Family Week at Ogontz

July 30 - August 6, 2011

Program Directors

Andy Davis is a music educator in three Vermont public schools, dance musician, caller, storyteller and singer. Andy plays piano, accordion and banjo. He leads community contra and square dances, performs with Nowell Sing We Clear, and is a member of the New England Dancing Masters - publishers of books and recordings for teachers of traditional dance.

http://www.dancingmasters.com/andydavis.html

Campers' Week at Pinewoods

Robin Davis

Robin Davis has been participating in community folk music and dance activities much of her life, including healthy doses of Cotswold and Northwest clog morris. A retired professional baker, Robin now teaches preschool. She enjoys gathering children and adults together to DO ART, such as modular origami, Ukranian egg dying, bookbinding, printing and paper collage. She sings with the River Singers, a large multi-cultural choir, and a hospice singing group called Hallowell. She has led children's classes at Pinewoods, Ogontz and Lady of the Lake family weeks.

Campers' Week at Pinewoods

Staff

Karen Axelrod

Karen Axelrod is highly regarded for her creative piano playing at English, American and Scottish dance events around the country. She is in the band Foxfire, with Daron Douglas. Karen plays accordion with 3rd String Trio, a band that plays old world cafe music. She also plays accordion for Orion Longsword. When not playing music, Karen spends her time managing her dog walking business and coming in last in marathons.

Family Week at Pinewoods

English Dance Week at Pinewoods

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

Brad Foster

Brad Foster, from Amherst, MA, has been dancing and teaching English country, contras and squares, and morris and sword for over 40 years. He is well known for sharing the joy found in dance, and has taught throughout the U.S., Canada and Europe, including at Berea, Pinewoods, Mendocino, John C. Campbell Folk School and Augusta. He is Executive and Artistic Director Emeritus of the Country Dance and Song Society, after 28 years as Director. He is also a founder of the Bay Area Country Dance Society as well as co-founder of their Mendocino English and American dance weeks. Photo by Marty Stock

English Dance Week at Pinewoods

John Mayberry

John Mayberry, from Toronto, Ontario, went to his first dance at two weeks old, carried in a basket. His love of dance, music, performance and craft has led to a career including carpentry, performance, writing, teaching, directing and almost everything else. He is the Fool of the Toronto Morris Men, an accomplished traditional singer, an experienced street theater and mumming performer and a professor of theatre production in the Department of Theatre, York University, Toronto. In 2006 John danced as the fool with the Toronto Morris Men in the Carnival Parade in Santiago de Cuba.

http://www.yorku.ca/finearts/faculty/profs/mayberry.htm

Family Week at Pinewoods

Jane Miller

Jane Miller, a “teacher's teacher,” founded the Price Farm School in Antrim, NH and is on the faculty of Antioch University New England. Jane has been involved with traditional dance and song for most of her life.

http://www.antiochne.edu/directory/employee_detail.cfm?id=7160076205

Teacher Training Course

Family Week at Ogontz

Kathy Reid-Naiman

Kathy Reid Naiman is a full time children's performer, member of Mariposa in the Schools and the Children's Music Network. She has been working as a folk-musician since her early teens and comes from a musical family. She has been playing music with Arnie Naiman as Ragged but Right for many years and is the fiddler for The Toronto Women's Sword Team. She is a multi-instrumentalist who plays guitar, fiddle, Appalachian dulcimer, banjo ukulele, and autoharp. She has been on staff at Campers’ Week at Pinewoods and Family Week at Ogontz many, many times over the past 20 years.

http://www.merriweather.ca/artist.aspx?ID=1

Family Week at Ogontz

Campers' Week at Pinewoods

Bruce Rosen

Bruce Rosen has been part of Boston's contra and English country dance community since the mid-1970s as a dancer and musician. His rock solid piano and guitar accompaniment is sought after by many of New England's best contra dance musicians. Bruce also plays piano for English country dancing, appearing frequently in Jamaica Plain (MA), as well as other New England venues. As part of Boston's traditional music scene, he plays guitar at Irish sessions and in performance with the West Newton Ceili Band, and drives the rhythm at Old Time music jams on the banjo ukelele. In the early 90s, Bruce took up the button accordion, and has played for the Pinewoods Morris Men, Ha'Penny Morris, and the Commonwealth Morris Men. Bruce has collaborated on four recordings of New England contra dance music and is seen most years conducting the New England Folk Festival Orchestra.

