The new year begins with a concert in Årestoga with two young tradition bearers - Birgit Haukås and Svein Laingen Kjerland. Both are former students at USN Rauland and work daily with folk music and folk dance.
Birgit Haukås (b.1998) comes from Tinn in Telemark, and since 2014 has been active in harding fiddle playing and folk dancing.
As a keen competition participant, she has achieved good results regionally and nationally, and during the National Competition at Gol in 2024 she was, among other things, a qualified A-class dancer. Birgit is not only a performer, but passionate about teaching and instructing dance and games. She has a background as a former cultural school teacher in dance, and has had several courses in dance and acting at home and abroad, including participating in DKS at school and several trips to the USA.
As a keen competition participant, she has achieved good results regionally and nationally, and during the National Competition at Gol in 2024 she was, among other things, a qualified A-class dancer. Birgit is not only a performer, but passionate about teaching and instructing dance and games. She has a background as a former cultural school teacher in dance, and has had several courses in dance and acting at home and abroad, including participating in DKS at school and several trips to the USA.
Birgit has studied a bachelor's in folk music and a master's in traditional art, in addition to a year's study in instrument making at the University of Southeast Norway, campus Rauland. Here, she has had the main focus on tradition from Telemark, and particularly from Tinn. In addition to focusing on repertoire from her home area, her dance game is close at hand! Birgit has had several good teachers, including Lars-Ingar Meyer Fjeld and Per Anders Buen Garnås. In dance, Torbjørn R. Dokken, Unni Boksasp and Stian Roland have been important, and a great inspiration.
Birgit usually works as a consultant at the Norwegian Center for Folk Music and Folk Dance in Trondheim.
Photo: Anna Lankowisch
Svein Laingen Kjerland (b.1996) comes from Granvin in Hardanger and plays the harding fiddle. He has primarily apprenticed with Knut Hamre, but has also studied at the University of Southeast Norway, Campus Rauland with a bachelor's degree in folk music. It is the game tradition in Hardanger, with an emphasis on the game from Granvin and the Sørfjord in which he has immersed himself. Svein works a lot with weekend courses in harding fiddle playing, dance playing, concerts and wedding playing. He is an active board member of Hardanger Spelemannslag and is passionate about teaching and recruiting for folk music and dance.
By day, Svein works as a district musician and cultural school teacher in Ullensvang Municipality.
Tickets at the door NOK 250 / students NOK 150
Pub and dance after the concert
Pub and dance after the concert
