Country Dance and Song Society English Dance Week at Pinewoods August 22 - 29, 1998

English Dance Week at Pinewoods August 22 - 29, 1998 Program Director: Brad Foster Staff: Laurie Andres* Karen Axelrod Helene Cornelius Harry Cowgill Doug Creighton Liz Dreisbach Sue Dupré Jan Elliott Bruce Hamilton* Mary Lea Barbara McOwen Tim Radford John Roberts Sue Salmons Chuck Ward *Advisors plus: Sharon Green Meg Ryan

Program Description: [Back to Top]
Come and join us for an exciting week of English country, morris, sword and clog dancing plus singing and dance band workshops. Highlights of this year's program include graded longsword plus three special guests: Harry Cowgill, Sue Salmons and Chuck Ward. We also have the programming that has made English Week famous. There are graded country classes in the morning, plus a variety of other country classes throughout the day. Cotswold morris returns with two classes, one in the dances from Ilmington and another in classic jigs. We also offer energetic molly dancing from East Anglia and wonderful step dancing with Harry Cowgill and more.

This summer's special theme is the joy of movement, the physical pleasure of dance. For dance fanatics, you can take either English country or morris and sword all day long. For those seeking a more relaxed vacation, you can make up your own schedule of classes plus swimming, canoeing, and meeting or making friends.

Your day will include four workshop periods and a daily presentation, plus a variety of social and special activities. Most evenings will start with two country dances "for those who know." Evening dance parties might include a display of morris, sword or clog; some will have special themes (one night will have a particularly strong focus on Playford or historical style dances, and another will have a focus on traditional or ceilidh material). After the dance, there will probably be (on different nights) a singing gathering and/or pub night, an auction, skits or performances, and other such activities. On Tuesday there is no scheduled evening program, but there is usually a morris tour of nearby Plymouth in the late afternoon and a camper-led dance after dinner.

Staff: [Back to Top]
Harry Cowgill is a step dancer from Lancashire, the protégé of the great step dancer Sam Sherry. Sam started dancing with his brothers on the vaudeville, variety and music hall stage in the late 1920's while still a boy. Harry has learned Sam's dances over the last 20 years and is now Sam's preferred teacher of his dances. Harry is also a three time champion of the Lancashire and Cheshire clog competition (in `91, `92, `93) and has been a judge ever since. Besides teaching classes, Harry will perform some of his routines in the evening as well as lead a presentation on English clog one afternoon.

Sue Salmons was one of the primary teachers of country, morris and sword dancing in New York City until her move to South Carolina five years ago. She was a frequent staff member at English Dance Week through 1989; we are very happy to have her back again. A founding member of Ring o'Bells Morris and a member of the American Country Dance Ensemble, CDSS's Bicentennial performance team, Sue was also on the CDSS Executive Committee for over 20 years with 10 as its Chair. She is one of the most graceful dancers around and loves to emphasize the joy of movement and good dancing style.

Chuck Ward is a legend in his own time. A fantastic piano and accordion player from California where he helped found the Bay Area's English country dancing, Chuck is on three of the CDSS English dance recordings (two with his own Claremont Country Dance Band) as well as recordings of several church choirs for whom he has been organist.

This year's staff of English country teachers is loaded with talent. Sue Salmons (see above) will be joined by Helene Cornelius, with her incomparable repertoire plus two native Californians - Bruce Hamilton and Brad Foster. Bruce Hamilton will also run the English Dance Teachers Week at Pinewoods.

For morris and sword, our staff includes Jan Elliott, Tim Radford, Sue Salmons, Sue Dupré and Harry Cowgill. Jan is a founder of Ha'penny Morris and former dancer with Muddy River Sword and Commonwealth Longsword who enjoys research into the history of dance. Tim is an Englishman now living in Woods Hole. He founded the revived Adderbury Morris Men in 1974 and later researched and revived the Kirtlington Morris Men as well. Sue Dupré is foreman of two Princeton, NJbased teams, Handsome Molly (first mollyonly team in North America) and Shandygaff Longsword.

Laurie Andres, a lively and spirited piano and accordion player from Seattle, WA, will lead a workshop for dance band musicians. Laurie is also leading English Dance Musicians Week at Buffalo Gap, an intensive course for musicians at English & American Dance Week at Buffalo Gap. For singing, we have John Roberts, a frequent musical partner of Tony Barrand and a founding member of Nowell Sing We Clear. John's voice, song repertoire and harmonies will be a treat for all.

