Family dancing at Scandinavian Festival Open Dance, featuring Saara Matthews dancing the Varsouvienne with her son, Aleks. Submitted photo

The Scandinavian Midsummer Festival Association will offer a four-hour dance workshop Saturday, Nov. 14, to prepare community members to participate in the Scandinavian Open Dance following the Lucia Festival of Lights Friday, Nov. 27. John Campbell, dance instructor for the Nordlys, a Scandinavian dance performance group in Portland, will teach basic footwork and common forms of traditional Scandinavian social dance.

This first in what may become a series of Scandinavian dance workshops will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Nov. 14, at the Astor Elementary School Gym, 3550 Franklin Ave. Admission is free, but donations will be gladly accepted to help fund future workshops in the spring.

Being Scandinavian is not a prerequisite for participation for this event and all community members are welcome. Students sixth grade and older are welcome to participate. Bring clean dry shoes to change into at the gym. To register for this class or ask questions, contact Janet Bowler at (503) 325-2431 or e-mail jlbowler@charter.net