Welcome to Poulsbo Sammendra Scandinavian Folk Dancers
All are welcome to come and dance with us!
Welcome to Poulsbo Sammendra Scandinavian Folk Dancers
All are welcome to come and dance with us!
Some History
The Poulsbo Sammendra Scandinavian Dancers have been meeting for over 45 years. The Poulsbo Sons of Norway Lodge sponsors our dance group. Stan and Grace Overby (third from left standing and second from left sitting, both deceased) taught the group starting in 1969 until about 2001.
Scandia Midsommer Fest, Raab Park Poulsbo circa. 1990s.
We are wearing our dance costumes in this picture, but you do not need a costume to dance with us. We only wear ours for special events.
Poulsbo Viking Fest, Kvelstad Pavilion Poulsbo circa. 1990s.
You will learn dances from Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Finland. The dances we do include waltz, polka, schottish, polska, pols, hambo, two step, buzz swing, and pivot steps.
Early History
From Deborah Petzal (Anderson)
Poulsbo Sammendra and Sons of Norway
My husband, Roland Anderson, was an avid folk dancer at the time I met him back in Seattle in 1969. We became regulars each Wednesday night when Skandia Folkdance Society held its weekly dance in Seattle’s University District, led by Gordon Tracy. It was there we first came to know Stan and Grace Overby and together, with many others, became fast friends. Our paths went their separate ways when Roland and I moved to Bremerton C 1974 but we kept an active hand in Skandia’s Midsommar Fest held each year in Gig Harbor. This was a time for dancing, music, and catching up with friends - the Overby’s included. Grace and I often teamed in decorating the pole, hoops, and grounds; Stan always amused how Roland used to haul the 25 foot ‘Maistang’ pole into an up-right position with our 1957 1-Ton International Travelall. After the pole broke on one occasion, Roland, an engineer by profession and Journeyman Shipwright by trade, showed Gordon how forked sticks of various lengths could raise the pole manually, in more traditional fashion. With success the following year, the method was accepted and the Maistang quickly grew to 65 feet. The one stipulation Roland demanded was that no holes be bored into the pole for the top cross bar. This would weaken the pole considerably.
Life for Roland and me changed again and C 1976, we moved to Poulsbo – establishing Anderson’s Poulsbo Boat Works. Roland’s Norwegian-Finnish heritage meant joining the Sons of Norway where Roland was soon elected as an Inner Guard. And it was here we again met up with our friends, the Overby’s. Stan instantly welcomed us and invited us to lend any help we might offer to his dance classes. We just as quickly accepted. Grace, shy and reserved in nature, didn’t feel comfortable – though willing – to demonstrate or lead various demonstrations. Thus, Stan and I quickly became partners – he leading and explaining the steps while I followed. Roland joined with Grace dancing with those left solo or wanting someone to guide in initial execution of steps. Our numbers soon swelled and the hall filled with music from both records and cassette tapes.
Word reached Roland and me C 1980 that the owners of Skandia Gaard in Gig Harbor, where Midsommar Fest was held each year, were selling their restaurant and surrounding property in favor of retiring. Midsommar Fest and Skandia Folkdance Society would have to vacate to new surroundings. Roland and I persuaded an employee from Poulsbo City Hall, Jerry Elfendahl, to accompany us to Gig Harbor the last and final Midsommar celebration there … Would it be possible to bring it all to Poulsbo?? Stan and Grace spoke eloquently to those in the Sons of Norway, offering background information and drumming up support. Roland and I coordinated meetings between Gordon Tracy, Skandia Folkdance Society board members and Poulsbo City Hall. Long story short, the go-ahead was given and Raab Park was prepared.
How to transport the 65 foot pole from Gig Harbor to Poulsbo proved one of the greater challenges, far beyond building an entire stage and dance platform. Gene Cook, together with his wife Anne, were now regulars at folk dancing; Gene and Roland coming up with the idea of lifting the pole atop our 1-ton International and driving it up to Poulsbo ourselves. The pole extended way beyond the truck fore and aft from its overhead position - as a lance protruding from the steed. Gene went ahead of Roland to signal when intersections were clear; then Roland gunned the old truck for all it was worth to get through as quickly as possible. If Poulsbo police spotted them, they kindly looked the other way. The first Midsommar Fest in Poulsbo’s Frank Raab Park successfully unfolded on June 14, 1981, pole and all.
In the meantime, with Midsommar Fest given the ok to relocate in Poulsbo by all concerned, our Sons of Norway folkdance group, informal up to this point, felt we could form a real dance group capable of performing for lodge functions, Syttende Mai, holiday events and the like. Known as ‘Poulsbo’s Norwegian Dancers’ up to that point, we wanted a clearer title of who we were. ‘Sammendra’ in Norwegian means ‘to bring together’ – which is exactly what folk dancing did for all of us, and continues to do so. Besides Stan and Grace, our group consisted at that time of: Roland & Deborah Anderson; Lloyd & Phyllis Cleven; Eugene (Gene) & Anne Cook; James Elsevick & Pamela Pennings; Jessie Hey; Bob & Pat Johnson; George Kidd & Lynn Terry; Gayle & Ed Lamberson; Archie & Norma Lien; Bruce & Barbara MacKenzie; Otto Titterness; and Sharon & Chuck Budd. Now officially launched, our first year of performances began with Syttende Mai, 1982 followed by Midsommar Fest in June; Poulsbo Waterfront Arts Fest July-Aug.; and several repeat performances on the open platform to help raise funds for a roof for the new Kvelstad Pavilion Bill Austin built/donated to Poulsbo’s Waterfront Park. An event, “Among the Runes…” brought dancers from Vancouver, B.C. joining us in Sept., with the year closing with the Sons of Norway Julefest, led by a Lucia Bride.
Many more years, many more changes… Many in our initial group have passed away. But the gift Stan and Grace Overby gave sill lives strong. Once a year, folk dancers from all over Scandinavia gather for a big celebration in one of the countries designated prior. In the closing ceremony, each dancer is given a candle and in reverence to the occasion, one dancer lights the candle of the person next, on down the line – symbolic that folk dancing only lives when it is freely passed on to the next and is meant to be shared, as the gift was initially received.
Deborah Petzal
Feb. 2023