2009 SpringTour

The Norwegian Dancers Tour Southern California - Spring Tour 2009 The 2009 Spring Tour took the Norwegian Dancers to Southern California. They had a tight schedule consisting of 15 performances in eight cities over six days. The trip began as usual in the early morning hours of Friday March 27th, meeting at the high school at 1:15 am. The excitement over shadowed the fatigue and the group performed their assigned tasks completing the final preparations for the week ahead. The bus departed for Milwaukee’s Mitchell field at 2:30 am with 23 dancers, 10 chaperones and 60 pieces of luggage and equipment. After a short flight to Minneapolis and an 87 minute layover, they were on their way to Los Angeles. The touchdown at LAX was on time at 11:05 am, just 10 minute shy of 12 hours from meeting at Stoughton High. In baggage claim, the generational difference was quickly evident as the chaperones were reserved yet captivated by a sighting of Donald Sutherland, explaining to the kids who he was and the kids returning the favor when Soulja Boy (or someone looking extremely similar) was spotted. The task of luggage retrieval, checking out 7 rental vans, loading and getting under way went as expected. After a short drive the group stopped for a quick lunch, as quick as can expected with 33 people walking into a Taco Bell/KFC at the same time. The Dancers quickly enjoyed their first taste of “Sunny California”, forgoing the typical Formica tables and modular booths, choosing to eat lunch outside on the lawn and in the sun, catching a few rays. After a very scenic drive up Pacific Coast Highway and Malibu Canyon Road, the Dancers arrived at University Village Retirement Community and their first performance. Over 120 residents turned out and showed their appreciation by giving the dancers a standing ovation. The activities director commented that in her nearly two years there, they have never given anyone a standing ovation. Several residents lingered to talk with the kids and praised them as the best performance the community has ever seen! The dancers proceeded to perform to similar ovations and equally similar praise throughout the week. All told, they performed for seven Sons’ of Norway Lodges, four schools, two Retirement Centers, a Teen Center and the Rotary Club of Indio California. The dancers schedule had them performing in Thousand Oaks, Culver City, Claremont, Redlands, Palm Desert, Indio, Oceanside and San Diego, before returning to Los Angeles for their final performance. The entire week was extremely gratifying. Watching the Dancers perform and seeing the smiles on the faces where ever they go is truly an amazing thing to behold. One audience member commented as he was leaving, “Seeing them dance makes me happy”, and one could see the happiness on the faces of nearly everyone that had the pleasure of seeing them. In Culver City the group performed for the Peer Gynt Lodge, the Gammaldans Band and Skandia Dancers. Prior to the dancers going on, the local group played and danced and after the dancers performed the invited the Stoughton group to stay for a mixer. The kids and chaperones alike learned dances and enjoyed the “mixer”, partnering up with their California counterparts. The kids were tickled to see Polly in a couple of the mixers, dancing and enjoying the fellowship along with everyone else. A couple other highlights; Dancing at Stuart Mesa Elementary School, on Camp Pendleton. The school is grades K thru 6 and the group numbered nearly 700. The kids were extremely enthusiastic and really “got into it”. It was especially meaningful to bring joy to the children of the soldiers of Camp Pendleton, giving back to those who give so much to us! We were treated twice by former dancers, now living in California, stopping in to see the show. In Redlands, Laura Flanagan even performed a reprieve of “Trasko Dans” with this years’ group. Everyone truly enjoyed her joining the group. It was nice to see that time hasn’t eroded her joy of being a dancer. The week did offer opportunities to take in a few sights; On Saturday between morning and evening performances, the group visited the “Hollywood Sign” and Grauman’s Chinese Theatre/Hollywood’s Walk of Fame. There were also a couple of hours between the performances at Camp Pendleton and the lodge in San Diego. The group took the opportunity to tour the USS Midway Aircraft Carrier docked at the Broadway Pier in downtown San Diego. The ship was remarkable to say the least. To think that 4500 men once lived, worked, sweat and bled on that ship all in service to our country was something to comprehend. The Dancers had some time at Sea World, where all enjoyed Shamu and the Dolphin shows before their last performance in Placentia, CA. The return flight home was 3:30 pm on Thursday April 2^nd. The group spent the morning at Venice Beach. Although the day was overcast and it was morning, there was still plenty to see for a group of country folk from Southern Wisconsin. We returned to LAX to begin our trip home. There was still one more unexpected sighting, but this one wasn’t of the LA kind. It was none other than Ted Thompson of the Green Bay Packers. He appeared in the airport gate and was on the same flight to Minneapolis. Considering the group, there was of course, no shortage of those that wanted to talk with him. He was cordial and took time to talk with the dancers, interacting with the kids, and Chaperones, with interest and sincerity. The return two-leg flight and bus ride brought the dancers back to Stoughton at 2:00 am on Friday morning. It was a successful Spring Tour. The dancers, parents and city of Stoughton can feel extremely fortunate to have Polly Goepfert directing the group. Under her mentorship, once again “Your” Stoughton Norwegian Dancers represented themselves, the City of Stoughton and the Norwegian culture with style, class and grace. As chaperones and parents we were very proud of them, and you as Norwegian Dancer supporters and Stoughton residents can be too.