VELKOMMEN!  (WELCOME!) & GENERAL INFO

The Mid-Atlantic Norwegian Dancers (MAND) is a loose network of Norwegiophiles centered in the Baltimore-Washington-Frederick area.   We have monthly Norwegian-style house parties with potluck and dancing, occasional dance classes, and an annual Spring Springar Spree weekend.

Norwegian Hardanger fiddle (Hardingfele) music is absolutely mesmerizing!  And Norwegian springar dances are uniquely wonderful.  See the Hardanger Fiddle Association of America website, www.hfaa.org, for lots of info.

Our local Hardanger fiddler is the foremost in the US:  Loretta Kelley.  (We're so lucky!)  And check out new local trio Nordensong, with Karl Lundeberg, Loretta Kelley, and Laura Hummel at www.Nordensong.com and on Youtube.

Email list:  To receive the latest MAND news/events, plus info on various other Scandinavian events and tidbits (dances, concerts, camps, Embassy events, etc.), you'll want to email Jenny to get on the email distribution list.  Usually 1 or 2 emails per month.

Meetup:  MAND's events are posted on meetup.com, too.  Please join our meetup group at https://www.meetup.com/Mid-Atlantic-Norwegian-Dancers . There's lots more info in our emails about events and items of interest, but the more members we show on Meetup the better--thanks.

Out-of-town guests:  We'd love to have you attend our events when you're visiting this area.  If you plan ahead we might even be able to put you up--contact Jenny.

SO WHO'S JENNY?  The Intrepid Facilitator of our merry little group.  Your contact for questions, email list, etc.  pi@xecu.net (please include MAND in subject), H 3O13714312. 

OUR MONTHLY PARTIES

GENERAL PARTY INFO:

Cozy Norwegian-style house parties with tasty potlucks, friendly company, transcendent music, and beautiful dancing.   

In-person (thanks to our hosts!); plus we've continued Zoom access for those who can't attend or are far away--usually just for the music/dance, and some at party may chat with Zoomers before/after/breaks.  

Mesmerizing all-live music by our Loretta Kelley and others on magical Norwegian Hardanger fiddles and Swedish nyckelharpas, which both have sympathetic strings under the bowed strings.  Addictive dances, some with elements like Swing or Hambo. Beginners, singles/couples, watchers/listeners all welcome.  Please bring potluck or snack/dessert food to share, clean shoes to wear, and bucks you can spare.  No need to bring a partner--we mix and some switch sides so all can dance.  We share dance moves and sometimes have informal classes beforehand or separately.

Questions to Jenny, pi@xecu.net (MAND in subject please), 3O13714312.  She sends regular emails to the MAND list with info on our events and other Scandinavian things of interest, so contact her to get on the list. 

Welcome!

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NEXT PARTY:  SAT DEC 9.  Special event featuring Andrea Hoag and Loretta Kelley plus other guest musicians playing Swedish and Norwegian tunes for dancing from their freshly-recorded album Hambo in the Garden (release date TBD).  Listeners also welcome! 

Note that this event features dancing first and food and socializing after dancing. Doors open at 6:30, dancing starts at 7:00, ending somewhat earlier than usual.  Please bring a dish or snack to share for the afterparty. Location: Stephen and Phyllis' place, Silver Spring, MD; suggested donation: $20. Masks optional; stay home if sick or covid exposure within 7 days; no street shoes please. For location please RSVP to: phllsdrrck@gmail.com.

Hope to see you there!

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ZOOMER INFO:  Probably Zooming on Dec 9 as always; will confirm and update here.  If yes, link will be sent out--contact Jenny to get on MAND list, or if not received by morning of.  Glad you can join us this way!

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FUTURE PARTIES:    SAT JAN 13 awaiting confirmation, SAT FEB 10 at Sonia White's, and SAT MAR 2 at Linda Brooks'; each with music by Loretta and friends.  In April, there will be multiple parties during our annual Spree--see below.  Parties are usually in first half of month, most often first Saturday.  Date/time depends on fiddler & host availability and other area events.

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**MANDLIST EMAIL NOTE**   You may have noticed that Jenny's taken a break from sending MAND emails to list as usual.    Computer used for that was stuck in shop (tricky problem, tech out sick for weeks, needed a part, sigh).  Could have sent another way, but it would have been time consuming (about 250 recipients), and dates were out in earlier MANDlist emails and info's been here.  Will have computer back and resume email soon, and have smooth backup plan after this--no worries.  Thanks for your patience, folks.

OUR ANNUAL SPRING SPRINGAR SPREE WEEKEND

You can attend all or part, in person or on Zoom.  All-live Hardanger fiddle music.  Dance, Hardanger fiddle, and song classes with friends from the Telemark region.  Three parties with music/dance from all over Norway and a bit beyond.  And our famous cozy Sunday brunch potluck.  

