Linda Westergren-Muhu

Oral History of Linda Westergren-Muhu
Submitted by email April 25, 2022

Copyright © 2022 Edgewater Historical Society

I have been with the Nordic Folk Dancers since 1973 and have been keeping their history for many years, inheriting the archives from one of the original founders.

The Nordic Folk Dancers began in February 1973. It was started mostly by those with Swedish heritage, but they wanted to be more inclusive hence the name Nordic Folk Dancers, as that would represent Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland. We still are the only Swedish folk dancers in Chicago, so we do get to most events that are looking for Scandinavian entertainment. We really enjoy dancing, which is a big reason we go to so many different venues throughout the year.

We have a long history with Andersonville, actually as long as the folk dancers have been in existence – almost 50 years. Going back through our archives it was interesting to see that our very first performance was for Trumbull School at Ashland & Foster, which is now the Waldorf School, for their Folk Fair on May 11, 1973. Just Kitty-corner from Trumbull was Hagelin Hall, now The Neo-Futurist Theatre above Great Lakes Clinical Trials.  We danced for many functions in that location for the different Swedish clubs such as Svithiod and Sten Sture fraternal organizations promoting Scandinavian traditions and heritage. Dance parties would often take place there as it had a wonderful wood dance floor – slick as an ice skating rink, but was fun to dance on.

By the following year June 1974 we danced for a Midsommar Fest in Andersonville. It was a much smaller event and was sponsored by the different Swedish businesses on Clark Street at that time. In the early years for Midsommar, we did Swedish folk dances strictly as a performance style program. We had our Swedish Folk costumes, Swedish music and did Swedish dances, but did not do any of the dances that would have been done around the Midsommar Pole. 

Midsommar is one of the most popular holidays in Sweden. After a long dark winter it is wonderful to be outside enjoying the long warm summer days. I would say that for Midsommar, dancing is the major and main activity that everyone enjoys participating in no matter what your age – from 3 years old to 93. Everyone gets ups and dances!!

Every village and town would raise a Midsommar Pole and everyone would gather to dance around the pole. Different countries have various types of dances they might do around the Maypole, which can be very intricate. But the Swedes just want to have fun! They have their own unique take on dancing around the Midsommar pole – they have song dances – dancing, singing and at times acting silly as they dance around the Maypole together.

Originally for Midsommar Fest there was not a Midsommar Pole. Since we were dancing in the street, the logistics of how to raise a Maypole out on the street seemed prohibitive. After the museum moved into its current location in 1987 and the date for Midsommar weekend was no longer fluctuating, the event became larger and more established, drawing bigger crowds. Wanting to give folks a Swedish Midsommar experience, the desire to have an actual Midsommar Pole for the event finally materialized. We were able to include both dancing around the Midsommar Pole for those wanting to participate and traditional set dances as a performance up on the stage – something for everyone.

I have been leading the Midsommar ring dances/song dances since the first Midsommar Pole appeared, probably about 30 years. It is a popular part of the event – you get to experience something different. You don’t have to know what to do or practice anything before hand, you don’t need a partner, you just show up and are a part of something that is exciting. Even if you come by yourself, you are not alone, you are included and you are contributing to making the event fun. The music is catchy, my instructions are clear, everything moves along quickly with one dance flowing into the next. It’s the original Flash Mob Dance – people are social beings, they want to be with others and I’m able to give them that opportunity to connect with each other.

Midsommar is just one part of dance in Andersonville, which we’ve been doing since 1974. Dance has been used historically around the world to entice people to come out to markets and fairs. Hundreds of years ago if you wanted people to shop,  you provided some entertainment and more people would come, stay longer and buy more. That is nothing new and is very much a part of seasonal markets. We’ve been dancing at the museum’s Julmarknad or Christmas Market since 1990 for over 30 years.

For the Lucia program at Ebenezer we have been the ushers and greeters since 1996. For the last 10 years, since 2012, we have also been doing the opening Prelude dance. In Sweden, folk dance has been used in different segments of various church services. We want to incorporate what is being done in the Folk Dance circles in Sweden with what we can offer here in Chicago. We like to keep up with our peers in Sweden, so we don’t become dated. It is challenging to take a traditional dance and adapt it to the aisles and space restrictions within the church.

Another area of dance we became involved in was when the museum moved to its current location in 1987. At that time they were looking to expand the activities offered to it’s members. To teach some type of Swedish Dance classes were suggested to us and my husband and I have been instructing dance workshops yearly for 35 years. The workshop series is for 1 month, each Friday in March. The dances taught are the social dances of Sweden, such as schottis, waltz, polka and hambo. You don’t have to come with a partner. The classes can be taken as a single class or as a complete series. We mix how you can take a social dance and put the step into a folk dance. We’ll even mix a “traditional” Swedish dance with contemporary music you’d find at a wedding, to be able to dance at any event – Lady Gaga works really well. Most people are surprised at how well that works. For 10 years in conjunction with the dance workshop, we also sponsored a fundraiser dance party for the museum – Winter Wonderland in January.

As you can see there has been a lot of dance over the past 50 years that we have been involved with in Andersonville, be it with the Nordic Folk Dancers or just myself and my husband. We have brought Swedish dancing not only to the Swedish museum for Midsommar, Julmarknad and Lucia but also to the Edgewater Community Library, St. Cornelius (now St. Elizabeth), Senn High school and other venues.

The best way I can describe our dances is what we hear from others “Your dances are fun, different and exciting. The best part of your program is when you have us up dancing.”