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

Tasty potlucks, friendly company, transcendent music, and beautiful dancing.   In-person plus Zoom access when possible.  We share dance moves and sometimes have informal classes.  All-live music.  Event details are sent to the MAND email list and others who inquire.  Please email Jenny for info.

-----------------

NEXT PARTY:  SAT OCT 7.  Potluck 6 PM, then music for dancing at 7:30.  You can attend in person or on Zoom.    Mesmerizing 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.  Newbies will be welcomed, encouraged, and assimilated.   Questions to Jenny, pi@xecu.net, 3O13714312, or host.

Oct 7 party host is Sonia White of Kensington, with her big friendly dog.  More info including her current pandemic parameters will be up here about a week ahead.  

**NOTE**  Jenny's computer is in shop, so you might need to get details here instead of via usual email to MAND list; please check back.

Zoom:  For those who can't attend or are far away.  Starting 15-30 min before music for sound checks and socializing.  Some at party will visit with you a bit before/after.  Zoomers can unmute and chat between tunes, because speakers will be off in dance space.  Link and any info updates are normally sent a day or two before, to MAND email list and others who have requested; contact Jenny the day of party if you haven't gotten it.  

-----------------

FUTURE MAND HOUSE PARTIES:   SAT NOV 11 evening at Linda Brooks', music by Loretta Kelley and others.  SAT DEC 9 evening at host TBD, music by Loretta Kelley and others.  Parties are usually in first half of month, most often first Saturday.  Date/time depends on fiddler & host availability and other area events.

OUR 17th ANNUAL SPRING SPRINGAR SPREE WEEKEND

*was* March 24-26, 2023--this info is remaining for future reference.

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.   

Click here for the event page.

OTHER EVENTS & TIDBITS OF INTEREST 

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

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