Country Dance and Song Society 1999 Summer Programs

Schedule & Fees Registration Info Registration Form Scholarships Camplife

Our programs offer a wonderful chance to experience traditional English and/or American dance and music in beautiful outdoors settings. Each program has a unique focus and each offers a different mix of daily dance and music classes, singing and special workshops. Participants can help create a sense of community by bringing ideas for events, games or parties. There is also plenty of time to swim, canoe and relax with new friends and old.

Music and Dance Programs

Music Programs

Pinewoods

Dance Programs

Buffalo Gap

Pinewoods

In addition to their daily classes, these weeks include a time each day for the whole camp to gather for fun, games, singing or presentations. After dinner each evening there is a dance party often with a concert and followed by late-night activities: skits, singing, special parties, an auction, etc.

Our programs are designed to create an accepting social atmosphere that encourages all to join in the dancing, singing and music making. The minimum age for attending these adult programs is 15. We sometimes can accept a limited number of infants and children, so please call for details. Anyone under age 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Adults without children are also welcome at Campers' Week at Pinewoods and Family weeks at Buffalo Gap and Ogontz. We do not consider gender in our admissions policy.

Family Programs

Buffalo Gap

Pinewoods

Ogontz

Our family programs provide many opportunities to share traditional English and American dance, music and storytelling as well as the beauty of the outdoors with children. Twice a day children age four and up take classes specifically designed for their ages and development while their parents and the teens pursue their own dance and music interests. After classes, there is a morning gathering of the whole camp to dance and sing together. Children not napping after lunch can join their parents in a wide variety of classes. After dinner, there is a family dance followed by singing and stories, and a Pied Piper who leads the families with young children to bed. Roving babysitters check on the sleeping children all evening, allowing parents and teenagers to participate in the evening dance and activities.

All campers over the age of five have a daily job to help camp run smoothly. Parents are generally assigned a job with their young children. At Buffalo Gap, housing is in large bunk rooms with one family per room in most cases. At Ogontz, each family will be assigned a cabin. At Pinewoods, most children over age six are assigned a roommate in a cabin near their parents. Anyone under age 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Special Programs

English Dance Musicians Course at Dance Week at Buffalo Gap July 10 - July 17, 1999
Storytellers Course at Folk Music Week at Pinewoods July 24 - July 31, 1999
American Dance Callers Course at English & American Dance Week at Pinewoods Aug 21 - Aug 28, 1999

This year we are running three special courses. They have limited enrollment and give budding or experienced callers, musicians or storytellers a chance to hone their skills and to consider new points of view. The programs offer group exercises and solo practice time as well as time to participate in the concurrent week.

The Country Dance and Song Society

CDSS is an association of individuals and groups interested in traditional, historical and contemporary English and Anglo-American folk dance, song and instrumental music. The Society's interests include English country, ritual and step dance, American contra, square and clog dance, English and American traditional folk songs and dance music as well as historical dance and music scholarship.

The sales department at CDSS's headquarters offers a wide selection of hard-to-find books, recordings and other items related to English and American dance, music and song -- all available by mail order and at our bookstore at each camp. Our price list is available on request.

We also send consignment orders to events around the country -- call for further details.

CDSS has an active publications program, having most recently published Ted Sannella's Swing the Next and reissued some of our older recordings on cassette.

The Society provides a referral service with information about events throughout the U.S. and Canada as well as advice on programming and organization. Our library and archives are housed at the University of New Hampshire Library Special Collections.

Members receive:
a bimonthly newsletter, CDSS News
a members list
a group directory
a sales catalog or price list
discounts on purchases from the sales department
priority for admission to our summer programs
a voice in the governance of the Society.

Our principal support is our membership; new members are always welcome.

The Country Dance and Song Society
An association of people who celebrate traditional, historical and contemporary English and Anglo-American folk dance, song and instrumental music. Since 1915. Come Join Us!

Membership Rates:
Individual $35
Limited Income Individual $25
Family $50
Limited Income Family $35
Contributor $70
Group Affiliate $70

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

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

http://www.cdss.org/