Adult & Family Week at Timber Ridge

August 14 - 21, 2011

Program Directors

Gaye Fifer has been calling at dance weekends for several years. Her pleasant style and graceful teaching put dancers at ease and set the stage for a great dance experience. She has also taught numerous waltz workshops at virtually every dance weekend in the East. She now lives in Pittsburgh, PA. and travels whenever she gets the opportunity.

CDSS at Timber Ridge

Staff

Renee Brachfeld

Renee Brachfeld is a professional storyteller and juggler, baker, home school mom and cat lover. Her work has taken her from Anchorage to Miami, from London, England to Saskatoon Saskatchewan. Her performances combine the wonder of storytelling with the unbridled joy of juggling. Renee lives in Washington DC with husband Mark Novak, daughter Kaziah, and Farfel, the wonder cat, who is at home destroying the furniture.

CDSS at Timber Ridge

Betsy Blachly Chapin

Betsy Blachly Chapin has been on the faculty at Bank Street College School for Children for over thirty years, teaching infants, children and graduate students the power and joy of using traditional material in classrooms and homes. She continuously finds herself at the beginning of projects addressing children, teaching and traditional arts. She was on the founding committee for CDSS Family Camps, an original Ring O’ Bells Morris woman, and founder of Nottingham Fair Early Music Ensemble. Betsy is also a certified music therapist working at a homeless shelter and with private clients, and plays timpani in the Christmas Revels.

CDSS at Timber Ridge

Hank Chapin

Hank Chapin has been dancing at Pinewoods Camp since age 8, and is a dinosaur at CDSS events, camps, Revels and various Family Dances and Family Camps. He is still trying to learn the difference between practice and practise – ask him and he will tell you what the difference is. When he can, Henry calls Family dances with the Carnegie Hill Band, dances with the Bouwerie Boys, has recently been singing song cycle concerts with the Orfeo Duo, and is grateful that folks still want him to attend camp!

CDSS at Timber Ridge

John Devine

John Devine is much loved by the Family Week community as the Pied Piper and as a solid mountain of rhythm guitar for all styles of country dancing from English to New England to Southern, with a not-so-secret leaning toward swing songs and joy. He has one of the most beautiful voices you'll ever hear. He brings a gentle power to all that he does, whether playing guitar, singing songs or tending his farm just over the ridge in northeast West Virginia.

CDSS at Timber Ridge

Daron Douglas

Daron Douglas is a captivating fiddler for American and English dance traditions. She plays with the dance bands Foxfire and Goldcrest. Daron also brings a rich repertoire of songs from her great-grandmother, who was one of Cecil Sharp's informants in the southern mountains. She has been on the staff at CDSS dance camps, at Ashokan and at the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, NC. She now lives and plays music in New Orleans.

http://www.allthingscottage.com/daron_douglas.html

CDSS at Timber Ridge

Sam Droege

Sam Droege has spent much of his life looking under rocks, catching bugs, measuring plants and watching birds and other animals. He is employed by the U.S. Geological Survey and designs local and national surveys for animals and plants. Currently he is working on guides to native bees and wasps of North America and divining the subspecies of marsh birds.

CDSS at Timber Ridge

Rachel Fifer

Rachel Fifer grew up dancing and singing in Charlottesville, VA. She graduated from Wesleyan University in Connecticut, with majors in Environmental Studies & Latin American Studies. Rachel sings with the West Asheville Community Choir, run by Suzannah Park and Nathan Morrison and dances on a ballroom dance team in Asheville. She works as an Acrobatic Partner Yoga instructor at a donation-based yoga studio. She specializes in running off to foreign countries, procrastinating, and singing or dancing at inopportune moments. Rachel is a lifelong Family Dance Camp missionary and spends most of her energy converting the lost souls of mainstream America with the gospel of the folk community.

