UPPDANSNING (Swedish Bygdedans Medal Testing)

During our five years of participation in the Polskmärkes - uppdansning, the dance judges were Bo Peterzon (from Uppsala), Lena Lindkvist (from Bjorsås), and Ewa Englund (from Sandviken). However, 2003 was the last year for Bo Peterzon as an Uppdansning judge, and Sven Olsson (from Säffle) has now taken his place. When you "dance up", you are not competing against the other dance couples, but instead each dancer is judged on a pass-fail basis against a standard of excellence. The judges must pass you on all the dances you attempt in order to proceed to the next stage. Although you dance as a couple, each dancer is judged separately. Thus it can happen that the woman passes while the man doesn't, or vice versa.

The first year you go for your BRONZE (Brons) medal. Here the dancers must dance three dances whose combined point value is at least 21 points but no more than 24 points. In 1999, Ross and Linda danced for and received their Bronze medals. Their bronze dances were

Once you have received your Bronze medal, you can go for your SILVER medal. Again you must choose three dances, but this time they must have a combined point value of at least 27 points. Linda and Ross won their Silver medals in 2000 by dancing

After obtaining your Silver medal, you are now able to work on the BIG SILVER (Stort Silver) medal. To earn this medal, you must practice for and dance six dances each year for three more years. For each of these years (Stort Silver I, Stort Silver II, and Stort Silver III), you choose three dances whose combined point values are at least 27 points and in addition three "low-point" dances each of whose point values is eight or less. You must dance all three of the "high-point" dances and then the judges will choose one of the three low-point dances which you must also dance. If you dance well enough, you receive a DIPLOMA (Diplom), and when you receive a passing diploma for Stort Silver III, you also receive your BIG SILVER medal.

Ross and Linda danced for and received their diplomas in Stort Silver I in August, 2001. Their dances were:

In 2002, they completed their second stage (Stort Silver II). This time their dances were:

Finally, on Friday, August 1, 2003 they danced for Stort Silver III and their BIG SILVER medals. Their dances were:

Each year the Uppdansning is held at a different place in Sweden. In 1999 it was held in the town of Säffle (in Värmland), in 2000 it was held in Oviken (in Jämtland), in 2001 in Orsa (in Dalarna), in 2002 in Trångsviken (in Jämtland) and in 2003 in Orsa (in Dalarna). In 2004, the Uppdansning was again held in Trångsviken, and in 2005 it was once again be held in Orsa. Each year (1999-2003), prior to the Uppdansning, Ross and Linda attended a week-long training camp run by Leif and Margareta Virtanen. The camp is held in Furudals Bruk near Furudal in Dalarna, and is designed for couples who intend to "dance-up" at the Uppdansning. The photograph below was taken in 2001 during the Virtanen's camp. Linda and Ross were practicing Polskdans-Springdans från Hogdal-Lommeland and the photograph shows an optional kick where the man lifts the woman who in turn kicks a plank with her feet.

After you have finished your Big Silver, you can continue dancing what is called "Diplom". Each year, a set of around eight to ten dances is chosen from a particular region in Sweden. Unlike the medal testing where a couple dances alone for the judges, the Diplom dances are danced in a ring of four or five couples. The judges will choose four of the Diplom dances for that year and the entire ring must dance these dances. Here you not only show that you know the dances, you also show that you can keep an even distance from the other couples and dance in a nice ring.

In 2005, the Diplom dances were the dances from the Siljan region of Dalarna. They included Polska från Bingsjö, Polska från Orsa, Polska från Boda, Polska från Rättvik, Polska från Ore, Enbenspolska från Bingsjö, Enbenspolska från Boda, Leksandslåten, and Schottis från Bingsjö. The polskas from Bingsjö, Orsa and Boda are three of our favorite dances. How could we not go? So we traveled back to Sweden again to dance Diplom for the first time. It was fabulous.

In 2010, the Diplom dances were the dances from Föllinge in Jämtland (Northern Sweden). Another set of our favorite dances. We had been waiting a long time for the Föllinge dances to be part of the Diplom dances. This was the first time. We just had to go!! The specific Diplom dances were: Hambopolska, Åtabakspolska, Gammalpolska, Hyfs, Löuvnäs-schottis, Norskleitjen, Slakapolska, and Vingelvals. 

We returned again in 2012. This time the Diplom dances were dances from Lillhärdal and Funäsdalen. The specific Diplom dances this time were: Hambo från Lillhärdal, Bakmes från Lillhärdal (polkettering + hambo + bakmes), Bakmes från Lillhärdal (polkettering + bakmes), Storhurveln från Funäsdalen, Rennländer från Funäsdalen, and Skotsk. Two of of the six members of Scandia DC who received their Silver Medals in 2010, retuned to dance for their first stage of the Big Silver quest. They were Sonia White and Lisa Brooks. In addition, two additional members of Scandia DC, Jim and Lynn Walker, experienced the Uppdansning for the first time with a quest for the Brons medal. All were successful. Hurrah!

We didn't travel to Sweden in 2013, but one of the Scandia DC regulars, Lisa Brooks, did. She successfully danced for the second stage (SS-II) of the Big Silver Medal. Only one last stage to go for Lisa. Congrats!, Lisa!!

