Here you can read interviews with course participants who share what it’s like to study with us.

Daniel Kalstrup Stiller Markussen, 27 years old, Popping One Style course

Tell us something about yourself!

I’m a dedicated and passionate person who loves to nerd in different shapes and forms. I tend to seek extremes which have its pros and cons, but it goes to show the effort I put into whatever I do.

How did your interest in dance begin?

It really depends on how you define ”begin”. I come from a family of dancers who I saw in their element when I was growing up. Back then it didn’t spark an immediate response, but it definitely had an impact on me. What reeled me in was when I discovered my love for hip hop (the music) being freestyled on (the dance) – I was sold.

Why do you study at Åsa folk high school?

I’m studying at Åsa to upgrade myself and to dig deeper into my craft and person. I love to be challenged, and Åsa is without a doubt taking me through that. Another reason is to put myself back into focus. I have been teaching for a while now, and it was time to switch gears for me to keep growing and evolving.

Describe Åsa in three words!

Open, adaptable, magical.

What has the course given you?

The course has given me new and valuable insight in my own worth and capability as a dancer. It teaches me everyday the importance of peers who understand and can relate to your journey and reflections. It fulfills me in many ways, but most importantly creates a feeling of belonging.

What are your plans for the future?

Difficult one! I want to go back to Aarhus to continue building what I already started to build (not alone), and I want to continue to explore different scenes and communities around the world. Nurturing the bonds I have made and will make throughout this year is high priority for me as well. The plans are not set in stone for me – I would like to keep an open mind, and see where the water stream will take me.

Sabrin Milash Mulubirhan, 25 years old, General course Saga

Tell us something about yourself!

I am a positive person who enjoys learning new things. In my free time, I like spending time with my children, dancing, and cooking. A special memory for me is when I started studying at Åsa, as it gave me a lot of motivation and a sense of security.

Why do you study at Åsa folk high school?

To develop my Swedish and build a better foundation for future studies and work. I have studied at Åsa for three and a half years, and I really enjoy the school.

Describe Åsa in three words!

Safe and inspiring. The school feels like family.

What has the course given you?

My time at Åsa has given me better language skills, greater self-confidence, and many wonderful friends. I feel that I have grown both as a person and as a student.

What are your plans for the future?

To continue developing my Swedish, pursue further studies, and eventually get a job where I can work with people and create a stable future for myself and my children.

Elin Söderlund, 24 years old, Breaking One Style course

Tell us something about yourself!

I like to keep busy and have lots of things going on at once. Apart from my love for dancing, I spend a lot of time on photography, film, and other creative projects – as well as training and cooking. When I was little, my parents let me try all sorts of activities so that I could find out what truly felt like me.

How did your interest in dance begin?

It was actually my mum who forced me into it! (laughs) She got it into her head that if you dance, you get to go to fun dance camps and meet loads of new friends. That sounded really cool, so I tried a dance class and thought, “Blimey, I’m hooked!” Since then, through dance, I’ve experienced far more than Mum could ever have imagined.

Why are you studying at Åsa Folk High School?

Before coming here, I already knew it was a highly regarded course and that many dancers I’ve met – and look up to – have studied here. People told me that Åsa is a place that challenges you deeply, but is also the safest and best place to grow as a dancer.

At first, I didn’t really get it and thought it sounded a bit vague. But now, after two years at the school and living in the dorms, I understand. Living in that little bubble, doing exactly what I love purely for my own sake, is an opportunity that opens up so much.

Describe Åsa in three words!

Community, self-realisation, growth.

What has the course given you?

An incredible number of insights. I’ve learnt so much – not only within dance, of course, but also about myself as a person. My perspective has broadened – on dance culture, on the world, on everyday life – everything.

Before Åsa, I attended another dance course at Sunderby Folk High School in Luleå. That experience made me dream of Åsa, which in turn made me dream of New York – where I later went for my most recent internship. Åsa has taught me to dream big, to dare, and to push myself.

What are your plans for the future?

What a tough question! I’m still trying to figure out what I want to do in the future – apart from dancing until my legs give out!

Next, I’m heading back home to Kalix to work for a while. Then I’ll be moving to Stockholm. A big group of us from Åsa love the school so much that we’re planning to live together in a sort of “Åsa Extended” collective!

Hashim Mohamed, 20 years old, General course Saga

Tell us something about yourself!

I just started skateboarding. It’s so much fun! I’ve watched tons of YouTube tutorials to learn, but now it’s getting too cold to skate outside. I also listen to and create my own music. Playing video games is a big hobby of mine.

Why are you studying at Åsa Folk High School?

I want to become the best version of myself. I think of my high school years as a bit messed up. I showed up, but I didn’t care about anything and didn’t even know what my grades were. When I got to Åsa, I found out I only had a couple of subjects to catch up on. It was actually my parents who suggested Åsa, saying it was a good school.

Describe Åsa in three words!

Åsa’s the best!

What has the course given you?
Curiosity and knowledge that will hopefully stay with me for life. Popular education should be part of every Swedish school. It helps people develop both intellectually and mentally, especially with students of different ages and experiences – everyone from parents to recent high school graduates.

