We're going to celebrate the dance known as "halling" this week by featuring both the dance and music for the dance.
In 2007 the winner of the Norwegian national competition in Class B laus/halling competition was Ulf-Arne Johannessen from Ål, Hallingdal. This was the second time Johannessen had won in Class B (open class) competition which meant that, from that point forward, he competes in the Class A (Master Class) competitions in this particular dance.
Halling is also known as "laus", which means "loose" or "free" in Norwegian. One of the things I really enjoy about Johannessen's style of dancing is that he seems so very relaxed, loose, free in the way that he dances. But don't misinterpret that. He is right on the mark with making this a dance, interpreting the music and keeping the beat.
The fiddler, who is playing hardingfele (Hardanger fiddle) is Arne Anderdal.
This video was taken at the Sunday Master Concert where a number of the winners present. Just before the presentation, the Master of Ceremonies said that the reason the fiddler was not dressed in a bunad and Johannessen was dancing so early in the program (Class B laus usually comes later) was because the fiddler was going to have to run from the stage to catch a train at the local station. Note how Johannessen checks his wristwatch a couple of times during the dance — a little joke about getting the fiddler on his way on time!
The woman holding the stick and hat is Ingunn Stræte Lie, who is often Johannessen's partner in pair-dance competition in Hallingspringar — and a very fine two-row diatonic accordion player in her own right!
Johannessen and Stræte Lie won the national pair-dance competition in hardingfele dance (Senior division) in 2009 — and Johannessen also won the national lausdans (Senior division) competition, too. There is a very nice video of his performance from that year's Master Concert.
Johannessen also dances with the FRIKAR dance company and has been a backing dancer for Alexander Rybak on tour.