CDSS at Timber Ridge

Adina Gordon

Adina Gordon finds an outlet for her loves of travel, music, dance and silliness by calling and dancing at festivals throughout the U.S. and Canada, creating joy and minor chaos wherever she goes. Combining a voice that makes you WANT to do what she says with a commitment to using that power for good and not evil, Adina calls contras and squares both old and new that cause spontaneous eruptions of joy on dance floors. She counts it as a job well done whenever anyone says, "I don't really like squares, but I like your squares."

http://www.adinagordon.com/

CDSS at Timber Ridge

Leadership in Dance & Music for Young Adults

Steve Hickman

Steve Hickman is a world class fiddler, a master hambonist, a passionate historian, and an organic homesteader, specializing in wild blueberries and Shiitake mushroom production. Since the 1970s, he has been the backbone of untold numbers of mid-Atlantic dance bands and has taught hambone to several generations of Family Week campers. He has toured internationally with groups including Childsplay.

Family Week at Ogontz

CDSS at Timber Ridge

Kappy Laning

Kappy Laning enjoys teaching English ritual dances (rapper, longsword, border morris and garland) to children, teens and adults. She has been inspiring her class participants to work together and create exciting performances at many dance camps over the last 15 years, and in local MD schools over the past 5 years. Kappy has been CDSS's WV Camp Director since 1998.

Family Week at Pinewoods

CDSS at Timber Ridge

Annie Fain Liden

Annie Fain Liden grew up three miles from the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, NC. She's been making art, playing traditional music and dancing from her earliest years and is now making her living doing all three. She dances with the Green Grass Cloggers, plays banjo for the all-woman Appalachian string band Blue Eyed Girl and runs her business A. Fain Books specializing in handmade books for all occasions.

http://afainbooks.com/

CDSS at Timber Ridge

Miriam Mathis

Robert Mills

Adult & Family Program at Timber Ridge

Paul Oorts

Paul Oorts, a Belgian native, displays his musical versatility on things with strings and on musette accordion. He plays Celtic and continental European repertoire in duo with his wife, Karen Ashbrook, as well as English, Scottish, vintage and contra with Goldcrest and various DC area bands.

www.pauloorts.com

CDSS at Timber Ridge

DeLaura Padovan

For twenty years DeLaura Padovan has been honored to share her enthusiasm and joy at Family Weeks. She is a family dance leader, singer and organic farmer. A pioneer of living life the best way possible, DeLaura spends her time homeschooling two teenage daughters, playing ukulele and marimba, milking goats and creating one thing out of another. DeLaura is a dedicated local foods activist in the King George, Virginia region.

Family Week at Ogontz

CDSS at Timber Ridge

Community & Classroom Dance Leaders Course

Thomas Spilsbury

Tom Spilsbury has been dancing English and contra in the Washington DC area since the mid-eighties and, as a member of Cutting Edge sword team, has added longsword to his repertoire in recent years. Having gone to Berea Christmas School in 1987 for contra, he first encountered English country dancing and immediately feel in love with its beauty and energy. As a caller of English for several regular groups in the Washington DC-Baltimore area over the last decade, he is known for helping others find that beauty and energy through his clear teaching and fun programs.

CDSS at Timber Ridge

Charlotte Swavola

Charlotte Swavola, a Chemistry/Human Biology-Anthropology major at Temple University in Philadelphia, PA, started contra dancing when a best friend, and fellow CDSS member, took her to a dance in 5th grade, and then to Family Week at Buffalo Gap the following summer. Since then, the music, dancing and community have become more than something to look forward to, but part of what defines her. She now hopes to give back to the community as much as it has given her.

