Country Dance and Song Society Campers' Week at Pinewoods August 12 - 19, 2000

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

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Program Description Class Descriptions Staff & Schedule Programs Homepage

Campers' Week at Pinewoods August 12 - 19, 2000 Program Director: Jennifer Smith Staff: Laurie Andres Laurie Cumming Leah Gordon Scott Higgs Joe Kynoch* John Mayberry Kathy Reid-Naiman Sue Rosen Clara Rubin-Smith Louise Sherman Katy Tarter * Advisor, plus: Andy Davis Suzanne Friedman Steve Howe Robin Kynoch

Program Description: [Back to Top]
Look up our Family Programs for some general information; here is more detail about this particular program and staff.

An abiding sense of community and shared leadership are the hallmarks of Campers Week. Each summer a unique alchemy is created as staff and campers come together to create a rich program of traditional music, dance, storytelling, crafts and much more.

Our talented and versatile staff will offer classes in English, American and ritual dance. There'll be singing and mumming workshops, opportunities for beginning callers to try their wings and a community band as well. All children three and up attend two classes a day by age group.

But the other, large pieces of this week's wonderful patchwork come from its campers. Last year, camper-led offerings included rapper, morris jigs, nature walks, yoga, a swing jam and remedial singing. One of our most popular activities, daily crafts on the Camphouse porch, is organized entirely by campers who bring materials and ideas.

All the ages come together several times a day, and although there's a full schedule of activities for those who will, there's also time each day for an afternoon nap, a leisurely chat and a swim (or two) in the pond. Evenings at Pinewoods are especially magical: after a program of family entertainment, the music of the Pied Piper signals bedtime for children 8 and under, and dancers and musicians soon begin to gather under the lights in the main dance pavilion. Roving babysitters check on sleeping children, allowing adults and teens to enjoy the dance. Among the highlights of this year's week will be our grand, turn-of-the-century Mardi Gras Ball, an all-camp Morris and Merriment Tour on Friday, and the launching of the children's wishboats on the final evening.

Class Descriptions: [Back to Top]
Children's Classes
These age groupings are tentative only; they will be set after registration is complete.

Littles (age 3 - 5)
The Littles meet with Katy in the morning for crafts, stories, singing games and hugs. The afternoon class is a parent-led coop. Please bring something to share: books, "group" toys, crafts materials, etc.

Smalls (ages 6 - 7)
This group begins their day with Louise's marvelous stories, related craft activities and learning to tell some tales of their own. In the afternoon, they meet with Katy for songs, singing games and movement.

Middles (ages 8 - 10)
In the morning, the middle age group will do maskmaking and theater games with Laurie Cumming. Joe teaches Cotswold morris in the afternoon, covering the gamut from the basics of stepping to learning how to work as a team and polishing some challenging dances for performance.

Talls (ages 11 - 12)
The oldest group has a morning class of contra and English dancing, and even a square or two, with the irrepressible Laurie Andres. In the afternoon, Laurie Cumming will teach a longsword class open to anyone age 11 - 111. Youngsters in this age group can choose either longsword or another class offering at this time.

Teens from 13 up can participate in all of the adult classes. This year we will also have a "teen clubhouse", a time and place in the day for them to come together and plan special activities. Leah and Clara will be there to help the teens cook up a great time.

Adults
We will be offering an English country dance class with Scott, an American contras and squares session with Sue, and Longsword with Laurie Cumming. John will lead workshops in mumming and traditional song; there will be a community band with Laurie Andres and a callers' workshop organized by Scott. That leaves lots of room in the schedule for you, the campers, to share your interests and expertise. Bring your ideas and add a class to the schedule!

Campers' Week at Pinewoods Daily Schedule
7:45 - 8:15	Breakfast
9:00 - 9:50	Morning classes, divided by age group
10:00	Refreshments
10:15 - 11:00	All Camp Gathering
11:00 - 12:00	Swimming/Singing
12:15	Lunch
1:30 - 2:20	Quiet activities/Rest time
2:30 - 3:20	Afternoon classes, divided by age group
3:30 - 4:20	Swimming
4:30 - 5:20	Late afternoon classes
6:00	Dinner
6:45	Singing Games
7:30 - 8:30	Camphouse Gathering
8:00	Pied Piper/bedtime for children 8 and younger
8:30 - 11:00	Evening Dance Party
9:20	Bedtime for 9-12 year olds

Staff: [Back to Top]
Laurie Andres, a versatile and talented musician from Seattle, has delighted audiences all over the U.S., Canada and Europe. He plays accordion and piano with several groups, including the Rhythm Rollers, the Klezmer Red Hots and Rouge, a French cabaret band. A master of musical whimsy, Laurie plays with wit, color, emotion and compelling danceability. He also teaches children's morris and sword and has been on staff at one Pinewoods session or another for the past 20 years.