What are your plans for the future?

I want to go to university. I have a couple of friends doing that already. I’m really interested in computer science and innovative programming. I think game and app developers are jobs that will be in demand in the future.

Mimmi Hellstén, 50 years old, the Massage Therapist course

Tell us something about yourself!

I’m in the prime of my life and have many irons in the fire. Many call themselves masseurs, but I call myself a ”lövjerska” (a traditional healer), and I use both nature’s energies and magic. My magical treatments can be offered to clients in both my mobile magical treatment room and in my magical treatment room at my magical space in Sörmland…

Why are you studying at Åsa Folk High School?

It’s easy to combine with my work.

Describe Åsa in three words!

Community (in the) Åsa family.

What has the course given you?

A very good understanding and knowledge of the body’s muscles and skeleton. Great tips and tricks on how to see and feel when muscles or bones may be injured.

What are your future plans?

To give my clients massages in a magical environment.

Klara Sahlin, 20 years old, the Music course

Tell us something about yourself!

Apart from my great interest in music, I really love animals. I have a dog at home named Hobbe. I’ve also been riding horses for most of my life and have worked a lot with horses, which I really enjoy.

Why are you studying at Åsa Folk High School?

Because it’s a fantastic place where you get to spend all your time doing exactly what you love, which for me is playing music, and it’s really a place where everyone is welcome. Here, everyone takes care of each other, which creates great conditions to succeed with your goals and develop as a person.

The environment here is creative, which is very inspiring and motivates me to actually pursue my dreams. My grandmother also studied here in the 1950s, in a cooking program, which is a fun connection I have to the school.

Describe Åsa in three words!

Welcoming, challenging, idyllic.

What has the course given you?

The course has given me much more confidence in myself, and I’ve grown as a person. I’ve made friends for life and have gotten to know people I would never have met if I hadn’t come here, as the school brings together people from different backgrounds.

The course has challenged me a lot because the music course is at a high level where many are really good at what they do. I am incredibly grateful for everything I’ve learned from my teachers as well as my classmates.

What are your future plans?

Right now, it’s very uncertain, but I’d love to continue with music in some way and keep developing as I am here.

Otherwise, I’d really love to move abroad, learn different languages, and eventually study something in the social sciences at university.

Nisse Fält, 70 years old, the Write a book course

Tell us something about yourself!

Born and raised in the deep forests of eastern Jämtland, with everything that entails. I had a happy childhood with kind parents and a couple of teasing older sisters.

I trained as a construction engineer in Östersund and worked at an architectural firm for a few years before moving into project management and eventually real estate economics, where I stayed until I got fed up with it all and retired at 63.

My first wife passed away in 1991, and after some searching (personal ads at the time), I found another half-family that drew me and my two kids to Ärla, where we lived until a few years ago when we moved to Flen. Today, I live there with my wife. Thankfully, all four of our children have their own lives, so we have time to take care of ourselves.

Why are you studying at Åsa Folk High School?

It was a coincidence, plus (course leader) Axel …

I’ve always enjoyed crafts, but a few years ago, I developed essential tremor, so that was the end of my crafting.

Reading is another favorite pastime, so I’m a frequent visitor at Flen’s library. One day in late summer 2022, I visited the library and saw an intriguing book cover. It was Axel Hellby’s first book about Hundberget – ”Sönderfall” – that caught my interest. While reading the book, I discovered that Axel is a local from Flen and lives just a few hundred meters from me.

I enjoyed the book and got in touch with Axel, telling him I was waiting for the second part. It came, and he delivered it to my home, where we struck up a conversation.

We’ve talked from time to time since, and I subscribed to his cultural magazine. In the fall of 2023, he announced it was time to apply for the writing course at Åsa Folk High School.

The idea of replacing crafting with writing started to take root. But can old men still study at a folk high school? Absolutely, was Axel’s answer, and that’s how it all started.

Describe Åsa in three words!

Åsa, two, three.

What has the course given you?

It was a bit nerve-wracking and shaky with digital teaching at first, but now I’m getting the hang of the technology.

The course has given me a wonderful group of classmates who all feel this course is the best thing that’s happened to us. Even though we’ve only met a few times in person during the on-site sessions, we feel like close friends and dare to open up and talk about difficult topics.

The course has made me realize that writing is a challenging and demanding art, but it gives so much back. I can even enjoy the feeling of having a completely empty mind when I sit in front of my computer. I know that soon, inspiration will come for yet another line, and another line, and another line. Pure joy!

The course gives me knowledge and tools for the entire writing process – from start to finish!

The course has shown me that I have a meaningful future in my writing.

What are your future plans?

I’m a pensioner, so I have oceans of time and no financial incentive in my writing. I’ll continue to enjoy my writing. Maybe it will turn out well enough that someone else wants to read and share in my twisted thoughts.

If longer or shorter writing courses come up, it’s likely I’ll try to participate because this course has been the most fun I’ve ever had!