Country Dance and Song Society English & American Dance Week at Pinewoods August 21 - 28, 1999 as of 6-9-99: there is a short wait list for this program.

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English & American Dance Week at Pinewoods August 21 - 28, 1999 Program Director: Brad Foster Staff: Laurie Andres* Bob Archer Bill Christophersen Helene Cornelius Larry Edelman Earl Gaddis Andra Herzbrun Horton Dave Howard Susan Kevra Toppy Kramer Tom Kruskal Jacqueline Schwab Pat Tracey Dave Wiesler * Advisor plus: Steve Howe Meg Ryan

Program Description: [Back to Top]

This program offers a rich variety of styles and traditions with a central focus on country dancing. The American country will include contras, from lyrical to fast paced; and squares, from hard driving to singing squares. For both we offer a range from old standards or chestnuts to new compositions. English country will include the standard "Playford" or historical style dances, from favorite old classics to new compositions, as well as the wide variety found in the modern English ceilidh scene that ranges from classic traditional dances through Pat Shaw favorites to new compositions. Additional workshops will cover Cotswold morris, longsword, dance band, singing, and a special focus on English clog. The music will be fantastic! We've brought together some of the best musicians around to play fiddle, piano, guitar, accordion, clarinet, concertina and recorder in styles ranging from Southern string band and New England to English country.

Come and enjoy the fun, the community and the special setting of Pinewoods Camp. For dance fanatics, you can keep your feet moving and expand your knowledge in a wide variety of forms throughout the day. For those seeking a relaxing vacation, you can make up your own schedule of dance classes plus singing, dance band, swimming, canoeing and more. For all, come and make new friends, meet old ones and share in the excitement of camp life.

Your day will include four main workshop periods, a special time for the Open Mic/Open Band, and singing sessions, plus plenty of breaks for rest, meals, refreshments, swimming and perusing the bookstore. After dinner, each evening will start with a short presentation or concert, followed by the dance party. Each evening will include a variety of both American and English dances. On most evenings the dance will be followed by activities that include special opening and closing night parties, a singing gathering, skit night or talent show, jam sessions and a fundraising auction. On Tuesday night there is no formally scheduled activity, but there is usually a camper-led dance; bring dances to call and/or instruments to play in the band. The week will end with class presentations in the afternoon plus a final Grand Ball.

Staff: [Back to Top]

This year we have two special guests from England - Bob Archer and Pat Tracey. Bob teaches an incredibly wide range of English country dance, ranging from the extremes of lyrical Playford-style dance to raucous traditional and ceilidh dance. He will teach one general, ungraded English class focusing on historical style dances and another on Ceilidh dances. In the evenings, he will also share some of the American contras and squares popular in the English ceilidh scene. Pat returns for her fourth visit to Pinewoods bringing her extensive knowledge of Lancashire clogging. Pat grew up in a family that clogs, learning steps from a number of her relatives. One of her routines - the Old Lancashire Heel and Toe - has been in her family since the 1820's. She will teach two graded classes, one for beginners and the other for intermediate and advanced dancers.

Larry Edelman is returning again with his American Dance Callers Course, a special intensive program for callers (pre-registration required) plus his Theme-a-Day Squares. Helene Cornelius is America's foremost expert on English dance with the widest repertoire around. She will share her wide repertoire in Advanced and Modern English classes. Susan Kevra, with her wonderful energy and warm calling style, will offer old and new contras and squares, with a special sensitivity towards community dancing. Brad Foster is running the program and hosting the Open Mic. He will also call English country, contras and singing squares in the evening dances. Andra Herzbrun Horton, from Marlboro Morris and Sword, will teach Cotswold morris, and longsword.

Musicians include Laurie Andres from Seattle, WA, on accordion and piano; Bill Christophersen from New York, NY, playing Southern and Northern fiddle; Earl Gaddis from Northampton, MA, on fiddle and viola; Dave Howard from Waterbury, CT, on guitar; Susan Kevra from Putney, VT, on clarinet; Toppy Kramer from Berea, KY, on clarinet, piano and recorder; Tom Kruskal from Sudbury, MA, on concertina; Jacqueline Schwab from Arlington, MA, on piano; and Dave Wiesler from Bethesda, MD, on piano and guitar.

