Family Week at Ogontz

August 3 - 10, 2013

Program Directors

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

Staff

Stefan Amidon

Stefan Amidon grew up singing with his family and picked up many instruments along the way. Primarily a drummer, Stefan has played with many folk bands such as Popcorn Behavior/Assembly, Lissa Schneckenberger, Matt and Shannon Heaton, and Wild Asparagus. Currently he is most active as a drummer with country/honky-tonk band The Sweetback Sisters and Irish-rooted contra dance band, Magic Foot. Stefan also has much experience leading shape note singing at festivals and camps, and at Oberlin College. He graduated from Oberlin Conservatory with a degree in Jazz Performance, which he is not really sure what to do with beyond hanging it on the wall.

Harmony of Song & Dance at Pinewoods

Family Week at Ogontz

Zara Bode

Zara Bode is always a comin' and going for tours with The Sweetback Sisters and as a hired gun in the studio, arranging and recording background vocals tracks for whomever has the need.

http://www.myspace.com/zarabode

Family Week at Ogontz

Donald Davis

Donald Davis is a superb storyteller who traces his stories to his memories of growing up in the southern Appalachians. He is happiest when his stories remind you of your stories. His daily storytelling at the Green Chairs is one of the highlights of camp!

www.ddavisstoryteller.com

Family Week at Ogontz

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

Lily Kruskal Leahy

Lily Leahy grew up dancing and singing at CDSS’ Family Week at Pinewoods and has been hooked ever since. She started dancing Longsword and Morris at age 10 on Hop Brook Morris, and continued on to dance with Boston-area based Orion Longsword for 14 years. She has taught longsword, morris dancing, and other traditional dances and songs to children for both Revels Education Programs and at the Wellesley Community Children’s Center After School Programs, where she worked full time up until having her first daughter 5 years ago. She currently resides in the Cork area of Ireland with her husband and two daughters and enjoys singing in the local choir and dancing around her living room with her girls. She very much enjoyed teaching Longsword to the 8&9 year olds last summer at Pinewoods and is looking forward to her very first visit to Ogontz!

Family Week at Ogontz

Elvie Miller is unable to join us

Owen Morrison

Owen Morrison is an accomplished rhythm and lead guitarist, at home in many styles of traditional music. His playing, laced with rhythmic power and skillful finesse, has made him popular among dancers and fiddlers alike. Owen has toured the U.S. and abroad with bands such as Elixir, Airdance, Night Watch and The Morrison Brothers Band. A frequent staff member and Program Director at Pinewoods, Ashokan, Augusta, and many other camps.

http://www.myspace.com/owenmorrison

Family Week at Ogontz

English & American Dance Week at Pinewoods

American Dance & Music Week at Pinewoods

Naomi Morse

Naomi Morse grew up surrounded by music and dance in the folk communities of New England. She is known for her energetic and driving fiddle playing for both contra and English dancing in many bands, including Night Watch, Housetop and the mega-fiddle-band Childsplay. She has toured extensively with the world music ensemble Northern Harmony and currently lives in Brooklyn, NY, where she sings professionally.

http://www.myspace.com/naomimorse

Harmony of Song & Dance at Pinewoods

Family Week at Ogontz

English & American Dance Week at Pinewoods

Keith Murphy

Keith Murphy has been immersed in music and dance since his childhood days in Newfoundland. His distinctive rhythmic sound on guitar, mandolin, piano and foot percussion has helped drive several great contra dance bands including Nightingale, Wild Asparagus and Assembly. Having performed at many dance events throughout the U.S. and Canada as well as overseas, he brings a wealth of experience and sophistication to his playing.

www.blackislemusic.com

Family Week at Pinewoods

Family Week at Ogontz

American Dance Musicians Course

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

Erika Roderick

Erika Roderick has been dancing her whole life. A graduate of Tom Kruskals “Rapper Academy”, Great Meadows Morris and Sword, where she was a founding member of Candyrapper, she now helps Tom teach rapper and morris every week! She lives in Somerville, MA and currently dances with Muddy River Morris, Orion Longsword and Maple Morris. When she isn’t busy dancing, she is a Third Grade teacher in Boston. She is looking forward to being back at Ogontz this summer and teaching a rapper class with Natty Smith!

Family Week at Ogontz

Brad Sayler

Brad Sayler has been leading English and American folk dances around the country for the past 25 years or so. When teaching, he likes to emphasize the elements of good dancing -- phrasing, movement and interaction with other dancers -- always with a generous dose of warmth and humor.

