Torpo

Don't be surprised if you hear someone playing the fiddle through an open window as you take a stroll through Torpo. Or, maybe even more likely, you’re biking. This small village is a hub for folk music and dance in Norway, continuously fostering new talents. But while Torpo takes pride in its rich traditions, it looks just as much to the future as it does to the past.

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Just a wild guess - but we’d bet the people of Torpo have stronger legs than most. With cycling, skiing, and folk dancing as part of daily life, it’s no wonder! Let’s start with the music, song and dancing that goes on here.

When it comes to dance, Torpo holds a special place in the hearts of Norwegian folk dancers. At the center of it all is Hugnadheim, a cultural house that has become a cornerstone of Norwegian folk dance. Every year, countless dance shoes are worn out here. Some for sure has belonged to Martin Myhr, a driving force behind folk dance in the region.

-There’s a thriving folk music and dance community here in Torpo, says Martin, a six-time champion in Halling class A at the national folk music competition, Landskappleiken.

Martin has been dancing Halling since he was 12 and has performed on stages worldwide. Alongside his wife, Gunnlaug, he helps run Hugnadheim, a place just about every folk dancer in Norway knows of.

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-There’s music and dancing here year-round, from seven-year-olds to lifelong dance enthusiasts. We have Halling and partner dances, and people play the Hardanger fiddle, langeleik, and two-row accordion. Every year, we host a major folk music festival with 80–90 teenagers from across the country. It’s safe to say the sweat is pouring then! Martin laughs.

Hugnadheim is steeped in history. Built in 1914, it’s not just a home for folk music and dance but also hosts village celebrations, birthday parties, confirmations, and community gatherings - a cherished meeting place in Torpo.

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One of the many people who have spent time at Hugnadheim is Rebecca Lofft. Originally from California, USA, she has lived in Torpo for over 20 years. Her journey from sunny California to a small Norwegian village began with a deep-rooted passion for folk music and Torpo’s unique cultural scene.

-I actually have great-grandparents from here, so Norwegian culture was always important in my family. My grandmother played the piano and organ, and my mother played the violin, she says in flawless Norwegian. Hallingdal dialect, of course.

Influenced by the Norwegian-American community, Rebecca’s mother switched from violin to Hardanger fiddle, and Rebecca followed in her footsteps.

-When it was time for college, I wanted to study Norwegian language, Hardanger fiddle, and classical music. So I attended St. Olaf College in Minnesota.

A talented musician, Rebecca received a Fulbright Scholarship. She took the plunge, packed her bags, and traveled to Norway for a master’s degree in Norwegian folk music at Høgskulen i Telemark. During her final year, she lived with a fellow student from Ål. The talks piqued her curiosity about her roots; she still had family in Torpo.

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Torpo and its surrounding areas offer endless outdoor opportunities, especially for those who love trail biking! The possibilities are endless, and it trail biking is super popular here.

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-To put it this way - our local sports store sells almost nothing but bikes in the summer and skis in the winter, Martin laughs.

-I love skiing, so it suits me perfectly. The cross-country trail network is incredibly vast for a village with only about 700 inhabitants.

Rebecca also appreciates the outdoor life here.

-There are moments when I feel incredibly lucky to live here. Especially when I’m up in the mountains. Whether on skis or hiking, it takes less than 30 minutes to get that mountain air, she says.

The village also boasts a sports field with a soccer pitch, a swimming pool, weekly community sauna sessions, and a variety of training programs for different age groups. The local sports club is highly active and engaged. And as mentioned, Torpo has a ski stadium right in the center, complete with floodlit trails.

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-This is without a doubt a safe place to grow up, says Rebecca. Both she and Martin agree that Torpo is of good size. Small enough that everyone knows each other, small enough that the shopkeeper will let you grab an item even after closing time, small enough that neighbors feed your cat while you're away and that small enough the whole community comes together for national celebrations and volunteer efforts.

-And the houses are way bigger and cheaper than in the city, Martin chuckles.

Yet, Torpo is large enough to have its own school, kindergarten, grocery store, sports shop, and the beloved community hub, Hugnadheim, which plays a central role in local culture and youth activities.

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No problem, according to the locals.

-We’re right between Oslo and Bergen, Norway’s two largest cities, Rebecca explains.

-There’s a direct train to both, and the trip takes about three and a half hours. Plus, Torpo sits between the towns of Gol and Ål, which offer everything you need close by. Ål’s cultural center is fantastic, with a wide variety of events - it’s only a 15-minute drive away.

Still, Rebecca finds her greatest joy at home.

-More specifically, in our little farm’s vegetable garden. When I’m tending my crops and the chickens are clucking around me, I feel so happy for ending up here in Torpo, she says with a smile.

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Sources:

Main photo on top by Trailhead

Torpo – Wikipedia

Martin Myhr – Wikipedia

Fortidsminneforeningen

Torpo og Opheim - Ål kommune

Torpo stavkirke – Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_the_Virgin