On August 12 at 6 p.m. enjoy a wild salmon dinner and performances by Poulsbo Leikarringen and Barneleikarringen of Great Seattle; dancers and musicians straight from Norway; and local dancers and musicians, Roo Lester, Jane Johnson and Jeff Anderson, at Leif Erikson Hall, 2245 NW 57th Street, Seattle WA 98107.

The event is sponsored by Leikarringen of Leif Erikson Lodge No. 1 and Norsk Folkedans Stemne. Proceeds benefit the educational programs of Norsk Folkedans Stemne, a 501c3 organization. Afterwards, there is dancing for everyone. Seating is limited so buy your tickets early.

Poulsbo Leikarringen is the premier young adult dance group in the greater Seattle area. They were the featured program at the centennial of Sons of Norway District 2 and wowed the delegates with their fast paced dances. It included the amazing athletic halling which culminated with the high kick off of the hat held on a long pole 10 feet in the air!

Barneleikarringen features performances of the children's dances of Norway and Scandinavia. The enthusiasm and smiles of youngsters ages 3-10 is heartwarming as they show off their skills in singing and dancing!

Guests from Norway!
Alix Cordray is an active Norwegian dance instructor in Oslo. She currently teaches two recreational groups and numerous workshops. Hordaringen and Springarn perform regularly and have visited stemne. Alix moved to Norway in 1975 where she focused on Norwegian dance and instruction. She often tours in the US teaching the many types of Norwegian folk dancing. Creating amazing performances for the knowledgeable dance audiences in Seattle is a sight to behold.

Evald Fredholm is an amateur Norwegian dancer and folk singer from Toten, Norway. Evald is very active in dancing at festivals and competitions. He dances in two performing dance groups, BUL Oslo and Gjøvik Folkedanslag. In the competitions, his dance is "Torpespringar." Evald has played the accordion since he was 8 years old and tours Eastern Norway singing and playing. He is a troubadour and is very good at old popular songs, such as Prøysen.

Mari Nustad studied folk dance at the University of Trondheim (NTNU). She is a teacher by profession and has taught folk dance in school (children aged 10-16). Since 2011 she has been very active in dancing in Oslo, mostly Hallingspringar, Valdresspringar and gammeldans. She has participated in group competitions at festivals such as Landskappleiken and Jørn Hilme.

Elise Tégner grew up in Drøbak. She started playing classical music at 9, folk music at 15, and is now a student at the Norwegian Academy of Music, in the folk music performing program for fiddle and Hardanger. Elise is interested in the music of Akershus and Østfold and focuses on creating lively music with good dance rhythm, so that it "swings" and appeals to dancers and listeners.

Dancers and Musicians from the United States!

Roo Lester is one of America's foremost folk dancers, instructor for Norwegian dances, and authorities on Scandinavian folkdance. Roo will be focusing on turning dances and Finnskogspols at Norsk Foledans Stemne.

Jane Johnson has been playing at dances in the Puget Sound area for many years with her husband Jeff Anderson. She is a self taught musician, introduced to Nordic music through family links. Jane's father played fiddle and accordion. Jane was a late-bloomer who began playing the button accordion at around age 40.

Jeff Anderson is from Waterville, Washington, and has been playing fiddle since the age of 15. For over thirty years he has played for shows and dances. Both of his grandfathers were Norwegian-style fiddlers from North Dakota, and he is carrying on the musical traditions of his family. Both he and Jane play with Nordic Spirit, formed in 1999.

See you at the wild salmon dinner and performance by dancers in Poulsbo Leikarringen and Barneleikarringen, guest dancers and musicians from Norway, and other local musicians and dancers on Tuesday, August 12!