50 years of Nordic Dancers

Nordic Dancers performing near Vesterheim during the 2004 Nordic Fest parade

In an earlier post, more was shared about Nordic Dancer founding director Betty Hacker. The Nordic Dancers have been an integral part of Nordic Fest for its entire history. Student dancers are now selected during the spring of their third grade year and generally spend age eight through age eighteen dancing together. The addition of live orchestra music with the fifth group of dancers brought this beloved tradition to an even higher level of excellence. 

There is generally a senior and junior group of dancers performing at each Nordic Fest. Every five years, when the senior group of Nordic Dancers graduates high school, a new group of third graders is organized. 

Brief highlights of the Nordic Dancer groups over five decades include:

• Group one included 20 student dancers, directed by Betty Hacker, who performed together from 1967 to 1972.
• Group two included 24 student dancers, also directed by Betty Hacker, who performed together from 1969 to 1978.
• Group three included 24 student dancers, directed by Betty Hacker as well as Pastor Paul and Lois Christenson. This group performed together from 1973 to 1982.
• Group four included 24 student dancers, directed by Pastor Paul and Lois Christenson. This group performed together from 1978 to 1988. 
• Group five included 30 student dancers and 7 musicians. The musicians were directed by Jeanette Spilde and the dancers by Betty Hacker, Pastor Paul and Lois Christsenson, as well as Jon and Mary Hart. Theses students performed together from 1984 to 1993. 
• Group six included 24 student dancers and 7 musicians. The musicians were directed by Jeanette Spilde and the dancers by Jon and Mary Hart. These students performed together from 1989 to 1998.
• Group seven included 32 students dancers and 7 musicians. The musicians were directed by Jeanette Spilde and the dancers by Ela Uhl, as well as Jon and Mary Hart. These students performed together from 1994 to 2003. 
• Group eight included 24 student dancers and 7 musicians, directed by Ken Procter & Ruth Procter, as well as Jennifer Larson. These students performed together from 1999 to 2008.
• Group nine included 32 student dancers and 7 musicians. Musicians were directed by Jennifer Larson and the dancers by Jim & Ann Kephart, as well as Deb & Kelly Reagan. These students performed together from 2004 to 2013. 
• Group ten, the current senior group of Nordic Dancers includes 30 student dancers and the usual musicians. Directors are Jim & Ann Kephart, as well as Dwayne & Lisa Lundtvedt. This group started performing together in 2008.
• Group eleven, the current junior group of Nordic Dancers includes 36 student dancers who performed at their first Nordic Fest in 2014. They are directed by Amy Bruening, Elizabeth Bruening, Jeni Holtan Grouws and David Grouws. 

In addition to being a highlight of each Nordic Fest, these eleven groups have served as Decorah and Nordic Fest ambassadors across Iowa, the United States and in Norway several times. 

Were you a Nordic Dancer? If so, what memories would you like to share?

Are you a Nordic Dancer fan? What is your favorite dance?