Country Dance and Song Society Dance Week at Buffalo Gap July 7 - 14, 2001 First Timers Discount

As of April 10, there is still space at this week.

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Dance Week at Buffalo Gap July 7 - 14, 2001 Program Director: Alisa Dodson Staff: Allen Dodson Daron Douglas Brad Foster* Tom Hinds Andrea Hoag Shira Kammen Julie King Jim Morrison Jim Oakden Chris Rua Jacqueline Schwab Anne Siess Tom Siess Larry Unger * Advisor, plus: Mary Kay Friday Laura Parsons Barbara Ruth

Program Description: [Back to Top]

First Timers Discount

Are you ready for an experience to tickle your fancy and your feet? We've got a week of dance and music magic you'll love! Are you a contra dancer, English dancer, ritual dancer - or not a dancer at all (yet!)? We've got a bit of everything, so you can have a great time enjoying the things you love, and try an intriguing new experience at the same time.

Dance, sing, and play until you drop. Take a refreshing swim, recharge with a yummy meal, and dance all evening. Steam away aches in the sauna, sample some goodies at the late night party, and then start all over again the next morning.

Dance Week at Buffalo Gap enjoys its reputation as one of the friendliest of dance camps. Our talented staff comes from all over the country - get to know them not only in their exciting classes, but in quieter times when you can talk and laugh together. When your body says "enough", take time for a nap, a book, a chat, or a refreshing hike before you jump back into the blissful whirl of dance and song.

The Dancing
The dancing never stops. From close by in Virginia, Tom Hinds joins us to share his calling and his choreography (he's published 4 booklets of dances!). Start the day with his smoothly energetic contras, or segue from the after-lunch break into his fast-paced Squares of the 50s to set the tone for the afternoon. Tom will also give us a workshop in Appalachian clog for your tappin' toes. For a taste of English Country, CDSS Executive and Artistic Director (and well-known caller) Brad Foster offers two classes full of fine dances, including a special session to challenge the most experienced English dancers. (And don't miss Brad's Leaders Workshop) Program Director Alisa Dodson leads a class full of English Landscapes, a mix of old and new material to give you a glimpse of the many moods of English Country Dance.

And More Dancing
Jim Morrison, long-time dance historian and master of many dance genres will be with us, too. He'll not only to play his magic fiddle, but he'll also take us to different English and American times and locales in his Comparative Dance Traditions workshop. If dancing rapper sword sounds exciting, Jim makes it even more so with his brand of precision and speed. We'll also have the sound of morris bells this year, as Alisa, past foreman of Mayfield Morris & Sword in California, offers a workshop in the Lichfield tradition.

The Singing
We are fortunate to have two wonderful singers this year! Tom and Anne Siess have been mainstays of the London, Ontario folk music scene for more than 20 years, and bring us their songs as well as their happy camp presence. They will lead a song session after lunch, and Tom will be our host for the Camp Gathering. As a special treat, Anne, a fibre artist and active participant in the Canadian Embroiderers' Guild, offers a sit-down but stimulating fabric and fibre workshop.

The Music
Our musicians are just simply the best! All have been featured at more dance camps and weekends than we have time to list, and they are all stars in their own right. We can't wait to see what they'll produce together! On piano will be Julie King (Seattle, WA), known for her fluidity and her dynamite dynamics. Julie speaks both contra and English country -- but with a Northwest accent -- and is a member of the band KGB. Then we have the fine fiddle trio of Daron Douglas (New Orleans, LA), Shira Kammen (Albany, CA) and Andrea Hoag (Takoma Park, MD). Daron, with her sizzling style and playful humor, has a range of musical styles from contra to Renaissance to traditional old-time Appalachian; Shira, an eclectic musician who has played with groups as diverse as Hesperion XX, Trouz Brass (Celtic Brittany) and Group V (music for river rafting) is a dynamo of wonderful sounds; and Andrea, with playing roots in Scandinavia, southern Appalachia, Celtic music, English country, and blues adds even more dimensions to our musical experience. Allen Dodson will be present with melodeon and hurdy-gurdy, and Chris Rua (Lexington, MA) adds woodwinds and her versatile scale of music from medieval to jazz on both instruments and voice. We welcome back Fret King Larry Unger (Lincoln, MA), a master on many instruments, and composer of magnificent tunes. We are also very happy to welcome Jim Oakden (Santa Cruz, CA), who plays a variety of wind, string and keyboard instruments in many styles, among them English, contra, Greek, Breton, Balkan.....

And More!
Bring your fiddle, your flute, your tambourine (or your whatever) and join Larry Unger's daily band workshop and jam session -- and watch for other playing opportunities during the week. Jacqueline Schwab is running the English Dance Musicians Course (pre-registration required) that will draw talented musicians to camp to study. These folks emerge for some dancing during the day, and provide a nucleus for camper-led music and jam sessions at any hour. (We also get to hear some of Jacqueline's inspired piano during the evening dances.)