Family Week at Ogontz

Rhonda Rucker

Rhonda Rucker is from Louisville, KY and practiced medicine for five years before becoming a full-time performer. She began taking piano lessons from a ragtime player when she was four years old. In addition to piano, Rhonda adds sweet-sounding vocal harmonies, a mean, gutsy blues harmonica, old-time banjo, and rhythmic bones to their music. She began performing with Sparky in 1989 and appears on seven recordings with him. Rhonda's recent blossoming as a songwriter was evident in their recent CD release, One Earth, which featured seven wonderful original songs including the CD title song. Rhonda is also a wonderful storyteller, especially giving voice to characters such as Br'er Rabbit in their tandem storytelling ventures, as well as, some original family stories. Rhonda has taught and led workshops at Augusta, Common Ground, SAMW, Hindman Family Folk Week, Puget Sound Guitar Workshop, and Clarion Folk College.

http://www.sparkyandrhonda.com/

Family Week at Ogontz

Sparky Rucker

James "Sparky" Rucker has over 40 years of International touring, recording and teaching experience. He is known as a storyteller, historian and folk-musician. He has taught and led workshops at Augusta, Common Ground, Ashokan, Pinewoods, SAMW, Hindman Family Folk Week, Puget Sound Guitar Workshop, Clarion Folk College and Wisconsin's String-A-Long Weekend. In his study of "the blues", Sparky has learned at the feet of such blues titans as John Jackson, Howard Armstrong and Babe Stovall. The Rev. Pearly Brown, who taught Duane Allman how to play bottle-neck [style] guitar, showed him some moves. Sparky picked up pointers from Buddy Moss, who taught Blind Boy Fuller, and Johnny Shines, who traveled with blues legend Robert Johnson. 'A lot of these [fellows] set me down and taught me some licks,' he said." Sparky has researched the songs of early America including the minstrel songs and stories, and the vast amount of songs that the American Civil War produced. His award winning show and album [recorded with his wife Rhonda], The Blue & Gray in Black and White, has won critical acclaim from historians and Civil War buffs alike.

http://www.sparkyandrhonda.com/

Family Week at Ogontz

Lissa Schneckenburger

Fiddler and folk singer Lissa Schneckenburger grew up in Maine as an active member of the folk community, where she learned to play at the feet of some of the most venerable musicians in New England. She has continued to explore music throughout her life, leading to her graduation from The New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Massachusetts (2001). Lissa has played all over the world, including appearances in Russia, Holland, Belgium, Sweden, Denmark, Canada as well as all over the U.S.. Her most recent release, Dance, was made possible in part by a grant from CDSS, and celebrates the traditional contra dance tunes of New England with an all star cast of back up musicians, including Corey DiMario (double bass), Bethany Waickman (guitar), Keith Murphy (guitar), Stefan Amidon (percussion), David Kaynor (harmony fiddle) and more!

http://www.lissafiddle.com/

American Dance & Music Week at Pinewoods

Kari Smith

Kari Smith has been teaching adults and children various forms of seasonal display dance for more than 25 years. She is the foreman of Guiding Star Clog Morris, and a founding member of The New Dancing Marleys. She teaches educators to integrate the arts across the curriculum. She loves to sing and dance, and to get others singing and dancing!

Family Week at Ogontz

Bettie Zakon-Anderson

Bettie Zakon-Anderson has been dancing most of her life and enjoys sharing the fun of music and dance with people of all ages. She has taught a variety of couples dances, from hambo and waltz to swing and Zydeco, at camps and weekends throughout the U.S. for the past twenty years. She teaches reading to elementary school children, as well as ukulele in the after school program and maypole dancing in the spring.

Family Week at Ogontz

Steve Zakon-Anderson

Steve Zakon-Anderson has been calling contras, leading workshops for callers and teaching couples dance for over 25 years. He has performed at dance camps and festivals in 36 states, including Pinewoods, Ogontz, Buffalo Gap, Lady of the Lake, Augusta and Brasstown. His own dance compositions are well known to dancers and other callers. Steve's clear teaching, energetic calling and sense of humor have made him a favorite of dancers of all ages and abilities.

