Dosey Doe

Last year, while in conversation with Marion Als Andersen, Norma indicated that we had been involved with the first of the yearly Young Adult Outings in Sweden (Festinord) in 1968 teaching many of the kids square dance numbers to perform there.  Marion said the Mormon Square Dancers that began with our group were active for thirty-five years.  She said she had many videotapes of the kids and would we like to see them.  She said she would invite us over sometime.  She planned a High Priest Group activity around the showing of the videos yesterday.  It was wonderful to see how they had progressed to a very professional dance group.  Many of the High Priest couples had children who were dancing on the films so it was not only enjoyable for Norma and me, but everyone every one else in attendance.  

About ten years ago Mormondanserne celebrated their thirty-fifth year of dancing and unfortunately it was their last year.  However, their program for the evening was titled “The Never Ending Story”.

As we began the High Priest Group social, Marion began to read parts of the narrative on the program for that thirty-five year celebration:  “The never ending story er titlen på aftenens program, fordi Mormondanserne nu i mere end 30 år har optrådt i Danmark og mange steder i Europa.  Mere end 500 dansere har været med i løbet af årene, og vi skal i aften se en del af dem.

“Mormondaserne started i 1968, da en gruppe unge i kirken blev bedt om at optræde til et ungdomsstævne i Sverige, Festinord.  Før dette, i 1965, var Grethe Ljungstrøm danseleder i kirken og hvde bl.a. Virginia Reel, en squaredans på programmet.  En dans, som hun lærte fra nogle svenskere.

“Et amerikansk ægtepar, Norma og Gary Larsen flyttede i 1966 til København, og de lærte Grethe flere danse fra USA, og her bleve kimen lagt til det, der i dag er Mormonfolkedanserne.”

What is being said here is basically the Mormon Dance Group has performed for over thirty years in Denmark and many other places in Europe.  Over the years the group has included more that 500 dancers.  The group was started in 1968 with Grethe Ljugstrøm was the dance leader.  An American couple, Norma and Gary Larsen moved  to Copenhagen in 1966, and they taught Grethe many dances from the USA.  And this was officially the start of the Danish Mormon Folk Dancers.

This program was printed ten years ago, which means there was someone who, after thirty-five years had remembered us.  It’s always nice to know that your footprint in time is recognized by some.

Until Next week,

We Love you,

Mom and Dad

Ældste og Søster Larsen