There is of course an abundance of Swedish folk dancing in Sweden.
- Thursdays, every other or so – The Eric Sahlström Institute has the ToboTorsdag series. Every other Thursday (or so) during the fall-winter-spring the ESI hosts a short concert, fika, and dance. Various groups, from small ensembles to large spelmanslag groups with 30 musicians come and play. The concert begins at 7 PM and lasts about an hour, fika about half an hour, and then the musicians are joined by anyone with an instrument to play for dancing. Dancing lasts until around 10, with a tradition of ending each evening with Eric Sahlström’s Spelmansglädje. These are very nice evenings. A few couples attend regularly, and our class of 20 students is usually represented.
- Thursdays – Polskedansarna http://www.polskedansarna.se has dances every Thursday, at Hägerstensåsens medborgarhus, Riksdalervägen 2-4. There are some photos of a recent workshop (October 30, 2014) with David and Mikael Eriksson teaching Orsa Polska and Schottis från Ovanmyra, and they have taught there many times previously. The website lists upcoming dances here and for the Friday group. I haven’t visited this group yet.
- Thursdays in Uppsala – philochoros studenternas folkdansförening is a student organization at the Uppsala University. They have a variety of events, including dance teaching from 7:30-9:30 on Thursdays at the V-Dala Nation building near the University. There is also a beginner course during the school year on Wednesdays. They have special events as well, and I have been visiting this group.
- Fridays – At the location Hägerstensåsens medborgarhus, Riksdalervägen 2-4, dances some Friday evenings are hosted by the group malparingen.se. I visited this dance shortly after this entry was originally posted; here is an update. On November 28th they featured the Southern Swedish dance Hamburska. It was taught by Peo and Åsa Jacobsson, with Ulf Lundgren playing fiddle. A very nice group of experienced dancers worked on the dance the entire evening, with a 30 minute fika. There were about 20-24 people, equal numbers of men and women the night I attended, and frequent changes of partner.
- Skansen has dances in the summer.
- Sundays, biweekly — It is my great privilege to have joined Östgötamix in Norrköping. This is a group of about 40 experienced dancers led by Helen and Stig Eriksson for over 20 years. They meet every other Sunday from 4-7 PM September-May. They have a unique “mix” where each dance is done 3 times, starting with a short review and/or teaching of the dance, then doing it, then moving up to the next partner for the next time. Sometimes there is further explanation of the dance between iterations. I really like getting to dance with everyone, and working on each dance 3 times per dance. Stig programs a variety of different dances and tunes for a very enjoyable afternoon. Everything is of course all in Swedish, but this is getting easier for me. We stop for a 30 minute fika to rest and chat and refresh during the 3 hour period, and end with a hambo mixer, and then a circle with joined intertwined hands to do a “check-in” and wish each other goodnight and sleep well. Here is an example of a recent program of dances: Hoppa Köna från Bergsjö, Hälsingland, Busserull från Norge, Polska från Rättvik, Bakmes och pols i turer från Idre, Hambo från Svartnäs, Gästrikland, Polska och bakmes från Mattmar, Polska från Boda, Hambo med bakmes från Loos, Hälsingland. I really enjoy participating in this group, to be with Stig and Helen and all the really nice people and good dancers, and how much it recharges my spirit to attend this group. It is a bit of a schlep from Tobo, but totally worth it.
- Sundays – Skeppis – There are dances every Sunday evening in Stockholm on the island of Skepsholmen at the Folkhögskola, from September though May. It is an old 17th century building full of dance and music spaces and wood floors, and a café. Admission is free. In addition to some concurrent dance workshops beginning at 6 PM, musicians gather to sing or learn and play tunes. Activities continue until midnight or they run out of musicians to play or dancers to dance. http://www.folkmusikhuset.se/en/index.html . I have been to one of these dances and it was really delightful, with good energy and I was able to readily find very good partners and enjoy some good dancing. They have a variety of music, with people signing up for 30 minute slots all evening to play for dance. The downside is it is far from Tobo. I left the dance at 10:30 PM and got home at 1 AM one Sunday evening, and was really dragging in classes the next day.
- Tobo Tisdag! Our group at the ESI has been gathering in the dance salon to play for each other and dance, on an informal basis on Tuesday evenings. Very exclusive! We have gotten less regular lately, but this has been a really good thing.
Östgötamix in Norrköping, from September when it was still light between 4 and 7 PM. It is a beautiful dance floor and a wonderful group.