Header images: NORDLYS at Northwest Folklife, 2010
NORDLYS, (which translates to "Northern Light" in at least two Scandinavian languages) from the Portland, Oregon area, has been performing Scandinavian folk dances for audiences in Washington and Oregon since 1987.Several members have been with the group since its inception, and there are instances of multi-generational participation as well.Many of the dancers are of Scandinavian descent, and their costumes reflect a particular Scandinavian cultural heritage. (Irene Landeen, a dancer and seamstress extraordinaire, has hand-created many of the costumes you see in the pictures on this website. More about Irene further on in the website.)
Currently the group is sponsored by Columbia Lodge, Sons of Norway of Vancouver, Washington.