Family Week at Ogontz

2011 Family Week at Ogontz

Tentative Schedule

7:45-8:30	Breakfast
9:00-9:55	kids can be dropped off at their class at 8:55 9:00 Kids' Classes Age 2-3: Bettie Zakon-Anderson Age 4-6: Kathy Reid-Naiman The 4 to 6 year olds will start the day with songs, singing games, rhythm band and laughter! Age 7-9: Andy Davis Andy will teach songs, tell stories, play musical games, and assist the class in putting together a short play. Age 10-12: Dancing, Calling, and Games -- Steve Zakon-Anderson / Lissa Schneckenburger Each day we will dance together, with an emphasis on preparing you to strut your stuff at the evening dance. There will be a chance to practice calling a dance or two for those that are interested. We will also collaborate to do some group challenge games, and, of course, we'll share some bad jokes! CDSS at Ogontz
	9:00 Adult Classes 9:00 Adult Classes English Country: Brad Foster / Karen Axelrod, Daron Douglas Come and experience the joy of English country dance. Dances will range from old classics to recently composed dances, from Cecil Sharp reconstructions to Gary Roodman compositions. Many current favorites will be included with a focus on dances that flow and the transitions that make them fun. Marley Clog: Kari Smith / Bruce Rosen The legacy of the Dancing Marleys brings us clog dances from the early decades of the 20th century and a window into the English-style clog dancing that was being created and danced then, and across the latter part of the previous century, by American clog dancers on American stages. One of the many dances from the Marley repertoire will be the focus of the class, as well as a general history of American English-style clog dancing. CDSS at Ogontz
10:05-11:00	kids will stay at their class locations 10:05 Kids' classes Age 2-3: Bettie Zakon-Anderson Age 4-6: Robin Davis Snack, Art and Song ....in that order!! This summer, children will be having snack within their classes around 10am. After snack we will get down to the business of making stuff........instruments, puppets, toys........and maybe do some singing and stories with the things we have made. Age 7-9: Longsword: Kari Smith / Daron Douglas Dancing with swords! What could be more fun - and mystifying?! 7-9 year olds will gather each day to learn to dance Longsword, working together as a team to learn the tricks of the trade to become awesome sword dancers and to wow their audience! Fun movement games, songs and perhaps a bit of mumming, will be added to the mix to allow for a balance of playfulness and skill-work, quiet focus and bursts of pleasure. Age 10-12: Heroes & Hard Times: An American Folk Odyssey: Sparky and Rhonda Rucker A class where 10-12 year olds will work together to tell traditional folktales in a dramatic fashion. This class will be fun! CDSS at Ogontz
	10:05 Adult Classes 10:05 Adult Classes Morning Contras: Steve Zakon-Anderson / Bruce Rosen, Lissa Schneckenburger During this session we will cover lots of ground in the world of contra dancing. We'll draw from contemporary compositions to see what the latest trends are, as well as dance some of the great classics that are getting harder to find at your local contra dance. The best part is we do this all to wonderful music by Lissa and Bruce! Morris: John Mayberry / Kathy Reid-Naiman John,"Fool" of the Toronto Morris Men and one of the team's founding members, will teach dances in the Hogtown style. Hogtown was once a derisive nickname for Toronto, but The Toronto Morris Men are proud to be continuing practitioners of a set of dances in a style that is marked by its relaxed exuberance and un-self-conscious vigour. No previous Morris experience necessary, but old hands will see the similarities to traditional Bampton dances. CDSS at Ogontz
11:05	Refreshments
11:15-12:00	Morning Gathering: songs, dances, show & tell
12:00-12:30	Bookstore staffed
12:30-1:00	Buffet Lunch Served
1:00-1:30	Bookstore staffed
1:30-2:25	Art Potpourri (All ages): Robin Davis Art Potpourri (All ages): Robin Davis Let's face it, we are only in the middle of January, so I can't say for SURE what projects we will undertake when August comes around. We will NOT pursue the same projects as last year, although we did have a blast with them! Projects might include needle felting, because Emma (my daughter) and I just made some wonderful pigs over Christmas that were so much fun to do. And it might include Ukrainian egg dying, which we haven't done at camp in ages, or juggling balls, or piggybanks. It might even be something I haven't thought of yet. But to be sure, Art Potpourri will be just that, a potpourri. It will be a fun, creative and social time for all. Please Note: Each day (at a time and place TBA, but NOT in class) I will also be teaching a different modular origami ornament. The individual modules are quite simple. Putting them together is lots of fun. If you are interested, you should bring 30 pieces of origami paper for each person interested. Also bring a few small zip lock bags. Ages: 13+ CDSS at Ogontz
