Adult & Family Week at Timber Ridge

August 12 - 19, 2012

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

Sam Bartlett

Sam Bartlett is an irrepressible mandolin, banjo and guitar player, known to dancers across the country for his fine musicianship and philosophy of stuntology. His original music has been profiled by NPR's All Things Considered and Sing Out! magazine declared him a member of “the rhythm players hall of fame.” The inventor and most distinguished practitioner of stuntology, Sam will amaze and delight us with his latest discoveries. Sam's community art projects bring the whole camp into the creative process. Mr. Bartlett has made large scale paper sculptures and puppets for more than 30 years, from the hills of West Virginia to the public school in Gustavus, Alaska.

http://www.sambartlett.com/

Family Week at Pinewoods

Mia Bertelli

Mia Bertelli hails from the mountains of New Mexico, where she grew up eating raspberries and singing at every chance she could get. Her love of song and singing with others led her to Vermont and Village/Northern Harmony at the age of fifteen, where she had a glorious time and realized it would be a good idea to stick around. Since then she has been singing away throughout the northeast and overseas, filling kitchens, streets, concert halls, bakeries, vegetable gardens, forests and stairwells with song. She delights primarily in singing with others, but also greatly enjoys harmonizing with mechanical objects, playing her fiddle, telling stories, laughing and growing vegetables. She is enthralled by the capability of song to bring people together and lighten any variety of tasks, so is recently particularly inspired by songs with practical applications. She currently periodically attends Marlboro College in Vermont, where she is studying as much of everything as she can, with an emphasis on history and folklore studies.

CDSS at Timber Ridge

Daniel Beerbohm

Daniel Beerbohm, on clarinet, flute and penny whistle, spices his English and contra dance playing from a rich background of swing, Klezmer and classical music. He performs extensively with Hold The Mustard, A Joyful Noise, and Reunion, at dances along the East coast and occasionally westward.

CDSS at Timber Ridge

Liessa Bowen

Liessa grew up with an artist father and writer mother. She always figured she would grow up to write and illustrate her own stories. She still thinks that would be fun, but she got distracted by singing, dancing, fiddle playing and wildlife biology. She currently is immersed in homeschooling her two boys and is active in the homeschooling community. Not one to be found sitting around inside, Liessa also enjoys camping, hiking, rock-hounding and converting her family’s front yard into an edible landscape.

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

Leslie Jeanne Devine Milbourne

Leslie Jeanne Devine Milbourne is our Earth Educator and Nature Goddess and an environmental educator who relishes exploring, discovering and learning how the earth works, and helping others discover the natural beauty around us. She has worked extensively in her field for over 15 years with preschoolers through college students. We are never separate from nature; Leslie helps us to open our senses to the world in which we live. With daughter, Chenaya, and husband, John Devine, she lives just down the road from Timber Ridge Camp where she and John operate their own nature and music camp.

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

Nils Fredland

Nils Fredland has been calling dances since 2000. Respected for his expertise as a teacher and caller, and beloved for his sensitive leadership, generosity and friendliness, Nils is one of the busiest callers in the business. He is caller and trombone player with the touring contra dance band, Elixir, and can be heard playing his horn and calling with several other popular bands coast to coast and overseas. Nils is also widely known as an engaging and skillful song leader. His goal is to create a welcome and safe environment for all participants, and to deliver a joyful, community-building experience through learning and singing together.

http://www.nilsfredland.com/

Harmony of Song & Dance at Pinewoods

American Dance & Music Week at Pinewoods

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

Barbara Greenberg

Barbara Greenberg began fiddling during her college years and has been “dancing” on the band stand or a dance floor since 1980. Playing both Contra and English Country dance music with Hold The Mustard, A Joyful Noise, A Band Named Bob and Reunion, she is highly sought after to play and teach at dance weekends and camps. She has recorded 7 albums of dance music with her bands and has traveled internationally with them. When Barbara is not fiddling, she is preparing the next wave of fiddlers and violinists in her studio teaching.

CDSS at Timber Ridge

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

Abby Ladin

Abby Ladin grew up immersed in the traditional folk music revival of the ‘70s on the East coast. She was clogging by the age of six, performing with her sister Evie by age 10 and touring nationally at 18 with the renowned dance and music company Rhythm in Shoes. 20 years later she continues to teach the fundamentals and possibilities of clogging to all who crave rhythm in their feet.