Family Week at Ogontz

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

Natty Smith

Natty Smith was raised in the dancing community. He began morris dancing on Tom Kruskal's children's team Hop Brook in Sudbury, MA. With Hop Brook, then Candyrapper and Great Meadows Morris and Sword, and now the Pinewoods Morris Men, Maple Morris, and Thames Valley International, Natty can be found dancing or playing fiddle for morris and sword all over New England and southeastern Canada every spring and summer. He currently helps teach and plays fiddle for Great Meadows Morris and Sword, and played fiddle for Candyrapper VSOP's winning dance at the DART 2011 competition. He and his family attended Ogontz Family Week for much of his childhood, and he is excited to return this summer!

Family Week at Ogontz

Laura Sprung

Laura Sprung started dancing in the 60s at the Folk School in Brasstown, NC, where she developed her appreciation for Appalachian and Danish culture as well as dance and music. She has taught dancing and crafts to groups of all ages and looks forward to a week of fun and games at Ogontz. Nowadays, Laura is often spotted wearing a bib and walking and running throughout the country (in marathons).

Family Week at Ogontz

Paddy Swanson

Patrick Swanson began his career in London as an actor at the Arts Theatre. In 1969, he toured Europe with La MaMa Plexus and subsequently got his world theater education from Ellen Stewart at La MaMa E.T.C. in New York. His numerous directing projects include opera, ensemble, music theater and circus. He was a founding stage director of Circus Flora and is currently Artistic Director of Revels. Patrick taught acting and improvisation at the London Academy of Dramatic Art, the London Drama Centre, and New York University. Directing credits include the Spoleto USA festival; Houston's Alley Theatre and Boston's Charles Playhouse. His Actor's Shakespeare Project production of King Lear with Alvin Epstein was nominated for three 2006 Elliot Norton awards. His most recent acting performance was for Gloucester Stage in their 20th anniversary production of Fighting over Beverley. For Revels, Patrick has directed a contemporary version of the medieval mystery plays. He writes and directs all Cambridge Revels scripts and with music director George Emlen, serves as consultant to the other nine Revels production companies.

http://www.revels.org/patrick-swanson

Family Week at Ogontz

Kathy Talvitie

Kathy Talvitie, from the Delaware Valley, is active in the dance community as a musician, dancer, organizer and composer. In addition to playing piano with Hold the Mustard and A Joyful Noise, Kathy plays guitar with the contra band Raise the Roof and is a member of the Fiddlekicks clogging team.

Family Week at Ogontz

Becky Tracy

Becky Tracy grew up dancing to her father's calling and scratchy 78s of Don Messer's fiddle playing. She has fiddled with the bands Nightingale and Wild Asparagus for the last 15 years and has played in many, many lovely places including Hawaii and France. Becky has a distinctive clarity of tone, a rhythmic attack owing much to French-Canadian playing and the melodic quality of Irish music. Her unmistakable sound has made her a defining presence among dance musicians.

