Steven Stevenson, 20
Student, USA

Hans Jacob Jørgensen, 27
Financial analyst, Denmark

Okjin Cheon, 26
Physiotherapist, Korea

Vincenzo Fesi, 26
Professional dancer, Italy

Fabiano Annoscia, 31
Management consultant, Switzerland

Erika Vegerfors, 29
Furniture designer, Sweden

Dance Dance Dance

Lindy hop is a swing dance that was invented in New York in the late 1920’s. Think jitterbug, and you have an idea of the type of dance lindy hop is.

100 kilometers north of Stockholm lies the village of Herräng. 500 people live in Herräng. It’s a ghost town, dead and beautiful.

But every summer the village comes to life when hundreds of people from all continents come here to dance lindy hop at the annual Herräng dance camp.

In 2007 I joined them for a week to see if I could catch the jitterbug.

 
 
 

Frankie Manning (above) is a cherished figure in the international swing dance community because of his contribution to lindy hop. He learned the lindy steps at The Savoy Ballroom in Harlem where lindy hop was invented. During the 30’s and 40’s he worked as a dancer and choreographer for a group based at The Savoy called Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers. Lindy hop became known worldwide partly thanks to this group of dancers. When the era of lindy hop faded in the 50’s, Manning took a job in a NY post office and worked there for 30 years. At the age of 72 he resumed his career as a dancer. Today (2007) he is 93 years old, and is still teaching lindy at Herräng.

 

Frankie Manning (above) is a cherished figure in the international swing dance community because of his contribution to lindy hop. He learned the lindy steps at The Savoy Ballroom in Harlem where lindy hop was invented. During the 30’s and 40’s he worked as a dancer and choreographer for a group based at The Savoy called Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers. Lindy hop became known worldwide partly thanks to this group of dancers. When the era of lindy hop faded in the 50’s, Manning took a job in a NY post office and worked there for 30 years. At the age of 72 he resumed his career as a dancer. Today (2007) he is 93 years old, and is still teaching lindy at Herräng.

 
 

What has made the biggest impression on you at Herräng Dance Camp?

The experience of being part of a community. Yesterday evening we were three people playing ‘Kluddermor’. All of a sudden we were 20 people from Russia, Canada, Sweden, and Germany.
It happens all the time in Herräng. We work so well together that it makes us glow.

 

The experience of being part of a community. Yesterday evening we were three people playing ‘Kluddermor’. All of a sudden we were 20 people from Russia, Canada, Sweden, and Germany.
It happens all the time in Herräng. We work so well together that it makes us glow.

What has made the biggest impression on you at Herräng Dance Camp?

One day we were four or five people standing in line in the local supermarket. Because it was Herräng, swing music was being played from the speakers. I started doing Charleston steps and made eye contact with the people standing in line, and then we all started dancing. It occurred to me how absurd this was because it felt completely natural.

 

One day we were four or five people standing in line in the local supermarket. Because it was Herräng, swing music was being played from the speakers. I started doing Charleston steps and made eye contact with the people standing in line, and then we all started dancing. It occurred to me how absurd this was because it felt completely natural.

What has made the biggest impression on you at Herräng Dance Camp?

That I can communicate with people from all over the world even though we don’t speak the same language. The dance is our language. That’s what people are here for, no matter their race or religion. It’s all worth it even though I had to quit my job and pay one and a half months wage to come here.

 

That I can communicate with people from all over the world even though we don’t speak the same language. The dance is our language. That’s what people are here for, no matter their race or religion. It’s all worth it even though I had to quit my job and pay one and a half months wage to come here.

What has made the biggest impression on you at Herräng Dance Camp?

The atmosphere. When I arrived here the first night I had been traveling for 12 hours. I stepped into a pitch black ballroom crammed with people. They were screaming and moving their bodies to the music in a way that I have never seen before. I thought, waauw - these people are really enjoying themselves. This is the place for lindy hoppers.

 

The atmosphere. When I arrived here the first night I had been traveling for 12 hours. I stepped into a pitch black ballroom crammed with people. They were screaming and moving their bodies to the music in a way that I have never seen before. I thought, waauw - these people are really enjoying themselves. This is the place for lindy hoppers.

What has made the biggest impression on you at Herräng Dance Camp?

The dance classes is the most interesting part. I learn new steps and become more familiar with the dance. It’s difficult to explain. To make a comparison I move 15 meters a week during the weekly dance class at home in Switzerland. Here, I move one kilometer a day.

 

The dance classes is the most interesting part. I learn new steps and become more familiar with the dance. It’s difficult to explain. To make a comparison I move 15 meters a week during the weekly dance class at home in Switzerland. Here, I move one kilometer a day.

What has made the biggest impression on you at Herräng Dance Camp?

The “Herräng time”. The fact that there is no difference between day and night. Everyone has classes during the day and continues dancing at night. It doesn’t get dark until late in the evening, and around three or four a.m. it gets light again, so it feels as if you’re dancing 24 hours a day. It gives me so much energy. Interviews by Karen Vedel

 

The “Herräng time”. The fact that there is no difference between day and night. Everyone has classes during the day and continues dancing at night. It doesn’t get dark until late in the evening, and around three or four a.m. it gets light again, so it feels as if you’re dancing 24 hours a day. It gives me so much energy.

Interviews by Karen Vedel