I got my Stort Silver (Big Silver) medal on August 2, 2015, dancing with Stig Eriksson!
Here was our program:
Bakmes från Hede – Backmans variant, hambo och bakmes
Polskdans – Springdans från Hogdal-Lommeland
springdans, polsksteg med- och motsols, vigheter fordras ej
Polska från Östra Jämtlant – senpolska
and small dances:
Polska från Södra Dalarna
Polska från Ore
Polska från Alfta eller Arbrå (we did Arbrå) — this was the dance selected
Nine Stort Silver medalists in 2015! Two of us were Americans. There was also a gold medalist this year. Gold medals are seldom given, and honor people who have given significantly to the movement over many years. Two of the Uppdansning judges have been awarded gold medals.
Here is my silver medal on the left, and Stort Silver on the right below the certificate for the Stort Silver.
I have been extremely fortunate that Stig Eriksson offered to be my partner for this testing process. He is one of the best dancers in Sweden. He and his wife Helen completed their Stort Silver in 2000. With Stig I earned Bronze in 2008, Silver in 2010, SSI in 2012, and SSII in 2014. I”danced up” for SSIII or Stort Silver this summer in 2015 and was successful!
Happy winners!
Preparing to dance Polskdans – Springdans från Hogdal-Lommeland, springdans, polsksteg med- och motsols, vigheter fordras ej with Stig on August 2, 2015.
Polska från Östra Jämtlant – senpolska, also known as Gimdalen. It has a lovely floating quality.
Polskdans – Springdans från Hogdal-Lommeland springdans, polsksteg med- och motsols, vigheter fordras ej. My hair flew out horizontally on the turns. This was probably the reverse direction turn.
Helen and Stig Eriksson are on the left, and Linda Brooks and Ross Schipper on the right. They were all instrumental in my ability to complete this program and earn Bronze, Silver, and Big Silver medals.
Congratulations, Sonia!! 🙂
I’m not much of a dancer (also I would certainly like to learn, but there is not much opportunity in Germany), but I find it interesting that this system resembles the Zornmärket system (with gold only given on special occasions etc.). How much did your dance experience help you at ESI?
By the way, I’m going ot Sweden in 2 weeks for the first time, woohoo, can’t wait! 🙂
I think that my dance experience is incredibly helpful for playing the music, and that learning the music has also enhanced my dance experience. At the ESI the musicians all participated in dance classes every other week for a morning or a day, because it is understood that this dance experience is so important for feeling the music.