http://www.blackislemusic.com/

Family Week at Pinewoods

Family Week at Ogontz

American Dance Musicians Course

* Advisors, plus

Karen Axelrod
Steve Howe

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 Each morning campers 12 and under will join with others in their age-groups for two periods of classes. We may combine these classes into broader age-groups based on actual registrations, but be assured our young friends will be kept busy and having fun! Age 3-4 Playtime!: DeLaura Padovan -- We will start our day with a wonderful playtime. Songs, dances, stories and more. Age 5-6 Silly Songs, Silly Games, Silly Dances: Lily Kruskal Leahy -- Join us for classes brimming with creative silliness. Come prepared to laugh, dance, sing and act! Age 7-9 English Spring Celebration: Bettie Zakon-Anderson -- Bettie will take us on a journey to Helston, Cornwall, where we'll learn a version of an ancient song and dance ritual that is still performed there every May to help welcome in the spring. Since it won't be spring and we won't really be in merry old England, we might have to do some revising to suit merry old Ogontz Camp! We'll include a bit of a Robin Hood play so there will be costumes, props and instruments to be made! Age 10-12 Dance: Steve Zakon-Anderson, Steve Hickman -- We'll start the day by getting ready for the night - by dancing that is! Steve will get us ready to contra dance, English Country dance, and waltz to Steve Hickman's wonderful fiddling. We'll also learn to call dances, work together on a daily group challenge and enjoy a bit of hambone! CDSS at Ogontz
	9:00 Adult Classes 9:00 Adult Classes (13 & up) English Dance: Brad Sayler / Naomi Morse, Kathy Talvitie -- After going over the basic figures used in English country dancing, we'll focus on some of the things that make English dancing so rewarding - good timing, phrasing, and interacting with your partner and with the whole set. We'll endeavor to strike a balance with a generous helping of dances that we'll do just for the fun of it to the beautiful playing of Naomi and Kathy. (13 & up) Beginning Rapper: Natty Smith, Erika Roderick -- In this class we will explore rapper sword dancing by thinking about these questions: What makes a good rapper dance? What types of figures are best in different performance spaces? How can good stepping affect a dance? These questions are helpful for rapper dancers of all levels to consider. We will keep them in mind as we work on stepping, learn new figures, and create dances together. We hope you’ll join us! (13 & up) Shape Note Singing: Stefan Amidon -- Experience the untamed beauty of a shape note sing. We will go through the shapes and basic layout of a sing for newcomers, and then sing your favorites from The Sacred Harp as well as more recent compositions written in the shape note tradition. Everyone is invited to call a song, stand up to lead, and sing to your heart's content. CDSS at Ogontz
10:05-11:00	kids will stay at their class locations 10:05 Kids' classes A snack will be brought to the class locations between each period as the teachers move and the campers stay put. We may combine these classes into broader age-groups based on actual registrations, but be assured our young friends will be kept busy and having fun! Age 3-4 Movement, Song and Props: Erika Roderick -- Make stories and songs come alive with Erika! We will have fun exploring singing games, creating our own stories to act out and making masks and costumes for the characters we become! Age 5-6 Moving and Grooving: DeLaura Padovan -- We'll be moving and grooving, dancing and singing and having a wonderful, playful time together. Age 7-9 Longsword: Lily Kruskal Leahy, Laura Sprung -- Lily will teach the longsword class, a folk tradition from the north of England in which the dancers link together by "swords" and work together as a team. We will also learn a "calling on song" to welcome the dancers to the stage. To warm up each day we will be learning some fun group games to get to know each other and as an excuse to be silly! (As if we will need one!) Age 10-12 Morris: Brad Sayler, Natty Smith -- Brad will have us concentrate on the rich tradition of morris dances from the Welsh border region. These dances combine simple stepping and appealing figures with dynamic music played by Natty to produce a powerful seasonal display. Singing is also a part of this tradition, and we'll include that as part of the performance. CDSS at Ogontz
	10:05 Adult Classes 10:05 Adult Classes (13 & up) Contras: Steve Zakon-Anderson / Naomi Morse, Owen Morrison -- We will explore the varied world of American dancing. There will be many contra dances, as well as other shaped dances (squares, circles, triplets, etc) and a sampling of dances that will encompass the choreography from many different eras. Most of all we will have fun together dancing to wonderful music by Naomi and Owen. (13 & up) Appalachian Clog: Kathy Talvitie / Steve Hickman -- Kathy will teach a variety of clogging steps and short routines to Steve's great old-time fiddling. From beginners to more experienced foot percussionists, this will be a fun toe-tapping class. CDSS at Ogontz
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	Mixed-age Classes 1:30 Mixed-age Classes (All ages) Napping, walking, relaxing or... (8 & younger/parent) Readin' and Restin': DeLaura Padovan -- A quiet and relaxing hour for families with younger children - not quite a nap, but it will refresh and recharge. If you have some favorite books in your cabin, please bring them to share. (All ages, under 8 w/parent) Community Art: Laura Sprung -- We'll work on new projects everyday but you can also concentrate on just one, if you find a favorite. You will have a chance to work with a mix of new and repurposed materials to create practical and ornamental objects. You don't need to bring anything but yourself, but if you have favorite paper craft tools, bring them along. Some possible projects are paper boxes, stationary, napkin rings, magnets, and more. (8 & up, younger if passionate w/parent) Family Band: Steve Hickman -- Steve will get us ready to play for the Community Dance each night! All abilities and instruments welcome. (10 & up) Swing Party: Bettie Zakon-Anderson, Steve Zakon-Anderson / Zara Bode, Naomi Morse, Owen Morrison -- Bettie and Steve will teach and review some simple swing moves each day to get you dancing to the amazing singing/playing of Zara, Naomi and Owen! More of a party than a class - but dance assistance will be available on the sides. (13 & up) English Clog: Kathy Talvitie / Natty Smith -- Bring your hard-soled shoes and learn a traditional clog dance in the English Clog style. Family Week at Ogontz
2:35-4:35	2-Hour Swim Block All ages, 9 & under/parent
2:35-3:30	Mixed-age Classes 2:35 Mixed-age Classes (All ages, 9 & under/parent) Swimming -- (13-19) Teen Class: Stefan Amidon, Zara Bode -- Hey teens! With your help we will have more fun than anyone else at camp! We'll sing songs, play ukuleles, find our special talents (who can lick their elbow. Try it right now!) and play games. We can't wait to meet you! (20 & up) Afternoon Contras: / Keith Murphy, Becky Tracy, American Dance Musicians Course -- An opportunity to contra dance during the afternoon and, for those of you with experience, a chance to call some dances too. Family Week at Ogontz
3:35-3:45	Afternoon Snack
3:35-4:45	Bookstore staffed
3:50-4:45	Mixed-age Classes 3:50 Mixed-age Classes (All ages, 9 & under/parent) Swimming -- (8 & up) Mummers: Paddy Swanson -- The artistic director of Revels will lead us in the creation of a spectacular mummers play. (13 & up) Harmony Singing: Stefan Amidon, Zara Bode -- Take a break from dancing or running after your kids and take part in the joy of harmony singing. We'll learn traditional two, three and four part songs, from traditional sources, done up in traditional and contemporary arrangements. Most songs will have music, but we may learn some simple songs by ear. Family Week at Ogontz
	Teachers Seminar: Kari Smith Teachers Seminar: Kari Smith 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	Stories at the Green Chairs - Donald Davis Stories at the Green Chairs - Donald Davis Donald Davis - storyteller extraordinaire! Donald will take us on a daily journey during which we’ll guffaw with laughter and nod our heads in recognition of our common stories. CDSS at Ogontz
5:50	Dinner
7:15	Community Dance
7:45-8:30	Evening Gathering
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

