Many years ago, dance halls across the Upper Peninsula filled up on Sunday afternoons, offering a place to socialize, dance, listen to traditional folk tunes, and have a lot of fun. Today, only one weekly polka dance still brings the community together. Sometimes people travel over an hour to attend the dance at the South Range Eagle Lounge.
Whether you already know how to dance or not, the South Range Eagles will teach you. Walking into the lounge, you’re greeted by bright smiles and a warm atmosphere. And when the lights turn down and the music starts to play, it’s easy to forget about the cold and snow outside.
“So we try to provide the opportunity to learn separate from the dance, and then in the dance itself, someone will just grab your hand and say, ‘Come here, come dance with me,'” said Deb Stouffer, president of the South Range Eagles.
Oren Tikkanen plays in the band The Backroom Boys, one of the few local polka and folk bands still entertaining the Copper Country. He says when ethnic halls were more popular in the region, Finns, Italians, Croatians, and Germans all held dances. He remembers attending many as a child and recalls stories of musicians who left their mark on Midwest Polka.
“He said there was a hall down there. I don’t know if it was connected to one of the churches or not. But he said there was a big ole French woman who was the caller. And she would call these dances. She would say in English, ‘OK, everybody take a break. Go downstairs and have a glass of beer.’ And when they had one glass of beer, she would be down there saying, ‘Everybody back on the dance floor,’ and John would play. I mean, life was hard back in those days, but you know, one can just imagine the kind of color and richness that also was involved in everyday life,” Tikkanen said.
“(many musicians) were involved with the Eagles for many, many years. So I think the impetus was they were looking for a place to play. South Range was known actually for its polka music. There was a radio show broadcast out of here for years. So there’s a culture of music and of traditional music,” Stouffer said.
Stouffer says a major motivation for her when she became president of the Eagles was to keep these sorts of events going.
“I mean, we drive 40 miles to get here. We bring people from the western U.P. So it’s really a unique opportunity. As far as I know, there are no more weekly dances with live music held anywhere in the western U.P. or maybe even the central U.P. Not on a weekly basis,” Stouffer said.
Tikkanen says some of his favorite tunes include Finnish schottische, polka, and waltzes. He also pointed out efforts by the Finnish American Folk School and Kivajat dancers who have taught new generations about songs and dances in more formal settings. Stouffer adds that those sort of groups can really help elevate cultural characteristics of a region. By providing a space like the lounge in South Range, dancers can transition from prepared and rehearsed steps to relaxed informal dances with the entire community.
“Dancing is something that is hardwired into the human species, the response to rhythm and the response to melody. And when people dance together, there can be a kind of relaxing of boundaries,” Tikkanen said.
“Some of these dances are getting lost along the way. We’re always excited when we have younger people, when we have new people, that want to learn the dances. There are sometimes kids here and they like to dance. So it’s important for both of those reasons: preserve the music, preserve the dancing, and then provide that social opportunity,” Stouffer said.
Despite the cold and snow over the weekend, close to 50 people stopped by the South Range Eagles. Stouffer says in the summer the hall has seen more than 70 dancers out on the floor. Learning how to polka and schottische was pretty easy, even for myself.
Those interested in learning more about the South Range Eagles and their weekly Polka dances on Sunday afternoons can find more information online. Those interested in connecting with the Eagles and want to learn how to organize similar events in communities should contact the South Range Fraternal Order of Eagles to learn more about bands, music, dances. The South Range Eagles are a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing community prosperity. The Range Eagles also host bingo nights throughout the year, and volunteers in the community. Learn more about the South Range Eagles online.
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