18th annual Spree *tentative date* is APR 12-14, 2024.  Please check back for updates as plans develop.

17th annual Spree *was* March 24-26, 2023--info is left on event page FYI until 2024 info comes out.

Click here for the event page.

OTHER EVENTS & TIDBITS OF INTEREST 

(please send info to Jenny to share here and in MAND emails)

DEC 4 (MON), 7:30PM in Rockville:  NORDENSONG'S album release concert, "Song of Aino," presented by the Institute of Musical Traditions.  Nordensong is Karl Lundeberg, Loretta Kelley, and Laura Hummel; see www.Nordensong.com.  They will be joined by Andrea Hoag.  Concert info/tix at www.IMTfolk.org.  Congrats to fab musicians Karl, Loretta, and Laura!

OTHER LOCAL SCANDI DANCING/PLAYING

There are 3 other Scandinavian dance groups in the greater DC region.  We each have a different focus, events are cross-publicized, and many folks attend more than one group.  Newbies are very welcome everywhere.  Yay, community!  Here are the other 3 groups:

Scandia DC - 3rd Sat, Sep-May - Swedish & Norwegian, class & dancing - See ScandiaDC.org

Hambo DC - most Tues evenings at NIH - beg & adv Swedish & Norwegian dancing - recorded and live music - on pandemic hold - See HamboDC.org

Nordic Dancers - Wed, Sep-May - pan-Scan dance performing group - See sites.google.com/site/NordicDancersDC

Many local Scan dancers also enjoy the Waltz Time Dances in the splendid historic Spanish Ballroom at Glen Echo Park.  Usually 1st and 3rd Sun afternoons.  If you feel inspired to do some Scandinavian dance to music which goes "1,2,3" there's often a fellow Scandinavian dancer around with whom to have a little fun....  See waltztimedances.org.

And there are 2 area Lags for fiddlers and other musicians.  One is part of Scandia DC, rehearsing during dance class and playing the first set at the dance.  The other is Washington's Spelmanslag--see www.WashingtonsSpelmanslag.com.

SCANDINAVIAN DANCE/MUSIC "CAMPS"

end of January:  Vermont Ski-Dance Weekend.  Contact Tom Kringstad, tom@nordic-home.com.

first weekend in Feb:  Hardanger Fiddle Association of America's "Open Hearth" Winter Workshop--has occurred since 2021 on Zoom.  See www.HFAA.org

end of February, alternate years:  "Telemark Winter Experience" at ski lodge in Norway, with visiting dancers/musicians and excursion to town. Contact TomLovli@gmail.com.

mid-March:  Spring Scandinavian Dance & Music Weekend at Folklore Village near Madison, WI.  Often same teachers as Boulder.  See under events at FolkloreVillage.com.

usually the following weekend:  Scan Dance & Music Weekend in Boulder, CO.  Often same teachers as FLV.  See under events at BoulderDanceCoalition.org.

April:  National Folk Organization's Annual Conference.  Variety of international folk music/dance/crafts sessions; may or may not incl Scandinavian.  With some sessions for folk group organizers.  See NFO-USA.org

Springtime:  MAND's Spring Springar Spree next to Washington DC.  Our annual Norwegian dance/music weekend!

mid-June:  Scandia Camp Mendocino in CA.  Swedish & Norwegian music & dance.  See ScandiaCampMendocino.org

week of July 4th (part-time mini-camp):  Nordic Fiddles & Feet Camp in NH (formerly in WV).  Swedish & Norwegian music & dance.  See nordicfiddlesandfeet.com.

usu 3rd weekend of July:  Hardanger Fiddle Association of America's Annual Gathering at Folklore Village in WI.  For fiddlers AND dancers!  See www.HFAA.org.

Labor Day weekend:  World Village Music & Dance Camp at Camp Louise in Cascade, MD.  Balkan and some Scandinavian.  Online in 2023.  See dancingplanetproductions.com.

OTHER CONNECTIONS

Hardanger Fiddle Association of America.  See HFAA.org

American Nyckelharpa Association.  See nyckelharpa.org

Scanfolk - Scandinavian dance/music news email listserv - a great way to keep in touch with the network of dance/music folks across the US between events.  To join send email to: scanfolk+subscribe@googlegroups.com

Norway's "official website abroad" & Norwegian Embassy.  See Norway.org

House of Sweden (Swedish Embassy) - mailing list for events/exhibits.  See HouseofSweden.com, click on Exhibitions

Sons of Norway, DC chapter.  See NorwayDC.org

American Scandinavian Association, DC chapter.  See Scandinavian-DC.org

Norwegian Ladies' Club of DC, MD, VA (social club to speak Norwegian).  See Dameklubben.com

Sveaborg Society in Baltimore (Swedish traditions and social events).  See SveaborgSociety.com