It All Started with a Group
Nordurljos (pronounced Nor-dur-loose), Icelandic for “Northern Lights,” was founded in the fall of 1998 in Junction City, Oregon by two dedicated couples: Brad & Debbie Lemhouse and David & Melany Vaughan. Open to youth in grades 6–8, the group was created to celebrate and teach Scandinavian folk dancing.
Junction City has proudly hosted the Scandinavian Festival every August since 1961, an event that continues today under the guidance of the Scandinavian Cultural Foundation of Junction City. Recognizing a need for year-round youth engagement in folk dance, the founding families started Nordurljos as a way for young dancers to stay active and involved beyond the festival. Since 1999, Nordurljos has performed annually at the Festival.
In 2001, David and Melany stepped down from leadership, and Brad and Debbie continued guiding the group with passion and dedication. After more than two decades, they passed the torch in 2021 to Jeff and Jessica Peterson. Scandinavian dancing had been a meaningful part of both Jeff and Jessica’s lives—Jessica herself was a member of the original Nordurljos group in 1998.
Under their leadership, Nordurljos began expanding its mission. In 2022, the group welcomed 5th graders into the group, and increased outreach efforts through new educational and performance opportunities.
Building on that momentum, Northern Lights Folk Dance of Junction City was founded in 2025. This broader organization continues to nurture a love of folk dance in the community, expanding beyond Scandinavian roots to embrace traditional dances and music from across Europe and North America.
Northern Lights Folk Dance of Junction City 