A Night of Tradition through a Dancer’s Eyes

by Stefanie Cornell

Posted in the August 24-30, 2017 issue of the Washington Island Observer

On August 5, the Island’s 69th Scandinavian Dance Festival took place. Children began to gather behind the stage at the Community Center in the early evening, all dressed up in festival costumes. Girls had their hair in braids, some adorned with flowers or ribbons. Each dance group clamored to see where they were on the schedule. The air was buzzing with children shouting and older dancers hurrying them to their right positions or back to the crowd to watch the dances. 

The preschoolers opened the show. With their precious dances and adorable costumes, they elicit many a collective “aww” from the crowd. As a dancer, the groups before you seem to speed by as you anxiously and excitedly wait for your chance to step on to the stage. Even those of us who have danced since preschooler still get pre-dancing nerves. The older dancers watch from the crowd, tapping their toes and humming the music, as each of the younger groups skip and spin upon the stage. 

Then, it is your turn to step upon the stage. Hushed whispers are shared as each person frantically finds their partner and their place in line. The big lights hit your face, and there you are, facing the crowd, ready to dance what you have been practicing for weeks. A few chuckles escape from dancers when there’s a misstep or the loss of a shoe. The dance ends and the dancers all curtsy and bow and follow each other off stage to breathlessly laugh over little mistakes and to reassure each other that no one noticed.

 After each group has gone, it is time for the finale. All the dancers hurry to form a giant line that will wrap itself up on stage, while they sing a Norwegian folksong. Dancers are giddy as they have now successfully performed their dances in front of the crowd. What they have practiced has come to an end, and the countdown to the next year has begun. 

The Scandinavian Fest has become such a large part of many of the dancers’ summers; it is a chance to spend time with friends and practice a part of our heritage. It will always be important to this community, because it is part of what makes our community unique. We have held onto a tradition like this for many, many years and continue to enjoy it.