1905:   In the summer of 1905 a Swedish-American musician, Måns Olson visited Skansen in Stockholm to listen to some folk music and watch some dancers perform. He thought that this was something that might interest other Swedish-Americans in the US at a time long before any other nation considered bringing their dance culture to the "new country."

Måns became friends with some of the folk dancers and managed to convince 6 couples and 2 musicians to visit America to perform and tour Swedish settlements in the USA. Knowing how difficult such an undertaking must have been, it was probably due to a convincing argument by Måns (who is described in a 1950's article in "Hembygden" as being typical of Swedish Americans of this time in painting a rosy picture of the US) that in the USA the "streets are paved with gold."

They all had to pay for their own passage by boat and with little preparation they embarked on this journey.

1906:   The group of dancers and musicians left Sweden, led by Måns, to arrive in New York City on February 6, 1906, with no performances lined up, and no place to sleep.

Photo courtesy Hembygden, Nr 7-8, 1950, page 118

Charles K. Johanson, the owner of the Swedish-American newspaper "Nordstjernan" discovered the group with minimal funds and secured lodging for them at the Swedish Emigrant Home. Trying to develop performance opportunities in New York proved to be too difficult at this time and the group was sent to Chicago, Illinois, home to many Swedish-Americans in the USA.

Chicago became a wonderful start for the group. On February 10, 1906 to a thundering round of applause, the group of dancers and musicians performed in an auditorium to a packed house of 8,000 people. They now successfully worked their way back to New York City with 27 performances culminating on March 7, 1906 with a performance at Tammany Hall in Manhattan. Tammany Hall was known to be supportive to immigrants in the 1800's and 1900's.

In the original traveling group were:

Kerstin Andersson (Pell Kerstin), Maria Jakobsson, Anna Pettersson, Anna Wicklund (Norrgårds Anna), Kings Ole Olsson, Janne Elin, Anders Lustig - all from Dalarna, Karin Olsson (Pros Karin), Greta Johnsson, Stockholm, Theodore Malm, Stockholm, Ernst Svensson, Småland, Herman Carlson, Uppland, and musicians Martin Andersson and Mårten Olsson both from Jämtland.

Finally they returned to Sweden after a very successful tour. Anders Lustig and Kerstin Andersson, however, remained in the USA.

Later in the year, C. G. Bjerstedt met with Anders Lustig, and members of the Swedish Gymnastic Society at a "kräftsexa" (crayfish party). They discussed the possibility of creating a folk dance group here in New York.

C. G. Bjerstedt and Gustav Arbil founded the dance group which became known as the "Swedish Folkdance Society" on November 14, 1906. The first dance leaders were C. G. Bjerstedt and Gustav Arbil.

The mission of the group was to preserve and develop the Swedish folk dance traditions from all parts of Sweden in the U.S., especially to the younger generation.

1915:   Dance practice location - Synagogue on Baurum Place, Brooklyn, NY

1920:   Practice location moved to Union Street, Brooklyn.