We have an excellent group of musicians from all parts of the country. For English country dance piano we have two distinct styles in the playing of Chuck Ward, from Occidental, CA, and Karen Axelrod from Northampton, MA. Joining them will be Liz Dreisbach, another member of the Claremont Country Dance Band, from Seattle, WA, on clarinet and recorder; Mary Lea, from Brattleboro, VT, on fiddle and viola; Barbara McOwen, from Arlington, MA, on fiddle; Laurie Andres, from Seattle, WA, on accordion and piano; and Doug Creighton, from Deerfield, MA, on melodeon and flute. For morris, sword and clog we have Laurie Andres and Doug Creighton plus John Roberts, from Schenectady, NY on concertinas and Jan Elliott, from Woods Hole, MA, on concertina.

English Dance Week at Pinewoods Tentative Schedule:
9:00 - 10:15
English Country Retrospective	Sue S.
Advanced Longsword	Jan
Beginning Longsword	Harry
English Dance Teachers Course	Bruce
10:30 - 11:45
Advanced English Country 1	Sue S.
Advanced English Country 2	Helene
Beg/Int English Country	Brad
Cotswold Morris: Ilmington	Tim
English Clog 2	Harry
11:50 - 12:30
Singing	John
1:45 - 2:15
Presentation
2:30 - 3:30
Contemporary English Country	Helene
Cotswold Morris Jigs	Sue S.
Dance Band	Laurie
English Dance Teachers Course	Bruce
3:35 - 4:10
Tea Time
4:15 - 5:15
"Through the Ceiling"	Bruce
Molly Dancing	Sue D.
English Clog 1	Harry
8:00
"For Those Who Know"
8:15
Evening Dance Party

Class Descriptions: [Back to Top]
English Country Classes:
Graded English Country -- Brad Foster, Helene Cornelius and Sue Salmons
The heart of the country dance program is the graded period in the morning. This year we divide into three groups and two skill levels with two Advanced and one Beginning/Intermediate classes. Sue Salmons and Helene Cornelius will each teach one of the Advanced classes. These classes will offer a variety of both modern and historical dances, some of them quite complex. Helene's will cover the Boston repertoire for which she is famous. Sue's class, especially designed for the participants in the English Dance Leaders Week but open to all, will include dances from the repertoire popular in NYC and will also have a special focus on movement and style. Brad Foster will teach the beginning and intermediate dancers with his friendly, joyful and all-inclusive style. Whatever your skill level or interest, we have a class for you.

A Historical Retrospective -- Sue Salmons
A look back at the classic repertoire and the favorite dances of May Gadd and Genevieve Shimer, this class will include both classic Playford dances and compositions from this century's best writer, Pat Shaw, plus some of the best classic traditional dances.

Recent Compositions and Reconstructions -- Helene Cornelius
This class will include dances written or reconstructed by people such as Fried Herman, Gary Roodman, Tom Cook and Philippe Callens. "Through the Ceiling" -- Bruce Hamilton This recently devised program has met with great acclaim and rave reviews. If you've been trying to improve your dancing but have stopped getting better, this will give you a wealth of new approaches. Not for dancers with less than a year's experience.

Morris and Sword Classes:
English Clog 1 and 2 -- Harry Cowgill
Harry will offer two, graded, clog classes. Clog 1 will be for beginning and intermediate dancers and will cover Sam Sherry's hornpipe and/or waltz clog routines; Clog 2 will be for experienced dancers and will cover Sam's jig routines.

Graded Longsword -- Jan Elliott and Harry Cowgill
Jan will teach a class for advanced dancers. Harry Cowgill will teach a class for beginner and intermediate dancers in Flamborough, one of the dances he performed while a member of the Hoghton Rapper Sword Team.

Cotswold Morris Jigs -- Sue Salmons
This class, for experienced dancers, will cover classic jigs such as Bacca Pipes, I'll Go and Enlist and Sherborne Jig.

Cotswold Morris -- Tim Radford
Tim will teach Ilmington dances, as currently done by the Traditional Ilmington Morris Men, to dancers of all experience levels.

Molly Dancing -- Sue Dupré
Sue'sclass will include several of the current styles found in the modern revival of molly dancing, that rhythmic and captivating ritual dance with attitude from East Anglia.

Other Classes:
Singing -- John Roberts
John will share songs from his vast repertoire as well as invite you to bring your own.

Dance Band -- Laurie Andres
Laurie will lead a dance band for all with fair skill on their instrument. Come and learn how to make music in a band setting. Participants need to play up to dance tempo. Reading music is helpful but not required.

Program Description Staff Class Descriptions & Schedule Top

413-268-7426 FAX: 413-268-7471

Country Dance and Song Society 132 Main St/PO Box 338 Haydenville, MA 01039-0338 Office Hours 9:30am - 5:00pm EST

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