CDSS at Timber Ridge

Dave Wiesler

Dave Wiesler began his musical journey as “the guy who could figure out the chords” in his high school garage band. Nearly 20 years later he discovered playing folk music for dances, and felt that the job description had been written just for him. At home in a wide range of styles, Dave is in demand for contra, English and Scottish country dancing, swing, waltz and vintage dance; and his music has taken him across the country and into Canada, Scotland, England, France and the Galapagos Islands. Dave is a prolific composer of tunes and songs, and is also a capable guitarist and singer. He lives in Newark, DE, with his wife and two young sons who don't let him practice nearly as much as he'd like.

http://www.azaleacityrecordings.com/davewiesler/

CDSS at Timber Ridge

Crowfoot

http://www.crowfootmusic.com

CDSS at Timber Ridge

: Including

Adam Broome

Adam Broome (Guitar, Cittern and Vocals) was born and raised in rural England to a life full of music, theatre and dance. His unique songwriting and playing style has been influenced over the years by many musical genres and traditions. Making music his livelihood, Adam tours full time with his band Crowfoot, performing for concerts and dances and leading workshops on DADGAD guitar throughout the U.S., Canada and abroad.

http://www.crowfootmusic.com

CDSS at Timber Ridge

Jaige Trudel

Jaige Trudel (Fiddle, Cello and Voice) has been making music her "day job" for the last nine years, playing for dancers and listening audiences and giving workshops throughout the U.S., Canada and abroad, mostly with her trio Crowfoot. A classical background lends her a well rounded technical pallet and her love for traditional sounds determines how she uses it. She enjoys devoting time to organic gardens and giving astrological readings in between musical projects.

http://www.crowfootmusic.com

CDSS at Timber Ridge

Nicholas Williams

Nicholas Williams (flutes, accordion, piano, vocals) studied world music, composition and improvisation at York University in Toronto. Since graduating in 1998, he has immersed himself in the traditional dance music of Ireland, Scotland, Brittany and Québec, as well as the classical music of North India. A member of the band Crowfoot for 9 years, he has performed across North America and the U.K., and has recorded as a producer, band member, and a guest artist on many CDs, including two solo releases. Nicholas lives in the Eastern Townships of Québec where he co-directs the 'Jeunes musiciens du monde' music school.

