John C. Campbell Folk School

Kari, Carol, and Art with Wendy Graham, Music and Dance Programs Coordinator.

John C. Campbell Folk School has Danish roots. We honored the Centenial through sharing our favorite Danish dances that we practice here in Minneapolis. Wendy Graham presented an archival copy of their Song and Dance book and - yes - these dances are in there! Additionally, Wendy had learned many of these as a youth in Denmark and Kentucky - it was goosebumps.

Contra and square dance traditions are very strong at the school and in Brasstown and Surrounding area. We split the teaching between Scandinavian and American. Wendy is an amazing teacher. Revitalizing some "chestnuts" in this tradition and giving the movements historical contex with the reminder of hoop skirts! This mirrored our teachings about how historical shoes, clothing, and available dance spaces informed Scandinavian dance.

Being in stav (spine alignment), having svikt (wave) and tyngde (weigh) in our movements was learned through the joyful flow of Telegangar. As a tradition bearer, Carol Sersland is beautiful to watch and learn from. Singing for our own dancing is a fun gift to give others. We sang and played runes with Komme Alle. Folx learned the Raspberry Song. Now they can Schottische anywhere the spirit moves them to. We learned to dance alone, in pairs, in sets of four, and in large groups. We danced to song, fiddle, accordion, and overtone flute. We celebrated root culture with cow horn and honoring. I was even able to lead Morning Song with bone flutes!

One student clocked 55,000 steps from Thursday night to Saturday Night - A marathon! There was a huge community turn out at the Saturday Night Dance...200 perhaps?

Sacred Land - The school in its centenial sits on Cherokee traditional lands and is the starting point for the horror known as "The Trail of Tears." The school has been working with Cherokee artists and historians to reckon with this part of the history of this place. There is a moving and awe-inspiring nature and sculpture garden called "River Cane Walk." It explores the nature, the Cherokee culture, and attempts to heal the atrocities visited on native people and land.