Dansbandsveckan in Malung is a much-loved tradition and one of Sweden\u2019s biggest folk festivals, with deep roots in the heart of Swedish culture. The event, which is run on a voluntary basis and attracts over 80 bands and 50,000 visitors each year, is the world\u2019s largest of its kind and continues to enchant dance enthusiasts year after year. We spoke to the founder and chairman, Bertil Elfstr\u00f6m, and \u00c5sa Hedl\u00f6f, who has been part of the venture for 25 years, about what makes Dansbandsveckan so unique and how they see the future. <\/p>\n\n
\u201cBeing the best is what drives us\u201d<\/strong> With pride and humility, he notes that Dansbandsveckan is the world\u2019s largest event of its kind and, although dansband music is very Swedish, visitors and bands come from across the Nordic region, Germany and Iceland. \u201cFor several years we had a band from Germany who were incredibly talented but who would then improvise on stage \u2013 that doesn\u2019t go down quite so well with the Swedish dance audience,\u201d says Bertil with a laugh. <\/p>\n\n A warm welcome<\/strong><\/p>\n\n The success of Dansbandsveckan is based not only on the music but also on the inclusive and warm atmosphere. \u201cEnjoyment is our watchword. We do everything for our guests,\u201d says \u00c5sa, highlighting the voluntary commitment from the community organisations in the municipality of Malung-S\u00e4len. The villagers of Malung also demonstrate a unique generosity in their involvement, renting out their holiday cottages and moving out to their mountain pastures for the week. \u201cNo one from Malung goes on holiday during Dansbandsveckan any more. We stay put,\u201d notes Bertil. It is this sense of community that helps to create the family atmosphere that makes the week so special. <\/p>\n\n An economic driving force for the whole region<\/strong><\/p>\n\n Dansbandsveckan is not only of cultural significance but also plays an important role in the local economy. \u201cDansbandsveckan is incredibly important, not just for Malung but for the whole region, where up to 35 per cent of many local businesses\u2019 annual turnover is generated during Dansbandsveckan,\u201d says Bertil. <\/p>\n\n With free entertainment and activities in the town centre and the large influx of visitors, the event is an economic force that benefits the whole region, with many visitors often arriving several days early to secure their camping pitches and catch up with friends they have met in previous years.<\/p>\n\n Carrying on the dance band tradition<\/strong><\/p>\n\n To safeguard the future of dance band culture, organisers are also investing heavily in young people. \u201cThere is an incredible amount of interest amongst young people, and we\u2019re trying to make the culture accessible and appealing to them,\u201d explains \u00c5sa. For example, with the help of figures such as Tony Irving and Cecilia Ehrling Danermark, they run dance classes to inspire the next generation to embrace dance and dance band culture. \u201cWhat\u2019s more, all young people in Malung can attend Dansbandsveckan completely free of charge, and young people from the rest of Sweden can take part at a significantly reduced price,\u201d she adds. This is an important part of the vision to spread the joy and sense of community associated with the dansband culture to new generations. <\/p>\n\n If you can whistle, you can dance<\/strong><\/p>\n\n Despite the success of the model, the team behind Dansbandsveckan is not afraid to evolve. \u201cWe\u2019re constantly working to improve things, but our visitors also appreciate familiarity and tradition. It\u2019s a balancing act,\u201d explains Bertil. <\/p>\n\n In 2025, Dansbandsveckan will celebrate its 40th anniversary in style, but when Bertil first proposed the idea of a dance band week, the reactions were mixed. \u201cIf you can sing folk songs in V\u00e4stervik for a whole week, you can also dance in Malung for a whole week,\u201d Bertil said at the time, and he went ahead with it anyway. This proved to be true, and now the sceptics have had to reconsider \u2013 even the stubborn Bert Karlsson, who is usually never wrong. \u201cHe thought from the start that this was a mad idea, but in his book he admits he was wrong,\u201d he laughs. <\/p>\n\n This tenacity, combined with warmth, passion and dedication, laid the foundations for what is now one of Sweden\u2019s biggest public festivals. Dansbandsveckan is not only an invaluable cultural institution that spreads joy and a sense of community, but also a role model for other events, and has more than earned its nomination for Event of the Year 2024. <\/p>\n\n The \u2018Event of the Year 2024\u2019 award will be presented at the M\u00f6ten och Event trade fair on 19\u201320 February in Stockholm.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Dansbandsveckan in Malung is a much-loved tradition and one of Sweden\u2019s biggest folk festivals, with deep roots in the heart of Swedish culture. The event, which is run on a voluntary basis and attracts over 80 bands and 50,000 visitors each year, is the world\u2019s largest of its kind and continues to enchant dance enthusiasts […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":235,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_titles_title":"Dansbandsveckan: 40 years of tradition and joy | M\u00f6ten & Event","_seopress_titles_desc":"Dansbandsveckan in Malung has been nominated for Event of the Year 2024. 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