	I've Got a Story to Tell (8 & up): Rhonda and Sparky Rucker I've Got a Story to Tell (8 & up): Rhonda and Sparky Rucker Everybody has a story to tell, whether it is a family story, a traditional folktale, or the creative expansion of a wonderful joke. We will work with campers to help them develop their own ideas for stories. This class will generally be for adults. A recording device might be helpful for this class, but it is not required. CDSS at Ogontz
	Teen Class (13-19): John Mayberry Teen Class (13-19): John Mayberry The teens will meet every day at this time, when John will explore with them a varied, vast and vibrant program including circus skills (juggling, slack-rope, etc.), song (harmonies, ballads, shanties), aspects of performance (comedy, jokes, voice, movement) and community-building (ritual, tradition). We will also play with the concept of surprise, and how we can use our imaginations to improve the camp experience for everyone. CDSS at Ogontz
	Family Band: Lissa Schneckenburger Family Band: Lissa Schneckenburger This class will continue the Ogontz tradition of giving participants a chance to play jigs, reels and waltzes numerous times throughout the week at the Community Dance. The class is open to players of all instruments who can play at a moderate dance tempo. Tunes will be taught primarily by ear, although music notation will be available for some tunes. This is a multi-generational dance band! CDSS at Ogontz
2:35-4:35	2-Hour Swim Block All ages, 9 & under/parent
2:35-3:30	All ages, 9 & under/parent Swimming or napping OR
	Ukulele (All ages): Kathy Reid-Naiman Ukulele (All ages): Kathy Reid-Naiman Bring your ukulele to camp and come to this all ages class to learn and share songs using the most popular instrument on the planet! If you don't have a ukulele but would like to learn, there will be a few inexpensive one available for purchase. Please let us know before camp starts to avoid disappointment. CDSS at Ogontz
	North-West/Clog Morris (10 & up): Kari Smith / Karen Axelrod North-West/Clog Morris (10 & up): Kari Smith / Karen Axelrod Come to explore the pleasures of making an organized musical racket with your feet while moving powerfully and gracefully in surprising formations with fellow dancers! (Your feet are in the band while the rest of you is in the dance!) Beginner and experienced dancers alike will enjoy mastering fundamentals of the tradition while dancing recently composed repertoire from Kari's team Guiding Star Clog Morris. CDSS at Ogontz
	We've Got the Blues (13 & up): Rhonda and Sparky Rucker We've Got the Blues (13 & up): Rhonda and Sparky Rucker This class will be a blues workshop in which participants who are already proficient in playing guitar or harmonica have a chance to play together as a group. Campers should be at the intermediate level or higher on their instrument. The class will be aimed at teenagers and adults. There will be some opportunity for individual help early in the week, but most of the time will be spent working together as a group. Harmonica players should bring diatonic harmonicas in the keys of A, C, D and G. If you have other keys, bring them. CDSS at Ogontz
3:35-3:45	Afternoon Snack
3:35-4:45	Bookstore staffed
3:50-4:45	All ages, 9 & under/parent Swimming or napping OR
	Harmony (All ages): Andy Davis Harmony (All ages): Andy Davis Songs will be drawn from a variety of community singing traditions: American folk songs, spirituals, English pub carols and multi-part songs from Africa and the Caribbean. Parts will be taught both "by ear" and with written scores. All levels are welcomed! CDSS at Ogontz
	Mumming (8 & up): John Mayberry Mumming (8 & up): John Mayberry Most communities, all over the world, have a tradition of taking some time, usually at a special points in the year, to put aside the work-a-day world and turn the usual order of things upside down. This often involves disguising, visiting people's houses, asking for food, drink or money, and saying special words or doing a prescribed performance. The Ogontz Family Week Mummers' Play is our chance to do this. John will guide the group through inventing and shaping our own, never-seen-before play to share with the whole camp. No acting experience is necessary. Unlike the modern practice of Trick-or-Treating, this is definitely open to adults. Children need to be at least nine years old. CDSS at Ogontz
	Teachers Seminar: Jane Miller Teachers Seminar: Jane Miller Teacher Training Course participants will join the class teachers and students in the morning to work with traditional material. This will be our daily chance to discuss what we have observed and to try some of the material ourselves. Teachers Training Course Family Week at Ogontz
4:55-5:30	Telling the Truth Goodbye: Folktales and Legends (All ages): Rhonda and Sparky Rucker Telling the Truth Goodbye: Folktales and Legends (All ages): Rhonda and Sparky Rucker Sparky and Rhonda Rucker will be performing at the Green Chairs for this session. Their performances will include storytelling and chance for group singing. This is for all ages. CDSS at Ogontz
5:50	Dinner
7:15	Community Dance
7:45-8:30	Evening Gathering: Daron Douglas, Lissa Schneckenburger
8:15	Pied Piper/Bedtime for children 9 & younger
8:30-10:45	Evening Dance Party
9:30	Bedtime for 10-12 year olds
11:00	After-dance Activities

