Music and Dancing

In Mantua, Utah originally known as Little Copenhagen—the dance floor was the heart of social life, much like it was in Elsinore, Utah originally known as Little Denmark. However, Mantua had a very distinct "Box Elder County" flavor to its celebrations.

Because the town was almost entirely settled by Danish converts, the music was a blend of Old World folk and the "frontier style" found in nearby Brigham City.

The "Little Copenhagen" Favorites:

The pioneers in Mantua favored high-energy, rhythmic dances that allowed them to navigate the crowded social halls (often the original log schoolhouse or the church building).

• The Danish Schottische: This was the undisputed king of the Mantua dance floor. In fact, many local families kept the tradition alive for generations. It was a bouncy, rhythmic dance that paired perfectly with the accordion.

• The "Seven Jumps" (Syvspring): This was a popular Danish folk game/dance where the music would stop, and dancers had to perform specific movements (like kneeling or touching the floor) on cue. It was a favorite for community celebrations and "Danish Days."

• The Waltz: While some early church leaders were wary of the "close hold" of the waltz, in Danish settlements like Mantua, the Viennese Waltz or Scandinavian Waltz was often performed with a bit more distance and a lot of speed.

Key Mantua Venues

Socializing in Mantua wasn't just about the music; it was about the setting.

• The Grist Mill: Before the town had a dedicated social hall, the local mill was often cleared out for dances. The sturdy timber floors were perfect for the heavy rhythmic "stomping" found in Danish folk dances.

• The Bowery: During the summer months, pioneers would build a "Bowery"—a temporary open-air shelter made of vertical poles covered with leafy branches—specifically to hold dances and celebrations away from the heat of the indoors.

The Music and Instruments

In a small town like Mantua, the "orchestra" was usually just a few neighbors.

• The "Squeeze-box" (Accordion): You couldn't have a dance in Little Copenhagen without an accordion. It provided the loud, rhythmic drive needed for the Schottische and Polka.

• The Fiddle: Fiddlers would play tunes like "Soldier’s Joy" or "Turkey in the Straw" as they began to adopt more American "western" music alongside their Danish melodies.

A Community Tradition

Dancing in Mantua was a multigenerational affair. It wasn't unusual to see a grandmother who had crossed the plains teaching a "New World" grandson the steps to a dance from her childhood in Denmark. It was one of the primary ways the Danish language and culture survived in the valley well into the early 20th century.

Thanks again Scott Larkin