SAVE THE DATE: A MIDSOMMAR NIGHT'S DREAM WITH BENNY ANDERSSON
First American Appearance of Benny Anderssons Orkester to Benefit the American Swedish Institute
MINNEAPOLIS (November 21, 2005) — Mark your calendars for a magical party hosted by the American Swedish Institute on Saturday, March 18, 2006. The Benny Anderssons Orkester (BAO), direct from Sweden, will perform at this special event. This is a rare opportunity to hear Benny Andersson, one of Sweden’s most well known musical figures, with his 14-piece band. The band, which tours infrequently even in Sweden, will travel to Minnesota expressly for this event.
A Midsommar Night’s Dream with Benny Andersson will take place at the Sheraton Bloomington Hotel in Bloomington, Minnesota. Proceeds from the event will benefit the American Swedish Institute. Tickets are available through the American Swedish Institute (www.americanswedishinst.org/).
Since the late 1990s, Andersson has played with his band BAO. The band incorporates elements of traditional Swedish folk music into the mix on both acoustic and electric instruments and their second album was the sixth highest selling album in Sweden in 2004. Andersson is a Swedish musician and composer and is best remembered as a member of ABBA. He also has created the musicals Chess, Kristina from Duvemåla and Mamma Mia! (based on existing ABBA songs).
The American Swedish Institute, founded in 1929 by Swan J. Turnblad, is a historic house/museum offering a variety of programs designed to celebrate Swedish culture. The Turnblad mansion, which houses the Institute, is on the National Register of Historic Places. It is the only castle in the Twin Cities. More information can be found at www.AmericanSwedishInst.org/.
BRUSH UP FOR BENNY
Saturday, Feb. 18, 2006 - 2 to 4 p.m.
Sunday, March 5, 2006 - 2 to 4 p.m.
Saturday, March 11, 2006 - 2 to 4 p.m.
Are you ready to dance to Benny Andersson’s Orchestra (BAO) at the upcoming party in March? Here’s your chance to brush up on your dance steps to BAO’s music on CD at four practices sessions from 2 to 4 p.m., on Jan. 29, Feb. 18, March 5 and March 11, 2006. All four "Brush Up for Benny" sessions are free with ASI membership or museum admission ($5, $4 ages 62+, $3 ages 6-18). To reserve a spot, call (612) 871-4907 by the Friday before each warm-up session.
The American Swedish Institute is at 2600 Park Ave. in Minneapolis. In the 1970s, Benny Andersson wrote the music to “Dancing Queen” and other hits with ABBA. Since then, he has written everything from folk music to opera. Andersson is now composing music that BAO plays all over Sweden at that most Swedish of summer institutions, dansbanan i Folkets Park (the dance floor in the local park).
Here’s your chance to get comfortable with BAO’s music so that when the music starts at the Dans! party on March 18, you can step confidently onto the dance floor. Elise Peters will be on hand to provide helpful tips at these brush-up sessions. The sessions are meant as tune-ups for those who already have some experience with gammeldans (for example, waltz, schottische, and fox trot). Come to as many of the four sessions as you like and get ready to dance the night away on March 18.
DANS!
A PARTY
OF FOOD, MUSIC AND DANCING
WITH BENNY ANDERSSON
A Benefit for the American Swedish Institute
Saturday, March 18, 2006
Save the date for a magical party hosted by the American Swedish Institute on Saturday, March 18, 2006. Benny Anderssons Orkester (BAO), direct from Sweden, will perform at this special event. This is a rare opportunity to hear Benny Andersson, one of Sweden’s most well known musical figures, with his 14-piece band. The band, which tours infrequently even in Sweden, will travel to Minnesota expressly for this event. Since the late 1990s, Andersson has played with his band BAO. The band’s second album was the sixth highest selling album in Sweden in 2004. The band incorporates elements of traditional Swedish folk music into the mix on both acoustic and electric instruments.
Dans! A Party of Food, Music and Dancing with Benny Andersson will take place at the Sheraton Bloomington Hotel. Proceeds from this landmark event will benefit the American Swedish Institute. For more information, call Marc Johnson at (612) 870-3354, or order your tickets online through ASI's secure server.