Laurie Cumming is a longtime leader of the Toronto Women's Sword Team and one-half of the Sparkle Sisters, who perform Ontario old-style, or "Mulligan," step dancing. She has taught at Ogontz and numerous schools and festivals in Canada, and we're very pleased to have her with us this summer. Laurie is completing her theater degree at York University and looks forward to teaching middle school drama.

Leah Gordon will share her special knowledge of Pinewoods magic with the teens. An active dancer in the Boston area, she teaches high school history and has a particular interest in the history of CDSS and its beginnings. While a student at Brown, Leah founded their Contra and Folk Dancing Club.

Scott Higgs, our favorite caller and teacher from Philadelphia, returns this summer to delight all with English dance programs that range from exuberant to elegant. His love for the dance and welcoming style ensure the dance floor is always full. Scott has also led workshops on dance leadership and called at festivals and dance camps throughout the U.S. and abroad. He recently completed a stint as program director for Buffalo Gap Dance Week.

Joe Kynoch, longtime member of the Pinewoods Morris Men, was introduced to the morris by Renald "Cajy" Cajolet and others while a college student in Amherst. Well-known for his graceful and fluid dance style, he has taught morris, rapper and longsword, here at Pinewoods and in the Boston area. Joe and his wife Robin were Campers Week Program Directors for several years and are still king and queen of our chips and salsa social hour. Joe is current secretary of the Pinewoods Camp, Inc. Board.

John Mayberry is a fine traditional singer and has been an active member of the Canadian folk scene for over 20 years. He and singing partner Jamie Beaton perform as the Bullero Brothers. John is also a morris dancer and current Fool of the Toronto Morris Men. A faculty member of the Department of Theater at York University, he has extensive experience in street theater and medieval drama. John will offer a singing class/song swap in the morning and a mumming workshop for ages 9 and up in the afternoon.

Kathy Reid-Naiman is a true jack of all instruments: she plays guitar, fiddle, Appalachian dulcimer, banjo and banjo uke, bowed psaltery and autoharp. She is member of several country dance bands, an old-time duo with husband Arnie Naiman, and fiddler for the Toronto Women's Sword Team. She also has a seemingly inexhaustible repertoire of songs for all ages and has made several award-winning recordings for young children.

Sue Rosen, one of the Boston area's busiest contra and square callers, creates exciting programs which are accessible to dancers at all levels. Her own dance compositions have been featured from California to Belgium and Denmark. Sue was a big hit last year, and promises more "cool dances and hot dancing" this summer. She'll use her morning session to share pointers on dancing with style, and provide camper callers with some opportunities at the mike.

Clara Rubin-Smith first came to Pinewoods at the tender age of 3 weeks and she's been dancing ever since. Besides traditional American and English dance, her background includes modern, African and Latin dance, and choreography. As a college student, Clara founded the Kenyon Folk Dancers and polished her salsa and merengue techniques in South America. She is also an accomplished craftsperson and has been assisting in our children's classes for 2 years, including a memorable cameo appearance as a daisy in the classic "Buzz Buzz Busy Bee."

Louise Sherman has had many years experience bringing children and stories together. Her serial retellings of traditional tales have kept audiences at Campers' Week and elsewhere on the edge of their seats. Louise's encouragement of "random acts of storytelling" were camper favorites last year. She has been recognized for a distinguished career as a school librarian with a National Endowment of the Humanities Fellowship and a New Jersey Teacher of the Year award.

Jennifer Smith is a storyteller, a singer of traditional and classical music and inspiring song leader. She directs the a capella group Resounding Joy and teaches recorder and voice in the Boston area. Jennifer has worked extensively with children of all ages and teaches workshops for education professionals. She also loves creating programs that bring everyone into community. This is her third year as Campers Week program director and her 27th year at Pinewoods.

Katy Tarter, returning for her second year at Campers Week, is a favorite with campers young and old for her high spirits and positive energy. Katy has also taught classes at Buffalo Gap and Pinewoods Family Weeks and the Berea Christmas Country Dance School. Her wonderful repertoire of family-style dances, songs and games comes from a childhood in Berea, Kentucky, as a member of the singing Ritchie family. When not building houses with Habitat for Humanity, Katy studies international politics and Third World development at Presbyterian College in South Carolina.

Program Description 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

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