Dances, dance lessons at Heikinpäivä

HANCOCK -- Here’s a summary of dance opportunities during the mid-winter festival of Heikinpäivä 2011. These are all OPEN TO THE PUBLIC! (Some fees apply; many are free.)

Saturday, Jan. 15: Old-Time Midwinter Dance at the Finnish American Heritage Center on Quincy St. in Hancock; music by the Thimbleberry Band. Bring a dish to pass and your own tableware, napkins, etc., for a potluck supper at 6 p.m. Coffee provided. Dancing -- on the wood dance floor from 7 p.m. - 10 p.m. -- will consist of traditional polkas, waltzes, schottisches, tangos, etc. Also, Ann Pace will teach and call some "figure dances" -- squares, contras, circles. It promises to be easy, fun and family friendly, but best of all, FREE! (Donations accepted.)

Friday, Jan. 21: FREE dancing lessons for Heikinpäivä, sponsored by Finlandia University Campus Enrichment. 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. Class taught by Kay Seppala at Finlandia Hall on the Finlandia campus (dormitory west of the gymnasium). Learn traditional Scandinavian ballroom type dances: Raatikkoon, schottische, and others by request: mazurka, waltz, polka.

Thursday, Jan. 27: MTU MUB Commons, 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. FREE dance lessons: Finnish Tango and Humppa, taught by Ralph Tuttila from St. Paul, Minn. Sponsored by the MTU Social Dance Club.

Friday, Jan. 28: "Karhun Tanssi" at Michigan Tech MUB ballroom. Dance lessons 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. ($3 for the public) by Ralph Tuttila: Schottische and more, Finnish Tango. The dance (only $5 --note change from previously listed price) will start at 8 p.m. and will go to 11 p.m. Music by the PasiCats. Sponsored by the MTU Social Dance Club.

Note: Pasi Cats will also play from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Tori (Finnish-American Heritage Center) on Saturday, Jan. 29 (FREE).

Saturday, Jan. 29: Heikinpäivä Tanssi (Dance) at Finlandia Hall, Finlandia University. 8 pm., following the banquet. Music by Wilho Kilpela and Friends. ($5, or dance free with banquet ticket.)

Click here for the complete Heikinpäivä 2011 Schedule.