Family Week at Pinewoods

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

Eden MacAdam-Somer

Eden MacAdam-Somer is one of the most exciting and versatile young musicians performing and teaching today. Her music transcends genre. She has been a featured soloist with symphony and chamber orchestras, jazz and swing bands, and Eastern European and American folk ensembles. She has been an artist at the Aspen and Beijing International Music Festivals, and, with her contemporary folk duo, NotoriousFolk, has traveled across the continental U.S., and visited Alaska, Hawaii, India, Iceland, the U.K., and Afghanistan. In 2009, Eden was accepted as the first doctoral student of the groundbreaking Contemporary Improvisation department of the New England Conservatory of Music. There, she has pursued explorations of composition and improvisation across genres, including works for solo performer on violin, voice, and dance. In between studies, performances and teaching, Eden maintains an active recording career and continues to tour, beguiling audiences with a style that is truly her own.

http://www.notoriousfolk.com

Family Week at Pinewoods , CDSS at Timber Ridge

American Dance Musicians Course , English Dance Week at Pinewoods

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

Joseph Pimentel

Joseph Pimentel combines cool dances, clear teaching and respect for tradition. Dancing since high school in New England, he draws on many years of experience teaching English country dance and contras throughout the U.S. and abroad. Several of Joseph's own dances are avid travellers, too, and are published in The Cardinal Collection. When not calling or dancing, Joseph is often chasing birds or exploring DC.

http://jp.thedance.net

CDSS at Timber Ridge

Ralph Sweet

Ralph Sweet has been calling square dances since 1948, and contras since 1952. His specialty these days is singing and patter square dance, as part of his contra dance programs. He has taught workshops in calling squares at Buffalo Gap Camp, at his Powder Mill Barn, and at the Dance Flurry Festival. His new book "On the Beat with Ralph Sweet", co-authored with Nils Fredland, is loaded with fun square dances for every level of dancer experience, with essays on how to get started in calling squares to contra dancers, or to complete beginners.

http://www.sweetheartflute.com/Barn/ralph.html

Singing Squares Callers Course at Timber Ridge

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

Larry Unger

Larry Unger has been a prolific tunesmith and full time musician for over 20 years, and probably logs more road miles each year than any other contra dance musician, playing guitar, banjo, piano and bass with numerous bands. Larry's broad musical interests include old-time, blues and swing AND he's a great teacher too.

http://www.notoriousfolk.com

CDSS at Timber Ridge

American Dance Musicians Course

Andrew VanNorstrand

http://andrewandnoah.com/great_bear_trio.html

CDSS at Timber Ridge

Noah VanNorstrand

http://andrewandnoah.com/great_bear_trio.html

CDSS at Timber Ridge

Bill Wellington

Bill Wellington is a storyteller, fiddler, banjo player, songwriter, and dance caller who has entertained audiences throughout America for over thirty years. Widely known for his Radio Woof recordings and performances, he is a hit with kids and parents alike.