July 30 - August 6, 2011

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

Program Description

We hope you can join us this summer for a joyous multi-generational celebration through the enduring pastimes of traditional music, dance and storytelling. We have pulled together a truly outstanding staff of musicians, dance callers, song leaders and storytellers.

This year - along with our traditional offering of contras, squares and English country dance - we offer Cotswold morris dancing, Northwest clog morris and Marley clog. If you play an instrument, you can join the community band class and play for the community dances each evening. If you want to learn about blues on harmonica, piano, guitar or vocals from experienced blues masters, don't miss the blues workshop in the afternoon. Got uke? Always wanted to learn how to play? You can take a beginning ukulele class. There will also be a potpourri of unusual art projects throughout the week for those who are creatively inclined or simply want to relax and socialize. At the end of the day before dinner you can settle in to the green chairs, joined by two singer/storytellers from Tennessee: Sparky and Rhonda Rucker. They will take you on an inspiring journey of song and story ranging from tales rooted in American history to amusing renditions of Brer Rabbit stories.

Singers will be delighted to find a wide variety of singing traditions. Our staff this year includes singers of old-time blues and slave songs, Appalachian songs and ballads, spirituals, work songs and shape note hymns, as well as English pub songs and traditional children's songs from many cultures. There will be many venues to sing old favorites and learn new treasures.

Ogontz Camp is the perfect setting for all of this joyous fun and community building, meeting the diverse needs of a large family dance community. It offers woodlands and wide open spaces where children can play, a mountain stream for exploring and a pristine lake (with no motor boats) hosting a family of loons - perfect for swimming and canoeing. Whether you are having supper on the outdoor dining deck or simply relaxing in the circle of Adirondack chairs under the old white pine, you will enjoy peace and contentment as you take in the beauty of this piece of heaven in the foothills of the White Mountains. Delicious home cooked meals and fresh baked breads will nurture your body and soul, fueling you through an unforgettable week.

Please come help us celebrate the joy of traditional music, dance and story! Come to Ogontz!

-- Robin & Andy Davis, Program Co-directors

Jane Miller will lead her Teachers Training Course during this week (pre-registration required).

A Typical Day

At each 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. 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.

Family Week at Ogontz

Program Directors

Andy Davis

Robin Davis

Staff

Karen Axelrod

Daron Douglas

Brad Foster

John Mayberry

Jane Miller

Kathy Reid-Naiman

Bruce Rosen

Rhonda Rucker

Sparky Rucker

Lissa Schneckenburger

Kari Smith

Bettie Zakon-Anderson

Steve Zakon-Anderson

2011 Family Week at Ogontz

Tentative Schedule

9:00 Kids' Classes

9:00 Adult Classes

10:05 Kids' classes

10:05 Adult Classes

Art Potpourri (All ages): Robin Davis

I've Got a Story to Tell (8 & up): Rhonda and Sparky Rucker

Teen Class (13-19): John Mayberry

Family Band: Lissa Schneckenburger

Ukulele (All ages): Kathy Reid-Naiman

North-West/Clog Morris (10 & up): Kari Smith / Karen Axelrod

We've Got the Blues (13 & up): Rhonda and Sparky Rucker

Harmony (All ages): Andy Davis

Mumming (8 & up): John Mayberry

Teachers Seminar: Jane Miller

Telling the Truth Goodbye: Folktales and Legends (All ages): Rhonda and Sparky Rucker

July 30 - August 6, 2011

Program Description

A Typical Day