We'll have four scheduled class periods each day, but there's still plenty of time in the afternoon for more adventure. Plans being discussed at this time include an English ceilidh party and some informative and fun presentations.

Come join us. Savor the famous Buffalo Gap welcome that embraces novices, experts, first-timers and camp veterans alike. Our whole community reaches out to honor the tradition of a camp that is friendly and encouraging to all. We'd love to see you at our party!

Dance Week at Buffalo Gap Tentative Schedule:
9:00 - 10:00
Morning Contras	Tom H.
Morris	Alisa
Leaders Workshop	Brad
10:15 - 11:15
English for Experts	Brad
English Landscapes	Alisa
Appalachian Clog	Tom H.
11:30 - 12:15
Camp Gathering	Tom S.
1:15 - 2:00
Community Sing	Tom and Anne S.
2:15 - 3:15
Squares of the 50s	Tom H.
Rapper	Jim M.
Band Workshop and Jam Session	Larry
3:30 - 4:30
English Classics	Brad
Comparative Dance Traditions	Jim M.
Fabric and Fibre	Anne
4:45 - 5:30
Daily staff or camper-planned offerings; presentations
8:00
Couple Dances
8:15
Evening Dance Party
11:00
After-dance refreshments Late-night parties (camper initiated)

Class Descriptions: [Back to Top]
Morning Contras -- Tom Hinds
A wake-up for everyone, this hour will ease you into the day with some no-walk-through contras, and then you can try some of Tom's own new dances.

Squares of the 50s -- Tom Hinds
Also called "Transitional Squares," these dances are faster-paced than New England Squares. Their energy makes them especially popular with today's contra dancers.

Appalachian Clog -- Tom Hinds
Tom will lead a workshop that emphasizes relaxing into the music. He'll show you how to do all those fine steps with a minimum of effort.

English for Experts -- Brad Foster
A mixture of new and old, favorites and less known, these dances will be chosen to give you a challenge. Style pointers will be given to improve transitions and make the dancing more enjoyable. For truly experienced dancers.

English Classics -- Brad Foster
Brad will teach a selection of dances from our old repertoire in common usage before 1970. These will primarily be dances from the Cecil Sharp repertoire, but will also include some of the earliest of modern compositions by Pat Shaw and others. Many will be old favorites like Fandango or Mister Isaac's Maggot, or early modern compositions like Miss de Jersey's Memorial; others won't be as well known today. For all levels.

English Landscapes -- Alisa Dodson
For the less-experienced in English Country dancing, this workshop will provide not only the basic figures and style of ECD, but will also take a look at the many shapes and moods of these dances. A quiet country pastoral? An elegant formal garden? A rowdy romp in the barn? Or the bustling modern cityscape? You're sure to find a landscape to enjoy!

Comparative Dance Traditions -- Jim Morrison
In his travels through England and America, Jim has collected dances from many interesting places. In this workshop, he'll visit a unique place each day, and will share not only the unique dances of that place, but also a glimpse of the time and the people from which they came.

Rapper -- Jim Morrison
With Jim's excellent instruction, learn the secrets of this showy brand of sword dancing. The swords are flexible, the stepping is precise and the figures can be breath-taking.

Morris -- Alisa Dodson
The Lichfield morris tradition comes from Staffordshire, in the center of England, rather than from the Cotswolds. The shape and style of figures have much in common with Northwest clog morris, but you still get to wear bells! If you're a morris dancer, it's a wonderful tradition to dance. If you haven't tried the morris, it's a fine way to start.

Camp Gathering -- Tom Siess
Each morning, we'll assemble for an amazing mix of music, silliness and community fun. Campers and staff offer a varied program of songs, stories and creative activities (not to mention the daily raffle!) Think of something you'd like to contribute, or just come and join in the fun.

Community Sing -- Tom & Anne Siess
All are invited to join Tom and Anne after lunch, even if you don't think you're a singer. They will make sure that there are plenty of songs that everyone can join in on -- lots of great choruses, or just come and clap your hands. This will be singing "just for fun."

Leaders Workshop -- Brad Foster
Come and join us in a supportive atmosphere designed to help you hone your skills as an English dance leader. The workshop will feature both discussion on a variety of topics plus daily calling/teaching practice, with gentle and constructive commentary.

Band Workshop and Jam Session -- Larry Unger
Come and play dance tunes of various styles. We'll play some tunes by ear and some from printed music. How to play together and how to make your playing and the group's playing more interesting will be covered. All levels and instruments are welcome.

Fabric and Fibre -- Anne Siess
Here's a chance to take a breather and do a little creating with your inventive mind and hands. Anne will be coordinating the construction of one (or many) wall-hangings using a woven quilt technique. These will be up for bid at the camp scholarship auction. Anne will also have an individual project you can work on and take home.

Program Description 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

http://www.cdss.org/