Country Dance and Song Society American Dance Callers Course at Pinewoods August 5 - 12, 2000

As of March 30, there is a long wait list at this week.

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American Dance Callers Week at Pinewoods August 5 - 12, 2000 Program Director: Larry Edelman
Tentative Schedule: [Back to Top]
9:00 - 12:00
American Dance Callers Course	Larry Edelman
1:45 - 2:45
Theme-a-Day Squares	Larry Edelman
Duet Singing	Jody Stecher, Kate Brislin
Fiddle: Old recordings, new fiddlers	Peter Honig
Jug Band	Bruce Hutton
Blues House	George Higgs and Lightnin' Wells
3:00 - 4:00
Contras and Squares	Beverly Smith
Waltzes and Variety	Michael Kerry
Int.-Adv. New England Fiddle	Rodney Miller
Blues and Gospel	George Higgs and Lightnin' Wells
4:15 - 4:45
All Camp Gathering - Staff Presentations
5:00 - 6:00
Open Mic
Open Spaces for One Shot
Swimming and Free Time
8:00
Couple Dances
8:15 - 11:00
Evening Dance Party
11:00
After-dance Activities

Program Description: [Back to Top]

This course on teaching and calling dances is aimed at building and improving the skills of all levels of callers, from novice to veteran, in a supportive way. The emphasis of the week is calling traditional Southern and New England square dances, but there are also opportunities to learn and practice traditional Western squares, contras and other formations. Topics will include: understanding different calling styles, square dance breaks, phrasing, vocal skills, teaching techniques, memorizing, collecting and notating dances, building repertoire, program planning, working with musicians, leading communities and much more. There will be plenty of opportunities for practicing in class as well as at daily Open Mic/Open Band sessions.

This program (held concurrently with American Dance & Music Week) is designed and led by Larry Edelman. Larry has traveled widely in the United States and Europe -- delighting both novice and veteran dancers with his humor, enthusiasm, skillful teaching, knowledge of dance history and colorful calling. Larry is skilled in a variety of calling styles including traditional Western, Southern and New England square dances, as well as contras and other assorted formations. He is an avid dance researcher and has intensively studied the traditional dances of southwestern Pennsylvania. Larry is the author of Square Dance Caller's Workshop, a workshop text on the art of calling square dances. In addition to his calling, Larry brings expertise as a dance musician on fiddle, mandolin and guitar and has been playing for dances for more than 20 years.

To take advantage of the wonderful calling, music and dance resources of the dance week each day is divided into two parts. The participants of the Callers Course will meet every day from 9:00 to noon for an intensive workshop with Larry. In the afternoons and evenings, participants can choose from among the activities available at the dance week. The morning sessions are designed to allow for plenty of opportunity for callers to practice new skills. Each caller will be encouraged to design a personal project/goal to accomplish by week's end.

Registration: [Back to Top]
The class will be limited to 13 to ensure plenty of opportunity for active participation. Scholarships are available.

Program Description Tentative 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/