Roadtrip!

Last weekend we went on a roadtrip with the parents in law to a small town a little north of Stockholm to a beautiful location called Dalhalla to watch the Irish Dance Company perform a Riverdance inspired performance. Dalhalla is an extraordinary and simply breathtaking location. Who would have thought that one could turn an old lime stone quarry into an outdoor concert hall?

The size of the actual thing is eye popping such that they provide buses for people to take to the entrance after the performances! Walking through the gates, one is greeted by a deep dip and one had to walk literally one round around the concert location in order to reach the level of the stage which is located at the very bottom of the quarry.You can see a tiny path behind them which is the only way down and one has to walk down!Birds eye view of Dalhalla concert 'hall'. The small lake is actually behind the stage and acts like a fountain during intermission, sprouting up water almost 10 meters into the air reaching above the stage roof.
The concert location can hold up to 4500 people and is famous for the fantastic acoustics probably due to the high walls all around. They open the gates 2 hours before the performance where one can spend the time eating hotdogs or at the restaurant located just behind the seats. Since I couldn't eat the hotdogs or enjoyed the salads served (ugh...white food!) I spent the time looking down to the stage where the dancers were having last minute rehearsals. Cool!

The 2 principal dancers are pretty good looking with the female principal looking like Goldilocks and the male looking like Prince Harry albeit a better looking one. But the male principal looked so hot on stage, even mother in law agreed!
This violinist was the most impressive of the lot. I must say that the musicians and singers that the dance company has are all really good but especially so this violinist. During the show, she played the violin and the banjo but most impressive of all, she danced while she played the violin. And not just simple tapping but she danced as well as the others while playing a pretty complicated tune, definitely deserving the standing ovation she got. IMPRESSIVE!
A little photo moment during intermission. Doesn't the husband look so adorable in his dorky plastic glasses?
Every province in Sweden have their own traditional set of clothes and Dalarna is no different. During the intermission, the semi tipsy father in law managed to push his way in front of tourists to get us this photo together with the 'program ladies' (who sold the evening's program..duh!) in their traditional clothes. They kinda reminded of women in Nepal in their thick, colourful skirts.
It was a great show on a wonderfully warm night and until midsummer, a night that remains bright as day until at least 10pm. Screws with one's brain really.