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

Printable information

Description of Classes: a 2 page description of the classes

Daily Schedule: a 1 page daily timetable

For accepted campers: Links to a few important pages and surveys.

August 3 - 10, 2013

Join the Ogontz Family Week Facebook Page!

Program Description

Photo by Denise Smith

We look forward to seeing old, and making new, friends this summer at Family Week at Ogontz in the beautiful White Mountains of New Hampshire. We’ll immerse ourselves in great music, dance, stories and song while creating our friendly, laughter-filled, camp community. We are very excited to offer you an extraordinarily gifted staff full of youthful talent and experienced old-hands - all masters of their crafts.

In the mornings children age 2 and up will learn and play in two periods of age-specific classes while parents and the teens can choose to dance contras, English country dances or Appalachian clogging. For those who love to sing, Shape Note Hymns will drift down the hill each morning and Harmony Singing will fill the air each afternoon. We’ll all come together after morning classes for Morning Gathering - a favorite part of the day where we hope you’ll share your talents and humor.

Photo by David Conroy

Our afternoons can be as busy, or relaxing, as we choose. Come to dance, or to listen, at a daily Swing Dance Party, or put those hard-soled shoes on for some English Clogging. Musicians of all levels can join the Family Band and play for our Community Dance each evening. Whether making art, playing music, dancing, mumming, swimming in the crystal-clear lake or napping, the afternoons are yours to do as you please. Don’t forget watching our children’s friendships bloom and grow on the swing-set or soccer field while we visit with each other at the Green Chairs. Ahhh- the Green Chairs - that magical place where we’ll end each afternoon with the incomparable Donald Davis and his stories that knit us all together.

Each evening we’ll gather at the cozy Recital Hall for the Community Dance and Evening Gathering. As dusk settles around us the Pied Piper will lead the families with children ages 9 and under to their cabins where the parents will put their children to bed. Campers age 10 and up will proceed to Ogontz Hall for our Evening Dance Party. Soon the parents will be able to join the dancing while roving monitors listen attentively for any children stirring in their cabins. If a child needs a parent to return, a monitor will come and get them at the dance. It is always best if you prepare your children for this aspect of camp.

At the halfway point of the dance it will be time for the 10-12’s to head off for bed. We’ll sing their goodnight song and ask them to go quietly to their cabins, being extra careful not to wake any of their younger, sleeping friends. In this way, and so many others, we’ll care for each other during the day and right up to bedtime, knowing that we build this community and revel in its gifts. Life at Ogontz sure is great! Our family looks forward to sharing this special week with your family!

Warmly, Bettie and Steve Zakon-Anderson, Program Directors

Recent articles in Making Music Magazine and South Shore Living have highlighted our Family camps.

Special Courses

Photo by Denise Smith

We are excited to announce a new program in conjunction with Ogontz Family Week - an American Dance Musicians Course which will be led by Keith Murphy and Becky Tracy this year. We also welcome Kari Smith’s Teachers Training Course. We look forward to having participants in these special courses join in our gatherings, afternoon classes and evening program and become part of the wonderful community at camp.

Printable Information for Accepted Campers

Acceptance Information: Details for getting to and being at camp.

Welcome letter with more information about the program.

Class Questionnaire: Please give us an idea of the classes you will take. Also available online at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/cdssog13

Family Bio Sheet: Use this or create your own with information you want to share and that will help others get to know your family better.

Parent & Guardian Form: Needed for each minor at camp.

Rides: Do you need or can you offer a ride? Also included with class questionnaire Survey

If you have not already, please do sign the Waiver.

To pay any camp Balance Due