CDSS at Timber Ridge

2011 Adult & Family Week at Timber Ridge

English & American Dance & Music

Tentative Schedule

7:45-8:30	Breakfast
9:00-10:00	Sing and Play (age 2-3): DeLaura Padovan Sing and Play (age 2-3): DeLaura Padovan We will do just that and more! CDSS at Timber Ridge
	Sing and Dance (age 4-5): Charlotte Swavola Sing and Dance (age 4-5): Charlotte Swavola We will learn songs that are not only fun to listen to, but also fun to learn and perform. The dances will be basic, yet still contain elements of contra dancing. Time permitting, we will include some body rhythm as well. CDSS at Timber Ridge
	Music, Dance and Stories (age 6-7): Betsy Blachely-Chapin Music, Dance and Stories (age 6-7): Betsy Blachely-Chapin The title says it all! CDSS at Timber Ridge
	Stories and More (age 8-9): Renee Brachfeld Stories and More (age 8-9): Renee Brachfeld A storytelling playshop! Together with Renee, campers will bring folk tales to life. A fabulous time will be had by all. CDSS at Timber Ridge
	Rapper (age 10-12): Kappy Laning Rapper (age 10-12): Kappy Laning Music by: Robert Mills Kappy will teach rapper to the 10-12 year olds this year. She is pleased to be able to build on what campers learned last year from their longsword experience. Rapper is an English tradition from the late 1800s. Its fast moving figures and team work make it an excellent experience for this age group. Each dance that is taught is based on notes from traditional dances with input from the group when possible, and changes made to fit the energy and needs of the group to create an exciting dance that is fun for all. CDSS at Timber Ridge
	Morning Contras (age 13 & up): Adina Gordon Morning Contras (age 13 & up): Adina Gordon Music by: Steve Hickman, John Devine Wake up gently with smooth, fun dances and wonderful music that will make you glad to start your day! CDSS at Timber Ridge
	Experienced English (age 13 & up): Tom Spilsbury Experienced English (age 13 & up): Tom Spilsbury Music by: Daron Douglas, Dave Wiesler, Paul Oorts This is geared towards those familiar with the repertoire and figures and who learn patterns well. We will look at some challenging dances that are best taught in a workshop environment, as well as some familiar dances with the intent of finding the special connections (with the music and the other dancers) that make those dances so wonderful. CDSS at Timber Ridge
10:00	Refreshments
10:15-11:15	Sing and Move (age 2-3): Charlotte Swavola Sing and Move (age 2-3): Charlotte Swavola We will learn songs that are not only fun to listen to, but also fun to learn and perform. These include nursery rhymes and even foreign songs. The movement will be basic, yet still lay the foundation for contra dancing. CDSS at Timber Ridge
	Music, Dance and Stories (age 4-5): Betsy Blachely-Chapin Music, Dance and Stories (age 4-5): Betsy Blachely-Chapin The title says it all! CDSS at Timber Ridge
	Stories and Songs (age 6-7): Renee Brachfeld Stories and Songs (age 6-7): Renee Brachfeld A storytelling playshop! Together with Renee, campers will bring folk tales to life. A fabulous time will be had by all. CDSS at Timber Ridge
	Contra/Dancing (age 8-9): Hank Chapin Contra/Dancing (age 8-9): Hank Chapin Music by: Daron Douglas Hank will take the 8-9 year olds through dances they ought to know and other musical conspiracies. CDSS at Timber Ridge
	Polishing the Rough Edges (age 10-12): DeLaura Padovan Polishing the Rough Edges (age 10-12): DeLaura Padovan Music by: Paul Oorts Mastering the moves for a great time at the evening dances, we will cover the basic skills, from giving weight and eye contact to courtesy turning and heys. CDSS at Timber Ridge
	Challenging Contras (age 13 & up): Adina Gordon Challenging Contras (age 13 & up): Adina Gordon Music by: Adam Broome, Nicholas Williams, Jaige Trudell Get your dance buzz going from intricate moves, close timing and unexpected choreography. A few brain-benders, a variety of surprises and a whole lot of fun! CDSS at Timber Ridge
	Appalachian Clogging (age 13 & up): Annie Fain Liden Appalachian Clogging (age 13 & up): Annie Fain Liden Music by: Steve Hickman, John Devine Does listening to lively old-time music make you want to jump out of your seat and dance? It only takes knowing a few steps to dance to your heart’s content and that’s exactly what you’ll be doing during this week of Appalachian style, percussive dance. Join a North Carolina native, who has been dancing her entire life, for a good time learning a variety of basic steps and short routines to live music. For all levels. CDSS at Timber Ridge
11:30-12:15	All Camp Gathering with songs, singing, games and stories
12:30-1:30	Lunch Buffet
1:00-1:30	Canoeing in the River
1:30-2:15	Bookstore staffed
1:45-2:45	99 & under Nap, rest, snore, dream
