Blue Ridge Tradition History
The dance exchange with Denmark began years ago in Berea, Kentucky. Berea College started the Danish American Exchange with Denmark, sending groups from Berea to Denmark, and hosting groups from Denmark in the USA. Since then, the Danish American Exchange has grown to include groups from Washington, DC, Michigan, and now Virginia/WV. This group is the first group to participate in this exchange from this region. This group began after Shawn Brenneman, who went to Denmark with a group from Berea in 1989, and helped host two Danish groups after that, was invited by Lise-Lotte Leingaard from Svendborg, Denmark, to bring a group to Denmark in 1998. Others in the group have participated in hosting Danes, but none have gone to Denmark themselves.