Kari Tauring Resume
Kari Tauring is a full time cultural artist and educator touring throughout the Midwest and Scandinavia. She plays Nature Instruments and carries stories, songs, and dances of Norse culture and heritage to audiences of all ages and cultures. Growing up in Minnesota with summers on the family farm in Wisconsin, love and connection with her Norwegian heritage is a source of strength and inspiration. In frequent travels to Norway Tauring performs with relatives, friends, and master artists. Interest in her root culture began in 1988 exploring Norse runes and mythology as an undergraduate student. A cultural artist, her identity as a Norwegian American is the subject of her artistic and spiritual pursuit. In 2003 her art and self-study became a program for Nordic root culture healing called Völva Stav. The Völva Stav Guild, a 501c3 with chapters in Minnesota and Wisconsin, formed in 2015. VolvaStavGuild.com.
Formal Education
Master of Arts, Education 1996 - University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN
BA Philosophy and English 1989 - University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN
Books (Nordic Moon Press, Finland)
"The Runes: A Deeper Journey" 2007, iPhone App 2011, second edition 2016
"Völva Stav Manual" lulu.com, 2010
"The Day Begins at Sunset: Primstav Poetry" 2023 (Supported through Patreon funders)
"The Runes: A Pandemic Journey, Moving into the Younger Futhark" 2024
Nordic Root Musical Recordings/Omnium Records, Minneapolis
"Völva Songs" 2008
“Huldre: Live at the Capri” 2009 (Supported through MRAC/Norhside Arts Colllective)
"Nykken and Bear" 2011 (Supported through Crowdsource Funding)
"Ljos" 2016 and "Svart" 2016 (Supported through Crowdsource Funding)
Recordings prior to 2008 available on-line.
Awards
2009 - Tauring was chosen to participate in the first season of a Norwegian television show, Alt for Norge. Airing in 2010, the show won awards and sparked a similar series in Sweden.
2011-2012 Minnesota Legacy and Heritage Grant -youtube.com/NordicRootsDance.
2023 Viking Connection Apprenticeship to Denmark and Norway. Study with master makers and produce Iron Age style bone and tree flutes.
2026 Tapestry Folkdance Center continuing education scholarship recipient for deepening study of Telemark dances springar and gangar.
Performance and Teaching Highlights - Full event schedule on karitauring.com
Norway House, MN Teachin and Performance- monthly music and dance series- workshops: runes, nature instruments, primstav, seasonal celebrations, and folklore.
University of Wisconsin, Green Bay Weidner Stage Door series performances, Workshops and annual Viking Age Festival performances and visitor education.
Norsk Høstfest, Minot, North Dakota - Week-long Middle School residency and performances at the Family Fjord stage.
Nisswa/Duluth Stämmän - Performances and workshops on nature instruments, dance instruction, and singing for dancing
Worthington International Festival, Worthington, MN - Cultural Performance
Giants of the Earth Heritage Center, Spring Grove, MN - Frequent special instructor for the week-long Norwegian language summer camp and other performances throughout the year.
Bryant Lake Bowl Theater, Minneapolis, MN (2005 - present) Annual Winter Solstice Ritual Show and other performances throughout the year.
Sons of Norway Lodges, Daughters of Norway, and American Swedish Institute Tauring provides programming for lodges and cultural organizations across the state.
Folk School residencies: John Campbell Folk School in North Carolina - 2025 Norwegian dancing and “Singing while Dancing” program, 2026 Nature Instruments and Cosmic Sound
Nordic Folk Dance
Tauring is a member of Nordic North Star Dancers and Twin Cities Nordic Dancers, coordinating programs and working closely with her teacher and performance partner Carol Sersland, since 2006. Tauring plays overtone flute and sings for dancing.
Tapestry Folkdance Center, Minneapolis - Tauring organizes and co-hosts monthly Nordic dances, lessons, and special programs. Artist in residence 2026.
Twin Cities Pagan Pride Fall Festival and Paganicon Spring Conference
Tauring is a perennial favorite performer and teacher, both as a solo artist and along with the Völva Stav Guild. Guiding explorations in Nature instruments, Old Norse poetry, runes, and pre-Christian spiritual traditions since 2007.