskas, are taught and danced year-round, most often to live music that might include traditional instruments like the Nyckelharpa and Hardanger fiddle. Matt Jolley and Terri Baker enjoy Scandinavian dancing at Nordia House in SW Portland The instruction season goes from mid-September to mid-June. Simple, lively dances, such as the Schottische and Snoa, help kick off the lesson season, building steps and confidence as the season progresses to more advanced dances. Even then, the most challenging dances are taught in two lessons. Each Monday’s hour lesson is taught by experienced instructors who have learned the dances in Scandinavia or at workshops around the country. Open dancing follows the lesson with a variety of dances, sometimes requested from a list built on past lessons, but always including the dance taught that evening. Interspersed are easy, spirited mixers that bring people together to foster group socializing and a strong sense of community. Although the dance repertoire has expanded over time, the message at the door stresses that neither partner nor experience is necessary to join in. Newcomers to Scandinavian dancing are coaxed by experienced dancers into the joyful mixers and easy partner dances sprinkled through the evening, reinforcing that “all are welcome and anyone can dance something!” Norske Runddansere meets in the Great Hall of the beautifully crafted and spacious Nordic Northwest Center at 8809 SW Oleson Road in Portland. The center features a hand-carved front door, abundant natural light, and an immense artistically-rendered troll on its park-like grounds. With rare major holiday exceptions, doors open every Monday evening at 7 pm for sign-in, with lessons starting up on September 8 this year. The lesson goes from 7:15 to 8:15 pm, with open dancing following until 9:15 pm. Non-member drop-in fee is $10 ($6 for students), but an annual membership at $125 covers nearly 50 nights of dancing. NR also sponsors fall, winter, and spring special event dances, as well as December’s magical “Snoball in the Gorge” (see accompanying photo). For more information, visit norskerunddansere.org or call 503-560-5773.
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Enjoy the Norske Runddanansere’s Birthday Ball at Garden Home’s Nordic Northwest, May 5
Beaverton Valley Times, April 24, 2025. By Scott Keith See the article at: https://beavertonvalleytimes.com/2025/04/24/enjoy-the-norske-runddananseres-birthday-ball-at-garden-homes-nordic-northwest-may-5/ https://forestgrovenewstimes.com/2025/04/24/enjoy-the-norske-runddananseres-birthday-ball-at-garden-homes-nordic-northwest-may-5/ Portland’s leading Scandinavian dance group, Norske Runddansere, is hosting its annual Birthday Ball 7:15-9:45 p.m. at the Nordic center in Garden Home. If you have a Scandinavian background, or perhaps you have a hankering for lutefisk, the place to be Monday, May 5, is Nordic Northwest. Portland’s leading Scandinavian dance group, Norske Runddansere, will be celebrating its inception over 40 years ago with its annual Birthday Ball 7:15-9:45 p.m. at the Nordic center on Oleson Road in Garden Home. “We think it’s very important to promote the Scandinavian culture, and the best way to do that is through a fun, exuberant activity such as dancing,” Robert Sisk, Nordic Northwest spokesperson, said. Performing live music will be Fossegrimen, and guests will be able to enjoy traditional couple dancing and numerous circle dances. Fossegrimen has played traditional folk dance music from Scandinavia for over 20 years and is known for musical instruments such as the Hardanger fiddle and the Nyckelharpa, or key fiddle. “The majority of the band members have been to Scandinavia and have traveled the country and been around their traditions and folk music,” Sisk said. If you feel shy about dancing, Sisk said, “People who come in and think they can’t dance, we’ll just coax them into joining in the mixers. They’re very simple and we teach them. Anybody who shows up can dance. You don’t have to sit and watch.” “This also comes as we approach mid-summer, which are the big mid-summer celebrations that all Scandinavians engage in, such as the raising of the midsummer pole,” Sisk said. May 17 is Norwegian Independence Day. |
NR members pictured at 2024 Birthday Ball:
Dave Weisel, Susan Ebers, Kim Majors, Darry Landeen, Irene Landeen, and Louise Beauchamp |