Ross and Linda returned again in 2014 with six others from Scandia DC.  Ross and Linda danced what is called Fortsättning Dans, a level for those who have already earned their Big Silver medal.  They danced three dances for the judges: Särna, Rörbaknäs and Finnskoga.  They passed, even thought Finnskoga was challenging.  Lisa Brooks danced for and obtained her Big Silver Medal.  Sonia White obtained her SS-II Diploma - Just one step away from her Big Silver.  Carol Carnahan obtained her SS-I Diploma, so she also is one her way to get her Big Silver.  Jim and Lynn Walker danced for and obtained their Silver Medals.  And finally, a new member of Scandia DC, Soren Huber, danced for and received her Bronze Medal.  Soren had badly injured her foot while on a farm near Tromsø, Norway.  She was sure she would not be able to participate in the Uppdansning, and we very reluctantly took her out of the roster.  She had been number 44 on Friday, but that slot was now listed as Utgår.  She did, however, come to the Virtanen's Training Camp and with just three days left in the camp, she thought she might try a dance - Bingsjø Polska.  Amazingly she was able to dance very well, although her foot was still in some pain.  We decided that she might be able to dance up in Bingsjø Polska (6 points) and Bakmes & Polska från Idre (8 points), but she was never going to be able to manage her third dance - Bondpolska från Viksta - on an injured foot.  Luckily she had been practicing Orsa Polska (10 points) for over a year and decided to replace Viksta with Orsa.  We were able to get her back in the Uppdansing in Österdund, still in slot number 44 -  just two positions away from the answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe and everything.  She danced beautifully, received rave comments from the Swedish onlookers, and earned her Bronze medal.  We are so proud of all our dancers who worked so hard and demonstrated their expertise in Östersund.

Since 2008, Linda and Ross have been traveling to the Uppdansning on the even years - '08, '10, '12, '14.  But we made an exception in 2015, to see Sonia White attempt her Big Silver medal.  She, of course, succeeded, and we are so very proud of her.  Now Scandia DC has four Big Silver recipients.  In addition to Linda, Ross and Sonia, Lisa Brooks also traveled to Sweden this year to dance Fortsättning Dans with Tom Sears.  Linda partnered Ted Johnson who succeeded in earning his SS-1 diploma, while Ross and Linda danced Diplom.  This year's Diplom dances were seven dances from Värmland - Polsk från Finnskoga, Hambo från Hagforstrakten, Slängpolska från Karlskogatrakten, Slängpolska från Svanskog, Mazurka från Eda, Schottis från Karlskogtrakten, and Störing.  The judges selected the following four dances for our Diploma ring to demonstrate: Hambo från Hagforstrakten, Mazurka från Eda, Slängpolska från Karlskogtrakten, and Slängpolska från Svanskog.  Apparently we did OK since we received our diplomas with "Ja" marked for each of the four dances.

We returned to Sweden in 2016 when the Uppdansning was held in Östersund (Jämtland).  Linda and Ross danced both Fortsättning and Diplom.  For Fortsättningdans, we danced Bakes från Lillhärdal, Slängpolska från Stugun and Bondpolska från Viksta.  The Diploma dances were eight dances from Gästrikland - Polska från Åmot, Bondpolska från Överhärde, Bondpolska från Hedesunda, Trestegsvals från Hedesunda, Bondpolska från Bäck, Polka-polkett från Råhällan, Mazurka/Gubjuck från Årsunda, and Tyskpolska från Jädrås.  Ross partnered Soren Huber for her Silver medal.  She danced Klackpolska från Norra Ångermanland, Polska från Boda, and Bondpolska från Viksta.  Soren began Klackpolska without wearing a hat for her Leksand folkdräkt.  During the dance, while Ross was dancing hands free, he pulled out her hat that was hidden underneath his vest and placed the hat on Soren's head.  The audience loved it.  Carol Carnahan and Ted Johnson danced for their SS-2 diploma, the last stage before the Big Silver.  Their big dances were Bakes från Hede (Persons variant), Enbenspolska från Bingsjö and Gammalvänster från Oviken.  Their three small dances were Polska från Sudra Dalarna, Slängpolska från Övre Klarälvdalen, and Polska från Alfta elder Arbrå.  Sven Olsson, one of the Uppdansning judges, chose Polska från Alfta.  Everyone passed.  We are so proud of them.

In 2017 the Uppdansning was in Orsa (Dalarna).  Eight members of the Skandia DC group attended.  They were Linda Brooks, Lisa Brooks (Honorary member), Carol Carnahan (dancing for Big Silver), Lindsey Dodsen (dancing for Silver), Soren Huber (dancing for SS-1), Dan Kahn (dancing for Bronze), Ted Johnson (dancing for Big Silver), and Ross Schipper.  Everyone dancing for a medal succeeded in their quest.  Congratulations!

The next Uppdansning in 2018 will be again in Östersund (Jämtland)

Currently there are 16 members of Scandia DC holding medals from Polskmärkes - uppdansning. They are:

Linda Brooks         Bronze 1999     Silver 2000     Big Silver 2003

Lisa Brooks            Bronze 2008    Silver 2010      Big Silver 2014

Carol Carnahan     Bronze 2008    Silver 2010      Big Silver 2017

Lindsey Dodson    Bronze 2016     Silver 2017

Andrew Feldman  Bronze 2008  

Soren Huber         Bronze 2014      Silver 2016     SS-1 2017

Marita Johanson   Bronze 2008    Silver 2010 

Lars Johanson      Bronze 2008    Silver 2010

Ted Johnson                                   Silver 2014      Big Silver 2017

Dan Kahn              Bronze 2017

Christine Kalke     Bronze 2008    Silver 2010 

Ross Schipper      Bronze 1999     Silver 2000     Big Silver 2003

Amy Swanson Bronze 2019

Jim Walker            Bronze 2012     Silver 2014 

Lynn Walker          Bronze 2012     Silver 2014

Sonia White          Bronze 2008    Silver 2010     Big Silver 2015