Stian Roland

Stian Roland serves as University Lecturer and Program Director for the Bachelor's degree in Folk Dance within the Department of Traditional Arts and Folk Music at the Faculty of Humanities, Sports and Educational Sciences, University of South-Eastern Norway (USN), Campus Rauland. His career uniquely bridges academic leadership and active folk artistry, with current responsibilities focused on shaping Norway's next generation of folk dance practitioners.

Roland's educational foundation includes formal training at USN's Rauland campus (Ole Bull Academy) and dance science studies at NTNU. His professional trajectory features significant leadership roles:

• Head of Department at USN (2017-2024)
• Head of the Norwegian Institute for Bunad and Folk Costume (4 years)
• Extensive work in festival production, museum curation, and cultural school education

Roland's scholarly focus centers on folk dance as living cultural practice. His approach integrates performance expertise with pedagogical innovation, examining how traditional knowledge transmits across generations while adapting to contemporary contexts. Key interests include Norwegian folk culture preservation, the social function of dance in community identity, and methodologies for teaching embodied traditions.

As Program Director, Roland designs curricula that connect classroom learning with real-world cultural institutions. His industry networks provide students with performance opportunities, archival research access, and professional mentorship. The program emphasizes experiential learning through fieldwork in traditional communities, ensuring graduates possess both technical dance skills and deep cultural understanding.