Country Dance and Song Society American Dance Week at Pinewoods August 8 - 15, 1998

American Dance Week at Pinewoods August 8 - 15, 1998 Program Director: Mary Lea Staff: Sam Amidon Kathy Anderson Sam Bartlett Mary Cay Brass Pierre Chartrand Ruthie Dornfeld Richard Forest Ralph Gordon Lisa Greenleaf* John Herrmann Sabin Jacques Abby Ladin Jeremiah McLane *Advisor plus: Brad Foster Steve Zakon-Anderson

Program Description: [Back to Top]
This week will offer exciting dance and music from across North America. Under the expert calling of Kathy Anderson, Lisa Greenleaf and Pierre Chartrand, dancers will have the opportunity to enjoy squares, contras, couple dancing and Québécois social dancing. Supporting them is an excellent group of musicians who will also offer instrument and band classes. For dancers wanting to do some footwork, Pierre and Abby Ladin will teach step dancing, Appalachian clogging and tap/percussive dancing.

Known throughout the country for their spirited, incisive and playful calling, Kathy and Lisa will offer classes in squares and contras that present varying levels of dances, old and new favorites, and dances in different formations, with some helpful attention to style and good partnering. Pierre will teach Québécois social dancing, known for its accessibility and upbeat music. He has introduced these enjoyable dances to many English and French-speaking dancers over the years. For something quite new, Pierre also will explore some French dances. And for dancers wishing to become more fluid in their couple dancing, Lisa will assist them with the dances often danced during breaks.

We are very excited to have Mary Cay Brass leading the singing workshop. She has been running groups for children and adults for many years where she introduced them to joyful, exuberant multicultural harmony singing.

Mary Cay will also play piano and accordion for dance classes, as will Jeremiah McLane and Sabin Jacques. Mary Lea, Ruthie Dornfeld, Richard Forest and Sam Amidon are the fiddlers for the week, Ralph Gordon and Abby Ladin the bass players, and John Herrmann and Sam Bartlett the guitar and/or banjo players.

There will be Québécois music classes (fiddle and accordion), a string band get together and at least one other fiddle class. With such a versatile and talented staff, various combinations of these musicians will play for the classes, evening dance parties and after hour socializing.

During the day there will be five class periods, a daily gathering for mini concerts, songs, etc., evening dance parties, time to swim, canoe, party and hang out. On different nights after the evening dances there will be skits and performances, honky tonk and pub/community singing nights, an auction and general merriment.

American Dance Week at Pinewoods Tentative Schedule:
9:00 - 10:00
Québécois Music: Fiddles and/or other instruments	Richard
Appalachian Clogging	Abby
Contra Ecstasy	Lisa
10:15 - 11:15
French Dances: Breton Dances, Bourrées and more	Pierre
Square Roots	Kathy
Québécois Music: Accordions and other instruments	Sabin
11:30 - 12:00
All Camp Gathering	Mary
1:00 - 1:45
Fiddle	Ruthie
2:00 - 3:00
String Band	John
Québécois Step Dancing	Pierre
Challenging Dances	Lisa
Singing in Harmony	Mary Cay
3:14 - 4:15
Tap/Percussive Dancing	Abby
Old and New Favorites	Kathy
"Break" Dancing	Lisa
4:30 - 5:30
Callers Class	Kathy
Québécois Social Dancing	Pierre
8:00
Couple Dances in C#
8:15 - 11:00
Evening Dance Party

Class Descriptions: [Back to Top]
All classes are for all skill levels unless otherwise stated.

Challenging Dances -- Lisa Greenleaf
For those with a quick mind, a sense of humor and a knowledge of contra/square basics. These aren't "head" dances, but rather dances whose challenge might lie in smooth style as well as unusual figures. Unsure of whether to come? Try it! It's only dancing and you're sure to learn something.

Contra Ecstasy -- Lisa Greenleaf
Cool choreography and points of style combine to encourage smooth and zesty dancing. This will be a dance based workshop with some group discussion about what makes good dancing as well as how to take care of yourself on the dance floor. We will also find elegant inspiration from early chestnut dances.

"Break" Dancing -- Lisa Greenleaf
A.K.A. waltz, schottische, polka and hambo. With an emphasis on partner connection, this class will teach the basics and variations on the most popular couple dances. Participants will be asked to change partners frequently and there will be plenty of opportunity to sweep across the floor while practicing these delightful dances.

French Dances -- Pierre Chartrand
This class will feature Breton dances (andro, hanterdro, gavottes and ridées), bourrées from Berry (in three), mazurkas and waltz musettes. Whether in partner or circle formation, these dances have mesmerizing movements and music.

Québécois Social Dancing -- Pierre Chartrand
With lively Québécois music, this dancing will have the feel of a party as Pierre leads people through quadrilles (with 56 parts per quadrille) and cotillions from the east side of Québec Province, and some set dances for six or more couples from the west side (Outaouais).