English & American Dance Week at Pinewoods Tentative Schedule:
9:00 - 10:15
English Country (Adv)	Helene Cornelius
English Country in all its Variety	Bob Archer
English Clog II (Int/Adv)	Pat Tracey
10:30 - 11:45
Deconstructing Contras	Susan Kevra
Modern English Country	Helene Cornelius
Cotswold Morris: Bampton	Andra Herzbrun Horton
1:30 - 2:15
Open Mic/Open Band	Brad Foster
Singing	Dave Wiesler
Beginning Recorder	Toppy Kramer
Intermediate Recorder	Toppy Kramer
2:30 - 3:30
Theme-a-Day Squares	Larry Edelman
Traditional and Ceilidh Dances	Bob Archer
English Clog I (Beg)	Pat Tracey
English Piano	Jacqueline Schwab
English Band	Jacqueline Schwab
4:00 - 5:00
American Dance Mosaic	Susan Kevra
Longsword: Sleights	Andra Herzbrun Horton
Morris Music	Tom Kruskal
Anglo Concertina	Tom Kruskal
NE Band	Laurie Andres
7:45
Concert/Presentation
8:15
Evening Dance Party
11:00
After-dance Activities

Class Descriptions: [Back to Top]

English Country Dance
Advanced English Country Dance - Helene Cornelius
Designed as a challenge for experienced dancers, this class will offer complex patterns with a range from well-known to unfamiliar dances.

English Country in all its Variety - Bob Archer
This class is for all levels, but particularly designed for intermediate and beginning dancers. It will offer a wide variety of styles and formats showing some of the great diversity that exists in England today. The styles will include classic historical/Playford dances, modern compositions, and an occasional ceilidh or traditional dance.

Modern English Country - Helene Cornelius
This class will cover modern dances selected from the compositions of Fried de Metz Herman, Colin Hume, Gary Roodman and many others; for all levels.

Traditional and Ceilidh Dances - Bob Archer
With lively and energetic dances from the modern English ceilidh scene, this class will include traditional dances with rants, polkas, hornpipes, etc., as well as modern compositions from the living tradition; for all levels.

American Country Dance
Theme-a-Day Squares - Larry Edelman
Each day this class will explore different dimensions of traditional and modern square dance choreography and regional styles. One day might cover some of the best dances from the 1950s, the golden age of Western square dancing. Another might include dances Larry collected from old-time callers from Western Pennsylvania.

Deconstructing Contras - Susan Kevra
Given the limited number of dance figures in contra dance choreography, it is not necessarily a single figure that makes a dance stand out, but rather the architecture of the entire dance, the story line created by the author. This class will focus on what story is being told and on style as a way to heighten the drama of the dance.

American Dance Mosaic - Susan Kevra
Contras, New England, Western and singing squares, plus triplets, circles, double contras and other odd formations are all possibilities in this class for all levels of experience.

Country Dance/Open Mic
Open Mic/Open Band - Brad Foster
Bring dances to share and/or instruments to play - this is your opportunity to contribute to the week with your own calling or music and to dance to a tremendous variety of styles. Dances might include contras, squares, and/or English country in all its variety. Each day the session will start with a couple dance, along with hints or pointers on how to dance them. Also, Brad will offer a critique to any caller or musician who wishes to have one.

Morris/Sword/Clog
English Clog I, II - Pat Tracey
Pat will offer two classes: one for intermediate and advanced dancers in the morning, and the other designed for the novice clog dancer in the afternoon.

Longsword: Sleights - Andra Herzbrun Horton
Sleights is a classic longsword dance of five figures (and locks) from the northern coast of Yorkshire. The old team danced on Plough Monday up until 1936; this dance was collected by Cecil Sharp and first published in 1912.

Cotswold Morris: Bampton - Andra Herzbrun Horton
Andra will teach one of the styles from Bampton, a village that now has three "traditional" teams. Bampton is a beautiful tradition, with a relaxed and flowing grace and yet also with great verve and drive.

Other Workshops
Singing - Dave Wiesler
Come and share your own songs and learn some new ones. Bring a copy of Rise Up Singing if you have one; they are also available in the bookstore at camp.

Please note that we have seven tentative music/band classes on the schedule. Due to scheduling problems, no more than three of these will actually take place. The ones to be held will be determined by interest.
Beginning or Intermediate Recorder - Toppy Kramer
Toppy will offer either, depending on the skill level of those interested.

Piano/Band - Jacqueline Schwab
Jacqueline will share her love of piano and knowledge of dance music for all interested in learning more about playing for dancing, improvising an accompaniment, and playing with others. The class could focus on piano technique or on band work depending on the registration.

Anglo Concertina or Morris Music - Tom Kruskal
Tom can offer one or the other.

New England Band - Laurie Andres
Laurie Andres can offer New England Band for those with some proficiency with your instrument to take these classes.

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 M-F 9:30am - 5:00pm EST

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