Enterprise Dispatch Blog

The Stoughton Folk Dancers, a group of 20 junior and senior high school students that put athleticism into their Scandinavian folk dancing program, includes a former resident of Dassel, Matthew Gelster-Jones.
Stoughton, WI is an early Norwegian settlement 30 miles south of Madison, WI, and is now home to many ethnic groups. They continue to celebrate Norway’s Independence Day, May 17. (Norway has had independence from foreign rule for 105 years.)
Stoughton, WI hosts one of the largest Syttende Mai (May 17) celebrations in the US.
During this three-day celebration in a town with a population of only 15,000 people, between 40,000 and 50,000 people visit to take in the many festivities.
Many come to watch the Stoughton Folk Dancers. This year, the Dassel Leikarring folk dancers were invited to entertain, as well.
A new sound system, made possible by a grant from Southwest Minnesota Arts & Humanities Council, enhanced the performances, at a street performance and in one of the local churches.
Dassel Leikarring dancers specialize in traditional dances from the Scandinavian countries. Varying ages and ethnic backgrounds are present in this group.
The Dassel Leikarring’s upcoming Minnesota performances include: Mora, for its Midsummer Festival, Friday, June 18; the Mushroom Building in Dassel, Thursday, Aug. 26; at Green Lake Sunday, Sept. 19, for Nordfjordlaget’s 100th anniversary; and in Waconia, Saturday, Sept. 25, for the Nordic Music and Dance Festival.