	Bookmaking (All ages, under 8 w/parent): Annie Fain Liden Bookmaking (All ages, under 8 w/parent): Annie Fain Liden Come rest your feet awhile and make a collection of amazingly varied, mixed-media book structures that can be used as small gifts, personalized journals, simple photo-albums or even songbooks. No previous experience needed. $5 materials fee payable at the first class. All ages: (7 & under, with an adult). CDSS at Timber Ridge
	Nature Walk (All ages, under 10 w/parent): Sam Droege Nature Walk (All ages, under 10 w/parent): Sam Droege Our objective is to go on short nearby walks, concentrating on learning how to identify trees and plants, with lots of buckets, traps, nets, cages and binoculars for mushroom, birds, insects and other critters that may come along. Brad Seay, regional arborist, will also add his knowledge of trees and woody plants to the class. Each day will be independent and different and people can attend or not as they see fit. All ages welcome. CDSS at Timber Ridge
	World Dance (age 10-12): Rachel Fifer, Miriam Mathis World Dance (age 10-12): Rachel Fifer, Miriam Mathis Music by: Steve Hickman, John Devine Our youth are growing up in a world where diversity of dance traditions and awareness of fundamentals are being lost. Let's help the new generation to be conscientious, adept dancers with minds open to any dance in the world! With each day spent on a distinct dance tradition, where we build off of the basic aspects of each, we will learn to swing dance with style, contra with fluidity, international dance with grace and hip hop with passion. Let's dance! CDSS at Timber Ridge
	Open Calling Plus (13 & up): Adina Gordon Open Calling Plus (13 & up): Adina Gordon Music by: Jaige Trudell Ever wondered how callers do what they do? Want to try calling a dance for the first time? Interested in building on what you already know as a caller? Ready to play caller games that offer specific challenges? If you dance or call or want to call (either English or American), come enjoy your fellow campers' talents and learn how it all comes together. CDSS at Timber Ridge
3:00-4:00	Swimming and Handwork at the Pool
	Juggling (All ages, under 8 w/parent): Renee Brachfeld Juggling (All ages, under 8 w/parent): Renee Brachfeld description to follow CDSS at Timber Ridge
	Singing (All ages, under 10 w/parent): Nicholas Williams, Adam Broome Singing (All ages, under 10 w/parent): Nicholas Williams, Adam Broome description to follow CDSS at Timber Ridge
	English for All (age 13 & up): Tom Spilsbury English for All (age 13 & up): Tom Spilsbury Music by: Daron Douglas, Dave Wiesler, Paul Oorts Come and enjoy the many pleasures of English country dancing (the beauty, playfulness, variety, and great energy). The dances (old and new) will be accessible to all, but interesting to even the most experienced dancers. CDSS at Timber Ridge
	Northwest Morris (age 13 & up): Annie Fain Liden Northwest Morris (age 13 & up): Annie Fain Liden Music by: Jaige Trudell Northwest morris dance is a form of English folk dance named after the Northwest region of England dating as far back as the eighteenth century. These days Northwest dancing is commonly done in sets of eight people executing a series of choreographed figures while wearing clogs, which makes the rhythmic stepping more audible. Typically performed for street festivals and holidays, morris dancing is intended to be a good time (and also a good workout). Bring dance shoes with hard soles (clogs if you have them) and expect to do a lot of dancing! Some loaner clogs are available. CDSS at Timber Ridge
4:00	Children's snack
4:15-5:15	Dance Band (All ages): Nicholas Williams, Adam Broome Dance Band (All ages): Nicholas Williams, Adam Broome description to follow CDSS at Timber Ridge
	Mummers (age 8 & up): Hank Chapin Mummers (age 8 & up): Hank Chapin We will build to a show for the final parade. Anyone interested in the mummers class is welcome to correspond with Hank about what aspect of mumming to address, which script to use, or other issues around folk drama and ceremony. CDSS at Timber Ridge
	Waltz (age 13 & up): Gaye Fifer Waltz (age 13 & up): Gaye Fifer Music by: Dave Wiesler Gaye will use waltz moves to help practice the skills of timely leading and aware following. She believes that the magic of waltz lies in connecting with your partner and with the music. All levels welcome. CDSS at Timber Ridge
4:45-5:45	Bookstore staffed
	Swimming in the Pool
	Canoeing in the River
5:15-5:45	Sing for your supper
5:45-6:45	Dinner Buffet
6:45	Parade from the Grove to the Palyhouse
7:00-7:35	Community Dance
7:35-8:15	All Camp Gathering
8:15	Pied Piper/Bedtime for children 9 & younger
8:30-11:00	Evening Dance Party
9:30	Bedtime for 10-12 year olds
11:00	After-dance Activities

