Country Dance and Song Society Family Week at Ogontz July 31 - August 7, 1999 as of 6-9-99: there is a short wait list for this program.

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Program Description Class Descriptions Staff & Schedule Programs Homepage

Family Week at Ogontz July 31 - August 7, 1999 Program Directors: Andy & Robin Davis Staff: Mary Cay Brass Laurie Cumming Donald Davis Merle Davis Mary DesRosiers* Brad Foster* Linda Henry Jonathan Jensen David Kaynor Shona Kearney Jody Kruskal Dave Langford John Mayberry Kathy Reid-Naiman Susie Secco * Advisors plus: Steve Howe

Program Description: [Back to Top]
With each passing year the popularity of CDSS family camps has increased. Though Pinewoods and Buffalo Gap family weeks were filled to capacity last summer there were still over 100 people on the waiting list. Thus, Camp Ogontz, a wonderful site in the foothills of the White Mountains, was found to accommodate a third family week.

Look up our Family Programs for some general information; here is more detail about this particular program and staff.

Class Descriptions: [Back to Top]

Ages 2 and 3
Shona Kearney will provide childcare for the 2 and 3 year olds during the 9:00 and 2:50 class periods each day.

Ages 4 and 5
The morning class of songs, stories and singing games will be led by Kathy. In the afternoon Susie will lead this age group in crafts - and more.

Ages 6 and 7
Jody will work his magic of songs, dances and instrument making each morning. In the afternoon, Kathy will lead songs, stories and singing games.

Ages 8 and 9
This group will learn some great songs and fine-tune its dancing skills each morning with Mary Cay. In the afternoon session, Laurie will teach a longsword class encouraging the children to put their own personal stamp on this challenging traditional dance form.

Ages 10 to 12
Andy will lead activities in music, dance and storytelling each morning. Merle will introduce theater games and other creative adventures each afternoon.

Ages 13 and up - MORNING CLASSES (9:00-9:55)
Contras and Squares - Mary DesRosiers with Jonathan Jensen and David Kaynor
Longsword - Laurie Cumming with Dave Langford

Ages 13 and up - AFTERNOON CLASSES (2:50-3:45)
English Country Dance - Brad Foster with Jonathan Jensen and Dave Langford
Harmony Singing - Mary Cay Brass

EARLY AFTERNOON CLASSES (1:40-2:35)
Classes after lunch are designed for a wide range of ages so that parents can attend classes with their children. Some may prefer to use this time for napping or other quiet activities.

Public Works Orchestra (10 & up) - Jody Kruskal
Lap Stories (ages 0-7 with parent) - Donald Davis
Songs and Stories from The Little House on the Prairie (8 & up) - Mary DesRosiers
Crafts (8 & up with parent) - Susie Secco and Robin Davis
Shape Note Singing - Andy Davis

LATE AFTERNOON CLASSES (4:00-4:45)
Mumming (9 & up) - John Mayberry
New England Band (12 & up) - David Kaynor
Rapper (13 & up) - Laurie Cumming with Kathy Reid-Naiman
Family Games (all ages, 8 years or younger please bring a parent) - Linda Henry

AFTERNOON STORY (4:50-5:15)
Each afternoon Donald Davis will share a story from his own experience growing up in the mountains of North Carolina. These stories will be told on the lawn near the dining hall for as many as will.

Family Week at Ogontz Daily Schedule
7:45 - 8:15	Breakfast
9:00 - 9:55	Morning classes, divided by age group
10:00	Refreshments
10:15 - 11:00	Family Gathering
11:00 - 12:00	Swimming
12:15	Lunch
1:40 - 2:35	Early afternoon classes/Rest time
2:50 - 3:45	Afternoon classes, divided by age group
3:50 - 4:45	Swimming
4:00 - 4:45	Late afternoon classes
4:50 - 5:15	Afternoon story on the lawn
6:00	Dinner
7:00	Family Dance
7:50 - 8:30	Evening Gathering
8:15	Pied Piper/bedtime for children 9 and younger
8:30 - 10:45	Evening Dance Party
9:30	Bedtime for 10-12 year olds

Staff: [Back to Top]

Mary Cay Brass
Well-known contra dance pianist, founder and director of the River Singers in southern Vermont, and experienced teacher of music to children. Mary Cay is a regular staff member of the Village Harmony camp and has published a collection of Balkan songs. Her harmony singing class will include Balkan village music, African freedom songs, African-American spirituals and newly-composed shape note songs.

Laurie Cumming
Leader of Toronto Women's Sword and an accomplished step dancer in the Ontario style. Laurie has taught at numerous schools and festivals. Her adult longsword class will focus on the Kirby Malzeard tradition.

Andy Davis
Community dance caller and musician. Andy is an accomplished accordion player, elementary music teacher and song leader. His shape note class will feature favorite selections from The Sacred Harp and Northern Harmony.

Donald Davis
Nationally recognized storyteller, teacher and dance caller from North Carolina. Donald's stories are drawn from traditional sources and from his detailed memories of growing up in the southern Appalachians.

Merle Davis
Experienced educator and workshop leader. Merle has been at numerous CDSS family weeks where her work with young people brings out the best in each individual. Merle has a varied bag of tricks including theater arts, literature and crafts.

Mary DesRosiers
Contra and square dance caller from New Hampshire's Monadnock region. Mary is well versed in the evolution of American dance traditions with a knowledge of early quadrilles, classic contras, singing squares and contemporary favorites. She is also a fine singer of traditional songs.

Brad Foster
Executive and Artistic Director of CDSS. Brad has taught for over 25 years at numerous weekends, festivals and camps across the US, Canada and Europe. His love of dancing is something he shares joyfully with people of all ages.

Linda Henry
Leader of games for all ages from Amherst, MA. Linda has been learning and teaching a wealth of games over the last fifteen years at the Eastern Cooperative Recreation School. These irresistible games are sure to find their way into your family's fun-making at camp and back home.

Jonathan Jensen
Inspired pianist in a wealth of musical styles from contra and English country to ragtime and jazz. Jon plays bass with the Baltimore Symphony but is better known at camp for having one of the largest collections of ocarinas anywhere! He is full of vitality and many musical surprises.

David Kaynor
Rhythmic New England fiddler, band leader and dance caller from Montague, MA. David has made many trips to Sweden to study Swedish fiddle and dance styles. He has dedicated his life to promoting the joy of community dance and music making.

Jody Kruskal
Master of the Anglo concertina, instrument inventor and musical magician from Brooklyn, NY. Jody brings delight with his sparkling dance music, humorous children's songs and outrageous musical compositions on the "never heard before" instruments of the Public Works Orchestra.

Dave Langford
Fine dance musician on fiddle and guitar from the Boston area. Dave plays with The Lizards, Mosaic and Childsplay. He has performed at numerous dance camps around the country.

John Mayberry
Fool of the Toronto Morris Men and active member of the Canadian folk music scene since 1977. John is an accomplished traditional singer with much experience in street theater and mumming.

Kathy Reid-Naiman
Captivating performer of music for young children. Kathy has produced two wonderful recordings; she is the fiddler for Toronto Women's Sword and has a large repertoire of songs for all ages.

Susie Secco
First grade teacher from Montague, MA. She is famous among friends for her holiday craft parties that include paper crafts and Ukrainian egg decorating. Susie plays piano for contra dances with Sooz-a-rama and Three Good Reasons.

Program Description Class Descriptions Staff & 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 M-F 9:30am - 5:00pm EST

http://www.cdss.org/