Ski Dance Weekend 2026

Sigbjørn Rua
Hege Johnrud *

Sigbjørn Rua and Hege Johnrud both began dancing in the local group Småjondølenes Dansarlag in Jondalen around the age of seven, and learned dancing from experienced teachers including Karin Brennesvik and Robert Dokken. Sigbjørn’s mentors also included Hellik Dokka.

Life for this talented couple is centrally rooted in traditional Norwegian folk dance, with a strong history of competition and teaching focused on the rich cultural heritage of Telemark and Numedal. Sigbjørn has been competing in dance competition since 1985 and dance was his full-time profession from 2005 - 2012. He has toured extensively across Norway and abroad, teaching numerous workshops — primarily in Halling and Telemark dance. In 2005, Sigbjørn was part of the founding team behind what is now known as FRIKAR.

Hege and Sigbjørn have won the Dance Hardanger Fiddle Class A at Landskappleiken three times — most recently this past June which was a particularly joyful experience as they were awarded the King’s Trophy. The King’s Trophy has a 7 year rotation between classes, and it is a special honor to win the year it is awarded in your discipline. In addition, Sigbjorn has won seven times in Landskappleiken Halling Class A.

Hege and Sigbjørn are passionate about sharing their joy and knowledge of Norwegian folk dance with others. Currently, Sigbjørn and Hege live and dance in Jondalen, where they hold weekly dance sessions every Wednesday to teach and mentor children and young dancers. In addition, Sigbjørn also conducts workshops in Jew’s harp playing.

Hege and Sigbjørn look forward to teaching in the US in January at Vermont Ski Dance Weekend with great anticipation!

Watch them dance Telespringar at Landskappleiken 2023.

* Pending acceptance of P3 Visa application

Mattias Thedens

Mattias was raised in a musical family and has participated in festivals for most of his life. He began dancing at the age of four and started playing American and Norwegian folk music when he was nine.

After a while, he took up the Hardingfele (Hardanger fiddle) and began learning tunes from Tovdal and Setesdal. In 2019, Mattias started studying at the Norwegian Academy of Music, with Håkon Høgemo and Andreas Bjørkås as his main instructors. He completed his bachelor’s degree in Hardanger fiddle performance in 2023 and has since worked as a full-time musician.

His main focus lies on Hardingfeleslåtter in the tradition of Lars Fykerud and Svein Løndal of Telemark, with Knut and Hauk Buen as his primary inspirations. At Landskappleiken 2023 in Lom, Mattias won the B class for solo Hardingfele and qualified for the A class, where he has since competed among Norway’s most accomplished Hardanger fiddle performers.

In addition to playing the Hardingfele, Mattias is also an active performer of American Old-Time music. Each summer, he takes part in festivals and competitions across the United States. In 2019, he won first place in Old-Time Fiddle and was awarded Best All-Around Performer at the Galax Old Fiddlers Convention in Virginia.

Watch this episode of Trollstemt featuring Mattias that aired on NRK, Norway’s national public broadcaster in 2023.

Mattias Thedens

lydia ievins

Based in Montague MA, lydia ievins plays 5-string fiddle and nyckelharpa for Scandinavian and English Country dancing. She loves improvising rich harmonic lines; in the Zoom era she’s been refining the ability to play duo gigs alone with looper-pedal magic.

As an avid dancer herself, lydia infuses her playing with rhythmic clarity and sensitive phrasing to produce irresistible dance music.

A graduate of the Eric Sahlström Institute, lydia has earned a bronze Zorn Badge for her fiddling in the Uppland tradition. Her most recent CD, Koivu (2018), debuts a collaboration with Helsinki-based pianist and composer Juha Kujanpää.

lydiamusic.org

Vilde Aaslid

Vilde is a hardingfele player and dancer based in Newport, RI. She has studied for nearly two decades with master fiddlers in the U.S. and Norway, and spent the past year in Oslo immersed in music and dance.

Vilde’s fiddling is especially focused on the traditions of Telemark and western Norway, and she currently serves as president of the Hardanger Fiddle Association of America.

We are thrilled Vilde is back stateside will join us at Ski Dance Weekend. Vilde will play for dance instruction with Sigbjørn and Hege, and she will play sets for dancing in the evening.

Laura Hummel

Laura Hummel will join us at Ski Dance Weekend to play for dance instruction with Sigbjørn and Hege, and is sure to join in on Swedish jam sessions.

Laura is an emerging voice in Nordic folk music. Her musical journey has carried her from her classical violin training to the Swedish nyckelharpa and Norwegian Hardanger fiddle, where she explores how these living traditions continue to evolve in the modern world.

Laura deepened her artistry through study at the Eric Sahlström Institute in Sweden and the Rauland International Hardingfele Intensive program in Norway, working with master fiddlers Ottar Kåsa and Jan Beitohaugen Granli, as well as earning a Maryland Folklife Apprenticeship with her mentor, Loretta Kelley.

Laura now brings these influences to life through her playing for Scandi dances in the DC-Baltimore area and through Nordensong, a project weaving together the sounds of Scandinavian, Celtic, and American folk music into a rich and timeless tapestry.

Lore of the Strings