http://www.radiowoof.com/

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

Adult & Family Week at Timber Ridge

Tentative Schedule

7:45-8:30	Breakfast
9:00-10:00	kids can be dropped off at their class at 8:55 Childrens' Morning Classes 9:00 Age 2-3 Sing & Play: DeLaura Padovan -- We will do just that and more! Age 4-5 Play! Sing! Dance! Tell stories!: Liessa Bowen -- 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. Age 6-7 Movement, Singing and Stories: Abby Ladin -- Movement, singing, and telling stories with our bodies Age 8-9 Nature Stories and Craft: Leslie Jeane Millbourne Devine -- Each day a different story will be told by Leslie Jeanne revolving around the natural world. The group will also be engaged in a natural craft. Age 10-12 Put the glide in your stride: dancing with style: Bill Wellington -- Designed for beginner and experienced dancers, this class will teach the finer points of contra dance in a way that will make dancing more fun for those who take the class and everyone who gets to dance with them! This class provides fundamental instruction that never gets taught at a regular dance. Figures are broken down so that students see that how they dance is a huge part of making squares and contras so much fun. In addition to working on squares and contras, students will also learn the waltz. CDSS at Timber Ridge
	Morning contras (13 & up): Nils Fredland Morning contras (13 & up): Nils Fredland Music by: John Devine, Steve Hickman 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 (13 & up): Joseph Pimentel Experienced English (13 & up): Joseph Pimentel Music by: Dave Wiesler, Barbara Greenberg, Daniel Beerbohm 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
	Young Leaders Course (YDL Registrants): Gaye Fifer Young Leaders Course (YDL Registrants): Gaye Fifer By pre-registration only Leadership in Dance & Music for Young Adults CDSS at Timber Ridge
10:00	Refreshments
10:15-11:15	teacher will meet children at their class Childrens' Late Morning Classes 10:15 Age 2-3 Sing and Dance : Charlotte Swovola -- 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. Age 4-5 Stories, Songs, Dancing: DeLaura Padovan -- The title says it all! Age 6-7 Nature Stories and Games: Leslie Jeane Millbourne Devine -- Leslie Jeanne will tell nature stories from various Native American tribes while the group role plays the story. After story play we will play games and sing songs with nature themes. Age 8-9 Maori and Filipino Dance: Abby Ladin -- Maori stick rhythms and Filipino tinikling dance Age 10-12 Border Morris: Kappy Laning / Bill Wellington -- Border Morris is an energetic English tradition that involves stepping and sticking and dancing together, in pairs and as a team, to lively music. Kappy has taught this tradition at several other dance camps and is particularly excited about working again with this year’s 10-12 year old group with this English tradition. We will take a traditional border morris dance or two and make them uniquely our own, as has become the Timber Ridge tradition for Kappy’s 10-12 year old class. Sneakers recommended. CDSS at Timber Ridge
	Challenging Contras (13 & up): Adina Gordon Challenging Contras (13 & up): Adina Gordon Music by: Andrew VanNorstrand, Noah VanNorstrand 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
	English for All (13 & up): Joseph Pimentel English for All (13 & up): Joseph Pimentel Music by: Dave Wiesler, Barbara Greenberg, Daniel Beerbohm 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
11:30-12:15	All Camp Gathering with songs, singing, games and stories
12:30-1:15	Lunch Buffet
1:30-2:15	Bookstore staffed
1:30-2:30	99 & under Nap, rest, snore, dream
	Nature Walk (All ages, under 8 w/parent): Leslie Jeane Millbourne Devine Nature Walk (All ages, under 8 w/parent): Leslie Jeane Millbourne Devine the different ecosystems at camp will be explored, including the beautiful Cacapon River and the amazing fossil pit. CDSS at Timber Ridge
	Singing (13 & up, 8-12 w/parent): Mia Bertelli Singing (13 & up, 8-12 w/parent): Mia Bertelli Mia will teach a mix of songs including rounds, African running songs and harmony songs, Appalachian, gospel, pub songs, sea songs, English Ballads, work songs, and perhaps some Balkan, Georgian, and/or shape note. The emphasis will be on satisfying harmonies and the cool things that happen when many voices rise together. CDSS at Timber Ridge
	Clogging (13 & up): Abby Ladin Clogging (13 & up): Abby Ladin Music by: Sam Bartlett We visit the basics every day, adding as we go. Fun footwork with a solid rhythmic foundation. Let's clog! CDSS at Timber Ridge
	Singing Squares Course (SDL Registrants): Nils Fredland, Ralph Sweet Singing Squares Course (SDL Registrants): Nils Fredland, Ralph Sweeter Music by: John Devine, Steve Hickman By pre-registration only Singing Squares Callers Course CDSS at Timber Ridge
	American Dance Musicians Course (ADM Registrants): Eden MacAdam-Somer, Larry Unger American Dance Musicians Course (ADM Registrants): Eden MacAdam-Somer, Larry Unger By pre-registration only American Dance Musicians Course CDSS at Timber Ridge
2:15-2:45	Adult swim at the pool
2:45-3:45	Swimming and handwork at the pool
