This course is currently sold out. We do sometimes get cancellations – if you would like to be added to the waiting list, please fill in an enquiry form and tick the ‘Waiting List’ box.
We’re really excited to be joining up with Chris Dyer, Tom Evans, and members of the Third Beat Dance Collective for a music and dance course exploring the folk cultures of the Nordic countries.
For dancers, the main focus will be Swedish polska, but there will also be chances to learn other popular dances such as vals, schottis and slängpolska.
Musicians will explore the rich repertoire of Swedish dance music and will venture into other repertoires including Danish, Norwegian and Finnish. As well as learning tunes and styles, you’ll be looking at elements of the Nordic style, like traditional second voicing and harmonies, and learning how to play for the dancing. During evening dances, musicians will be offered the chance to play solo/in groups/with tutors in short slots.
Although dancers will be concentrating on learning the dances in workshops, they will be most welcome to join in on an instrument in evening sessions. Instrumentalists will have the chance to learn to polska too (see information about shoes below).
You’ll receive sheet music for all the tunes that the tutors plan to teach, as well as three audio recordings to help you decide on your ability level.
Who is it for?
Dancers: This course is open to all levels of dance experience, from beginners to advanced. Whatever your level, there will be something in the course for you. Ideally, you’ll be able to bring a pair of leather-soled shoes with a very low heel or any soled shoes with some slide.
Instrumentalists: The course is suitable for any instrument, including diatonic. You should have a reasonable level of proficiency to get the most out of the course (it’s not suitable for beginners). Instrumentalists don’t need to be able to read music, but should ideally be able to pick tunes up by ear (although dots will be supplied).
The Team
Known for his jazzy interpretation of a range of folk styles, multi-instrumentalist Tom Evans has been an engaging figure on the folk scene since his early days with Shooting Roots. Twice New Roots finalist on accordion (solo 2017, duo “Missing Richard” 2019), he shares his skills around a range of ensembles including Climax Ceilidh Band, Suntrap, The Twagger Band, Missing Richard, and others, with material ranging from England to Quebec, ceilidh to bal, dance to song.
Fiddler and nyckelharpa player Chris Dyer is MC of the London Scandi Session. She’s a regular performer and workshop leader at UK festivals and bal folk dance clubs and is a guest player with Boda and Falun Spelmanslags in Sweden.
Ella Sprung and Andrew Parr each completed the diploma in folk dance at the Eric Sahlström Institute in central Sweden. Since their return they have been teaching Swedish folk dance across the UK, as part of the Third Beat Dance Collective. They bring a contemporary look at the intricacies of partner dance, and shine a new light on what traditional dance can offer for connecting with our bodies, the music, and each other.