Québécois Step Dancing -- Pierre Chartrand
For people who have done some previous clogging or step dancing (American, Irish or English), this class will focus on step dancing from the Saguenay area (NE Québec). Stepping will be mainly in 3/2 rhythm (Brandy or Grande Gigue Simple) as well as mixed or unsquare phrasing (2/4 and 3/2).

Appalachian Clogging -- Abby Ladin
For the past decade Abby Ladin has taught, performed and toured extensively with the Ohiobased dance and music troupe Rhythm In Shoes, specializing in traditional and innovative percussive and rhythmic dance and live music. This class focuses on rhythmic awareness.

Tap/Percussive Dancing -- Abby Ladin
This class focuses on music and style. Dancers of varying skill levels will enjoy Abby's energetic teaching and her knack for providing something for everyone.

Singing in Harmony -- Mary Cay Brass
Mary Cay will lead her workshop much the way she has led her adult singing groups for many years. Using music largely from traditional shape note, Balkan, African and AfricanAmerican repertoire, the group will learn melody and harmony parts to create a full, rich and exhilarating sound. Reading music is helpful but not necessary.

Square Roots -- Kathy Anderson
Squares from the early forms of American squares to those being danced today. Emphasis will be on how to make square dancing more satisfying for the individual and the group.

Old and New Favorites -- Kathy Anderson
Contras, squares and other formations from the traditional to experimental.

Callers Class -- Kathy Anderson
A hand son approach to learning to call contras and squares or to perfecting your calling style. The class will be tailored to the needs of the students.

Québécois Music 1 & 2 -- Richard Forest and Sabin Jacques
These classes will be for instrumentalists wishing to learn tunes from the Québécois repertoire. Both Richard and Sabin hail from musical families and have had much experience teaching; they can help melody players of accordion, fiddle and other instruments learn tunes and aspects of Québécois styling. Instruction will rely on students learning by ear. Sabin (button accordion, piano) began the accordion at 15 and has been on the fast track ever since (he's 23 now!). Richard (fiddle) was inspired by the returntotheroots Québec "pure laine" movement and began the fiddle at 18. Since then he has written in the traditional style, recorded and toured with dance troupes (as has Sabin) throughout Canada, the U.S. and Europe.

String Band -- John Herrmann
As a multi instrumentalist, John is in a good position to help teach melodies (by ear) as well as backup, chording and rhythm, to all who are interested in learning more about Southern music. He has also logged many hours with oldtimers from the region and can share his stories about and tunes from these great players.

Fiddle -- Ruthie Dornfeld
Ruthie is a fiddler's fiddler, a master of many styles and a superlative dance musician. Rhythm, versatility and musicality are all trademarks of her playing. She has been teaching for many years and can help players of any level work on styling, technical questions, new tunes and more. She has performed in concerts throughout Europe, Brazil, Canada and this country.

The Other Musicians: [Back to Top]
Sam Amidon (fiddle)
Our youngest staff member at 17, Sam has music bred in the bone. He plays Irish music with astonishing ease and is soaking up other styles of music at a rate only the young with firing synapses can do.

Sam Bartlett (banjo, guitar)
A driving musician, rhythmic and sure, Sam knows a wide range of music, oldtime banjo and guitar backup, tenor banjo on Irish and other contra dance tunes. Known for his stunts and irrepressible humor, Sam will assist Abby and will play for both Kathy and Lisa.

Mary Cay Brass (piano, piano accordion)
One of New England's finest dance pianists, Mary Cay is known for her driving energy and harmonic sensibility. She has played for the Greenfield, MA dances for years and taught and played at many different dance camps. Her accordion playing focuses on Irish, Cape Breton and Scandinavian tunes.

Ralph Gordon (bass)
Ralph is a consummate musician; his rhythm, tone, knowledge and experience with all styles of music make him the best all around bass player for dance music. He has worked with many bands over the years, has about 50 recordings to his credit, and has graced many a concert stage, dance camp and festival here and abroad.

Mary Lea (fiddle, viola)
Mary has been at numerous dance camps and dance events over the past 20 years playing and teaching fiddle for contras and squares, couple dances, English country and vintage dancing. She is a member of several bands of long duration with which she has recorded, concertized and delighted dancers.

Jeremiah McLane (piano accordion, piano)
An inspired accordion and piano player, Jeremiah expands effortlessly on the melodic possibilities of any music. He has explored Breton and swingera Parisian musette music. Jerry plays with Nightingale and the Clayfoot Strutters and switches easily from lyrical traditional Irish to rockout dance music, from Cajun and zydeco to swing and jazz.

Program Description Class Descriptions & Schedule More Musicians Top

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