American Dance Musicians Course
Tentative Schedule
| 7:45-8:30 | Breakfast |
| 9:00-10:00 |
Childrens' Morning Classes 9:00Age 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. |
Morning contras (13 & up): Nils FredlandMusic by: John Devine, Steve Hickman Wake up gently with smooth, fun dances and wonderful music that will make you glad to start your day! |
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Experienced English (13 & up): Joseph PimentelMusic 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. |
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Young Leaders Course (YDL Registrants): Gaye FiferBy pre-registration only |
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| 10:00 | Refreshments |
| 10:15-11:15 |
Childrens' Late Morning Classes 10:15Age 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. |
Challenging Contras (13 & up): Adina GordonMusic 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! |
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English for All (13 & up): Joseph PimentelMusic 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. |
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| 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 |
| 1:30-3:45 | American Dance Musicians Course |
| 4:00-5:00 |
International Dancing (13 & up): Rachel FiferMusic 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! |
Family Dance Band (11 and up): Barbara Greenberg, Daniel BeerbohmDaniel 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! |
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Stunts & Games at Poolside (8 & up, under 7 w/parent): Sam BartlettSam 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. |
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Dance Community Conversations (13 & up): Joseph PimentelJoseph 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. |
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Open Calling (13 & up): Adina GordonMusic 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! |
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| 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 12 - 19, 2012
Held during Adult & Family Week at Timber Ridge
Is there still room?
For up-to-date info about availability and wait lists,
see our main Dance & Music Camps page.
Program Directors
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.
Family Week at Pinewoods , CDSS at Timber Ridge
American Dance Musicians Course , English Dance Week at Pinewoods
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.
Program Description
We will work on tunes from a variety of cultures, all of which can be used for contra dancing. We will play familiar tunes and will also learn music by ear, so be sure to bring your recording devices. We'll work both in small groups and as one large ensemble, and will focus on learning to play well in a band, to communicate with band members mid-set, to create harmonies and embellish melodies, to choose tunes for dances, and to use dynamics, articulation, and ornamentation to make the music especially fun to dance to. We're going to spend a lot of time working on melody and harmony, rather than jamming.
The Course meets for two periond each day. For the rest of the day, participants can choose from among the activities available at the host week.
Registration
This course is limited to 16 participants to ensure plenty of opportunity for active participation. Participants should be comfortable getting around on their instruments and playing at dance speed, or close to it. If it is oversubscribed on March 19, there will be a lottery, with preference given to musicians more comfortable playing at dance speed. Please clearly indicate if you would like to attend Adult & Family Week at Timber Ridge, if you did not get a space in the course. Scholarships are available.