Toby Hanson
Toby Hanson is an accordionist and bandleader who was born and raised in Graham, WA. He attended Bethel High School and Cornish College of the Arts from which he graduated Magna cum laude in 1998 with a Bachelor of Music Degree in classical composition.
He has several years of experience with folk and traditional music from all over Europe and North America. He has performed at venues all across the US and Canada including the Kimberley International Old-Time Accordion Championships, Milwaukee Repertory Theater and the RFD-TV Theater in Branson, MO.
Mr. Hanson is the leader of the Smilin’ Scandinavians Polka Band and the music director of the Valse Café Orchestra. Toby brings accordion music to life in fun, engaging performances sure to delight everyone!
Poulsbo Lodge, Sons of Norway, Leikarring Dancers.
Today’s Norwegian folk dancing is thought to have started sometime in the mid seventeenth century. As Norwegians emigrated to other countries beginning in the eighteen hundreds, they took their Norwegian dances with them and continued to dance them in their new country.
In countries outside of Norway the dances remained somewhat “frozen in time” and tend to focus on retaining the core movements of each dance. These dances are still done in Norway today with both subtle and rich variations, characteristic of a living tradition.
Norwegian dancers perform in the national Norwegian bunad, a folk costume. The unique bunader(bunads) and other traditional dress from the many different regions of Norway always assure an interesting visual spectacle.
Winter Band
Our family came from western Norway and they brought with them these old, romantic tunes that they taught us. We play Gamel Norsk Musikk (Old Norwegian music) including waltzes, schottische, reinlander, pols, polka and even a tango & jig!
Our band members:
Chris Svehaug – accordion, Dusty Tea – mandolin & accordion, Lyle Leiser – guitar, Mike Winter – string bass and Ruthi Winter – violin
Ron, the Strolling Musician