Listen here: Chuck Suchy song proposed as official North Dakota waltz
Feb 04, 2025 | 4:00 pm ET
Description
Chuck Suchy of Mandan performs “Dancing Dakota” for a legislative committee on Jan. 30, 2025. The committee unanimously endorsed a bill that would designate the song as the state’s official waltz. Suchy is also under consideration to become the official state troubadour. (Ann Estvold/North Dakota Newspaper Association)
A North Dakota House committee unanimously endorsed a bill to name a song called “Dancing Dakota” as the official state waltz.
Composer and Mandan folk musician Chuck Suchy performed the song for a legislative committee last week.
House Bill 1397 designates “Dancing Dakota” as the state waltz and establishes the position of official state troubadour.
A separate measure, House Concurrent Resolution 3008, would designate Suchy as the first state troubadour for the next five years. The resolution will have its first hearing at 11:30 a.m. Thursday before the House Political Subdivisions Committee.
Troubadour, a French medieval term for a lyric poet, today is used to describe a person who writes and performs songs.
Bismarck, ND