The Bainbridge Island Nordic Dance

Dance to the lively music of Scandinavian bands from all over the Pacific Northwest at the BBI Nordic Dance on the first Saturday of every month, October to June, at Island Center Hall.  Set-up and jamming starts around 5 p.m., potluck at 6, and dancing from 7 till 10 p.m.

The waltzes, polkas, schottisches, hambos, folk dance mixers and other dances hail from the traditions of Denmark, Finland, Sweden and Norway, though new tunes and dances are still being composed. This kind of dancing is popular wherever a Scandinavian population can be found.

Where would we be without our dance organizers, talented musicians Bill and Gina Boyd of Hale Bill and the Bopps, and Art Hare, dance teacher extraordinaire from the Seattle Folkdance Society? Every month they load up sound gear and make the trek over on the ferry from Seattle to facilitate this dance. Art Hare is the emcee and dance teacher, with local dance teachers sometimes contributing as well. Gina and Bill also facilitate the Allspel, a musical interlude and break for the performing band during which any musician with an instrument can come out and play well-known Scandinavian tunes. And our local crew of dancers and dance teachers help to set up for and clean up after the event, making sure the kitchen and hall are clean and ready, the giant coffee pot is perking away, and they may even be warming up some marvelous dishes for the potluck smorgasbord.

In these photos you'll see Gammel Dansk from Vancouver, B.C., Seattle band Speldosan, and Norwegian guest fiddler Einar Eimhjellen from Western Norway. Einar jammed with us yesterday afternoon, and last night played a few dances during the performance of my group, the Clover Blossom Band (unfortunately, I forgot to ask someone to take photos of us!). The devoted dancers carpool from points far and near.

Three different dance evenings are combined into this photo essay. Click on the small photos to enlarge them.