Dance at Nalen, Hallunda and Mälarsalen 2006

As was the case for the whole autumn 2006, the weather on this Advent Sunday was very mild. Nalens Vänner organized an afternoon performance at Nalen from 3 to 7 p.m., with music played by Leif Kronlunds Storband and Swing Delight.

We found this event convenient for visiting Nalen, as our visits there nowadays unfortunately have become rare.

When we just after 3 walked along Regeringsgatan and approached Nalen, we found ourselves to be in the tail of a long queue.

While we waited for our turn, we listened to one of the arrangers, who told that he was grateful to the large crowd, as it at the previous events during the autumn had been less visitors.

For us it was half an hour of waiting time before we reached the entrance.

At the dance floor it was consequently rather crowded, which somewhat impacted our dance. But Leif Kronlunds plays dance music that we mostly like, and it was quite nice to once again swing at Nalen.

Doktor Krall likes to play songs from the period 1950-1960, with a lot of rock music, e.g. Elvis Presley.

But the band also varies with many nice slower tunes. We have several times danced to this eminent orchestra, and have always enjoyed the mix between rapid rock music and evergreens.

The dance events at Hallunda Folkets Hus are normally on Tuesdays evenings, while the Wednesdays sometimes are used for music café events. This evening the music café also included possibilities for dance.

The visitors could thus decide themselves if they wanted to listen, dance, or may be do some of both.

At the dance floor it was plenty of space, and thus there were excellent possibilities for dancing jive and other swing inspired dances. As there was so much space, this was also great chance to practise a more active foxtrot dance to the slower melodies.

This evening, as at every earlier occasion when we have been dancing to Doktor Krall, there was a lot of very good dance music and enjoyable dance. We hope for new opportunities to meet this dance band.

If Erik Öst had still been alive, he had been 100 years old this year. If so, I believe he would have appreciated this music- and dance event to his memory at Mälarsalen.

The event opened with a very nice and memorable concert with Maria Öst, Lill-Stickans, Isak Björklund, Thomas von Wachenfelt, Lars-Ove and Per-Olov Bertilsson. During the concert Eva Hansson was also telling stories from Hälsingland.

I am fond of both Erik Öst's music and brilliance, and his roguish and playful attitude in his action. The performance this afternoon was successful in conveying both these aspects.

During the afternoon there was also a short speech by Hans Rydberg, who is running Mälarsalen.

He reminded of something that has been forgotten at least by me, namely that Münchenbryggeriet's existence today is thanks to the Gammaldans. At that time, the political majority in Stockholm town hall had decided to demolish Münchenbryggeriet and replace it with modern dwellings.

The issue lead to public demonstrations on the streets, and became an element of the election campaign year 1976. The election lead to a transfer of power in the town hall, and thus resulted in that Mälarsalen was rescued.

After the concert Lill-Stickans played to dance (gammaldans), and later Mac Olssons altered with mixed traditional and modern dance music. The evening became a nice concert- and dance memory. The evening became even better by the message that there will be one more gammaldans event during the spring 2007.