Success for Danes in the Desert
Friendly Danes invaded the Sonora desert with sports, food and style January 23 – February 6, 2013.
An amazing confluence of all things Danish came together in the Sonoran desert of Arizona at the end of January. The Danish Ambassador and two national Danish sports teams visited Tucson and Phoenix highlighting a series of sporting events, performances, culinary events, exhibits and lectures under the theme Danes in the Desert.
Danes in the Desert was conceived and coordinated by 2nd generation Dane, Mia Hansen, who got the idea for the event when she realized there would be two national Danish sports teams in Arizona at the same time – thanks to Arizona’s warm winter weather, in part – and thanks to the fact that Hansen has long been a cheerleader for Danish cultural initiatives. Hansen has taken part in the Embassy of Denmark’s “cultural frontrunner” initiatives since 2006. Cultural Frontrunners is a network of people dedicated to promoting modern Danish culture, values and issues in the United States on a voluntary basis.
Upon realizing the potential for greater public interest and media coverage due to the coincidental overlapping visits of the Danish soccer and gymnastics teams, Hansen decided to create a two-week series of Danish events adding exhibits, culinary tastings, and lectures by local Danes on topics including Danish design, Danish pastries, and Danish shipping giant Maersk. Hansen thought all of this “Danish-ness” would be of interest to the Embassy of Denmark and, with the help of Pima County Supervisor Richard Elias, invited the Danish Ambassador, Peter Taksoe-Jensen to attend. The Ambassador accepted the invitation and became the centerpiece speaker for what Hansen hopes will become an annual event highlighting the many Danish connections in Arizona.
Ambassador shares Denmark’s Green Agenda in Tucson
This was Danish Ambassador Peter Taksoe-Jensen’s first visit to Tucson. The Ambassador gave several public addresses on Denmark’s green agenda and global initiatives. The Ambassador’s schedule was packed with activity. He met with Pascua Yaqui Tribal Council leaders & elders, observed the National Danish Performance Team lead workshops with Yaqui youth, and spoke at the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law and at Tucson’s Rotary Club luncheon where he was well received. The Ambassador was the guest speaker at the ‘Meet the Danes’ Reception at Copenhagen Imports Tucson with over 300 guests, and attended the Danish soccer match against Canada (4-0 Danmark) where he mingled with local soccer fans, business & community leaders in the Kino Stadium hospitality suite. The Ambassador learned about Pima County’s sustainability and conservation initiatives as well as immigration issues during visits with Pima County, City of Tucson, University of Arizona and community leaders. He also learned about the longstanding military connections between Denmark and Southern Arizona including the fact that Danish pilots train regularly at the Davis Monthan Air Force Base F-16 Pilot School and Danish rescue personnel take part in Operation Angel Thunder, a rescue exercise in the desert southwest of Tucson.
The Ambassador’s visit brought focus to Tucson and Pima County’s welcoming reputation as a crossroads of culture, as well as the long-standing friendship between Denmark and the U.S. in diplomatic, trade and political relations.
Danish sports in the desert
The Danish National Soccer Team played Canada January 26th at Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium in Tucson. The match attracted Danish fans from Tucson & Phoenix while drawing global attention to the beautiful Sonoran desert via television broadcast in Denmark. The Danes dominated the match, winning 4-0. A second match January 30th against Mexico at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale before 50,000 mostly Mexican fans ended in a 1-1 draw, with Denmark making a strong showing against the favored Mexican team. Soccer is growing rapidly as an economic sports engine in Tucson and Phoenix, and the Danish men’s team spent 10 days in a winter training camp in the Phoenix area, adding to the economic impact of Danes in the Desert.
The National Danish Performance Team brought their world-renowned show ZOOM to Tucson with a performance January 27th at Pima Community College West Campus in Tucson. The gymnasts also appeared at University of Arizona Campus Mall and visited Oyama Elementary School and Pima Community College classes engaging over 5,000 youth in exercise and fitness workshops.
The National Danish Performance Team consists of 28 of the most talented gymnasts in Denmark on world-tour promoting sport for life, sport for all. Their Arizona tour included a January 29th show at Copper Ridge School, Scottsdale and a February 6th show at Barnes Field House at US Army Garrison Fort Huachuca for 1,200 military families.
Danish culinary events highlighted
Danish culinary events were a highlight of Danes in the Desert series and included samplings from Tucson’s Mona’s Danish Pastry and Scottsdale-based Odense Marcipan U.S. The Danish Club of Tucson hosted a Smorgasbord for 200 on February 2nd Pavilion at Old Sabino Canyon featuring a buffet of delicious Danish open-faced sandwiches, main courses, desserts and libations. Arla foods, a Danish based company with a U.S. dairy in Wisconsin, donated cheeses to the event while Odense Marcipan U.S. donated confections. The results were delicious and satisfying.
The Danish Club of Tucson was the fiscal sponsor for this unique series. Funding and in-kind support came from Pima County, Copenhagen Tucson, U.S. Army Fort Huachuca, Arla Foods, Casino del Sol, and other local sponsors and individuals. The Rebild National Park Society provided additional fiscal agent support for the National Danish Performance Team and the Danish Immigrant Museum provided traveling exhibits. The Embassy of Denmark and Honorary Consul John Larsen of Arizona were a great support. The event was a large undertaking for the Danish Club of Tucson made up of 60 members, mostly 2nd, 3rd and 4th generation Danish-Americans. Thanks to many volunteer hours and great public support, the event was a great success and helped raise funds and awareness for the Danish Club of Tucson while bringing people together around a successful theme event.
For more information on Danes in the Desert, contact Mia Hansen 520-370-0588, miajhansen08@gmail.com, www.DanesintheDesert.com
