The Grand Ballroom & Performance Stage

From the beautiful maple floor (replaced in 2008) to the original F.C. Baker chandeliers hanging from the 30-foot ceiling, the Grand Ballroom is the crown jewel of Norse Hall. It is a storied, much loved dance space – voted Best of the City by Portland Monthly Magazine in 2007, and has seen countless dances of all styles (swing, traditional Nordic, folk, old time, tango, waltz and more) through its 80+-year history. The stage easily accommodates everything from a 20-pc. big band to a jazz trio or concert soloist. A hand-painted backdrop of a Norwegian fjord scene has been a signature feature of the stage since the 1930s, along with the array of Nordic flags that hang along the ballroom walls. To quote most people when they enter the Ballroom for the first time, “Wow!”