	Art with Sam (8 & up, under 7 w/parent): Sam Bartlett: Sam Bartlett Art with Sam 8 & up, under 7 w/parent): Sam Bartlett: Sam Bartlett Anyone who's interested can come and build large, colorful cardboard cut outs for the final parade. Fun! And no art skills required! CDSS at Timber Ridge
	Dance Potpourri (13 & up): Gaye Fifer Dance Potpourri (13 & up): Gaye Fifer Music by: Dave Wiesler Join us for a different dance form every day! Try your hand at waltz, snoa, schottische, Norwegian polka, Dutch Crossing, Irish sets, unusual formation dances and more. CDSS at Timber Ridge
	Rapper (13 & up): Kappy Laning Rapper (13 & up): Kappy Laning Music by: Rapper sword is an English tradition that dates back to the 1880s when steel became flexible. We will focus on the elements of stepping, timing and teamwork as we create our own dance based on traditional rapper dance elements. Kappy has enjoyed teaching rapper to children and adults at many dance camps over the last 12 years. All levels are welcome. Smooth soled shoes are recommended. CDSS at Timber Ridge
	Young Leaders Course (YDL Registrants): Adina Gordon Young Leaders Course (YDL Registrants): Adina Gordon By pre-registration only Leadership in Dance & Music for Young Adults CDSS at Timber Ridge
	Singing Squares Course (SDL Registrants): Nils Fredland, Ralph Sweet Singing Squares Course (SDL Registrants): Nils Fredland, Ralph Sweeter Music by: Andrew VanNorstrand, Noah VanNorstrand By pre-registration only Singing Squares Callers Course CDSS at Timber Ridge
	American Dance Musicians Course (ADM Registrants): Eden MacAdam-Somer, Larry Unger American Dance Musicians Course (ADM Registrants): Eden MacAdam-Somer, Larry Unger By pre-registration only American Dance Musicians Course CDSS at Timber Ridge
3:45	Children's snack
4:00-5:15	Canoeing in the river
4:00-5:00	Swimming in the pool
	Stunts & Games at Poolside (8 & up, under 7 w/parent): Sam Bartlett Stunts & Games at Poolside (8 & up, under 7 w/parent): Sam Bartlett Sam will direct a Daily Stuntology free-for-all: absurd games, balancing, tossing, throwing, creative manipulation of everyday objects. Fun, funny, educational, not necessarily in that order. CDSS at Timber Ridge
	Family Dance Band (11 and up): Barbara Greenberg, Daniel Beerbohm Family Dance Band (11 and up): Barbara Greenberg, Daniel Beerbohm Daniel and Barbara welcome all who are comfortable playing tunes at relaxed up to peppy dance tempos in the standard keys (C, G, D, & A). We’ll explore ways to improve listening and harmonizing skills. Also we’ll work on ensemble skills and prepare dance medleys to play for the Community Dances during the week. Whether you play from written music or by ear, bring your instrument and join us! CDSS at Timber Ridge
	International Dancing (13 & up): Rachel Fifer International Dancing (13 & up): Rachel Fifer Music by: Eden MacAdam-Somer Remember last year when you kept thinking jealously that you wished you could do some International Dancing too? Now you can! We will do a mix of Romanian, Bulgarian, Israeli, French, and other dances to the enchanting and fascinating music of the Balkans. Dances can be as simple or as challenging as the class desires. If you have a particular dance you'd like to do, please email me ahead of time at rachel.fifer@gmail.com and we will try to make it happen! CDSS at Timber Ridge
	Dance Community Conversations (13 & up): Joseph Pimentel Dance Community Conversations (13 & up): Joseph Pimentel Joseph facilitates discussions on topics of interest to dance community leaders of many stripes. Those present will determine topics for discussion, and may include: attending to varying ages and interests in a single dance community, contra and English cross-over, balancing dance time and social time, success stories with challenging situations/people, and embracing the authority vested in us. Joseph provides focus and ensures equal opportunity for all to contribute and learn from each other. CDSS at Timber Ridge
	Open Calling (13 & up): Adina Gordon Open Calling (13 & up): Adina Gordon Music by: Andrew VanNorstrand, Noah VanNorstrand Take your turn at the mic or come to dance. I am sure we will get many squares from the Singing Squares Callers Course! CDSS at Timber Ridge
4:45-5:45	Bookstore staffed
5:15-5:45	Sing for your supper
5:45-6:45	Dinner buffet
6:45	Parade from the Grove to the Playhouse
7:00-7:35	Community Dance with DeLaura Padovan
7:35-8:15	All Camp Gathering with Bill Wellington
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

English & American Dance & Music

August 12 - 19, 2012

Is there still room?
For up-to-date info about availability and wait lists,
see our main Dance & Music Camps 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, border morris, clog, 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

Special Courses

Also offered during this week: Ralph Sweet and Nils Fredland will lead the Singing Squares Callers Course, Eden MacAdam-Somer and Larry Unger will lead the American Dance Musicians Course, and Gaye Fifer and Adina Gordon will lead Leadership in Dance & Music for Young Adults. Pre-registration is required for each of these Courses.

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.