August 14 - 21, 2011

Is there still room?
For up-to-date info about availability and wait lists,
see our Program Weeks page.

Program Description

CDSS at Timber Ridge is a wonderful week of connecting with traditions and rituals, while building community with new and old friends. The culture of participation and involvement is contagious! We have a great program for adults, children, families and young adults featuring a mix of English and American dance, ritual dance (Northwest morris and rapper), song, music, arts and crafts, nature walks and more. Adults can participate in their classes all day, while children enjoy age-appropriate dance and music options.

The teaching/calling staff is entertaining and inspiring, the musicians are superb and the schedule allows you to do as much as you could possibly want. In addition to classes, there are two all community gatherings (morning and evening) where we share stories, songs and talents. There is time during the day for a nature walk, swimming, canoeing and hanging out with friends. After dinner, we parade to the hall for a community dance which includes everyone in the fun. The evening dances combine English and contra, with bedtimes for the younger ones at appropriate intervals and adult dancing into the night. After the dance, there is always a late night activity which gives everyone a chance to shine and play.

On the last day, we have show and tell, a big parade, a pool party and lots of dancing. We would love to have you come to join in our week of traditions, making them yours as well

-- Gaye Fifer, Program Director

Northwest Morris returns to Timber Ridge.

A Typical Day

At any of our Family programs, a typical day includes two classes tailored to age groups. Morning starts with age specific classes for children age 2 and up, while parents and the teens pursue their own music and dance classes. Also, the whole camp gathers to sing and dance together before lunch. Children not napping after lunch may join their parents in a wide variety of classes designed for mixed age groups, snack and swim time. After dinner the whole community comes together for a family dance followed by singing and stories.

As dusk settles, a Pied Piper leads the families with children age 9 and younger (8 and younger at Campers' Week) to their cabins where the parents put their children to bed. Preteens stay halfway through the evening dance before their bedtime comes. Adults and teenagers can enjoy the evening dance and later activities, while roving monitors listens for wakeful children. If a child is uncomfortable, the monitor will alert the parent at the dance. Each family is expected to prepare their children for these scheduled bedtimes.

Adult & Family Week at Timber Ridge

Program Directors

Gaye Fifer

Staff

Renee Brachfeld

Betsy Blachly Chapin

Hank Chapin

John Devine

Daron Douglas

Sam Droege

Rachel Fifer

Adina Gordon

Steve Hickman

Kappy Laning

Annie Fain Liden

Robert Mills

Paul Oorts

DeLaura Padovan

Thomas Spilsbury

Charlotte Swavola

Dave Wiesler

Crowfoot

Adam Broome

Jaige Trudel

Nicholas Williams

2011 Adult & Family Week at Timber Ridge

English & American Dance & Music

Tentative Schedule

Sing and Play (age 2-3): DeLaura Padovan

Sing and Dance (age 4-5): Charlotte Swavola

Music, Dance and Stories (age 6-7): Betsy Blachely-Chapin

Stories and More (age 8-9): Renee Brachfeld

Rapper (age 10-12): Kappy Laning

Morning Contras (age 13 & up): Adina Gordon

Experienced English (age 13 & up): Tom Spilsbury

Sing and Move (age 2-3): Charlotte Swavola

Music, Dance and Stories (age 4-5): Betsy Blachely-Chapin

Stories and Songs (age 6-7): Renee Brachfeld

Contra/Dancing (age 8-9): Hank Chapin

Polishing the Rough Edges (age 10-12): DeLaura Padovan

Challenging Contras (age 13 & up): Adina Gordon

Appalachian Clogging (age 13 & up): Annie Fain Liden

Bookmaking (All ages, under 8 w/parent): Annie Fain Liden

Nature Walk (All ages, under 10 w/parent): Sam Droege

World Dance (age 10-12): Rachel Fifer, Miriam Mathis

Open Calling Plus (13 & up): Adina Gordon

Juggling (All ages, under 8 w/parent): Renee Brachfeld

Singing (All ages, under 10 w/parent): Nicholas Williams, Adam Broome

English for All (age 13 & up): Tom Spilsbury

Northwest Morris (age 13 & up): Annie Fain Liden

Dance Band (All ages): Nicholas Williams, Adam Broome

Mummers (age 8 & up): Hank Chapin

Waltz (age 13 & up): Gaye Fifer

August 14 - 21, 2011

Program Description

A Typical Day