Country Dance and Song Society Dance Week at Buffalo Gap July 6 - 13, 2002 First Timers Discount

This program is completed. Please look for informationon the 2003 season in the Fall.

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Program Description Staff Class Descriptions & Schedule Programs Homepage

Dance Week at Buffalo Gap July 6 - 13, 2002 Program Director: Alisa Dodson Staff: Kathy Anderson Daniel Beerbohm Mary Devlin Barbara Greenberg* Bruce Hamilton Andrea Hoag Kappy Laning Laura Lengnick Dave Macemon Bob Pasquarello Joseph Pimentel Paul Prestopino Anne Siess Tom Siess Kathy Talvitie Fred Todt * Advisor, plus: Gail Lacy Donald Hughes Brad Foster Laura Parsons

Program Description: [Back to Top]

First Timers Discount

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

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? 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 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. Be sure to take a swim in the pond, steam away aches in the sauna and enjoy goodies at a late-night party.

New this year: We're very happy to welcome the English country and contra band Hold the Mustard. You can read about the HTM musicians below. Another special addition is the Dance Leaders Course led by Bruce Hamilton for a pre-registered group of country dance leaders. And we'll have a great Open Mic-Open Band session for you all, hosted by Mary Devlin and Barbara Greenberg.

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!

Staff: [Back to Top]

Kathy Anderson loves to call squares, especially interesting figures efficiently taught. She has been intriguing dancers from Canada to the Virgin Islands for 20 years with her enthusiasm for fast-moving squares with a twist, along with challenging contras and many of her own composition. Old-time banjo and piano led her to dancing, which she loves to share with all kinds of groups and communities. Her taste in good flow, quirky contras and high energy squares makes for exciting dancing.

Daniel Beerbohm, a member of Hold the Mustard, A Joyful Noise and Reunion, joins us on clarinet, flute and pennywhistle. He spices his English and contradance playing from a rich background of swing, Klezmer and classical music.

Mary Devlin's infectious spirit of joy and fun makes her one of the Northwest's favorite callers for both contras and English country dance. She's also a favorite all around the country -- new and experienced dancers from coast to coast love Mary's quick and explicit teaching, her clear, crisp calling and her flowing dances.

Alisa Dodson has been dancing for 20 years and teaching English country dance, longsword, morris and mummers for the last 10 years. She is a founding member and past foreman of Mayfield Morris & Sword and dances with Bufflehead and the Dead Ringers. She founded the Christmas Mummer's play in the San Francisco Bay Area. She has been on staff at Mendocino, Buffalo Gap and various dance weekends.

Barbara Greenberg plays fiddle with Hold the Mustard, A Joyful Noise, A Band Named Bob and Reunion. She's much in demand at dance camps all over the country as a musician and as a leader of fiddle or band workshops.

Bruce Hamilton will run his celebrated leadership course during our week, but he'll also teach an intriguing class for experienced English dancers and lead dances for us all in the evenings. He started folk dancing at Swarthmore College, and began teaching when he got home to San Diego and found that nobody knew the dances he liked. He started the San Jose English dance, has taught at Mendocino, Pinewoods and Buffalo Gap, and various events all over North America and across the ocean and has been active in Scottish and Morris dancing as well.

Andrea Hoag, with fiddle-playing roots in Scandinavia, southern Appalachia, Celtic music, English country dance and blues adds many dimensions to our musical experience. She's been on staff at Ashokan, Augusta, Festival of American Fiddle Tunes and has played at exciting venues such as the Kennedy Center and the Smithsonian.

Kappy Laning, our Camp Director, will also be part of the program staff this year! This is her 12th year at Buffalo Gap where she has worn many hats. Kappy has danced, taught and played fiddle for The Court Square Dancers and Dew Drop Inn and danced with Frayed Knot Rapper in Charlottesville, VA.

Laura Lengnick regularly plays dance events in a number of contra dance bands, including Laura and the Lava Lamps, Microchasm, Mr. Danger and Shadrack's Delight. Drawing on a repertoire of traditional and contemporary tunes from the northern, southern and Celtic fiddling traditions, Laura delights dancers with her jazz-inspired improvisations and constant attention to the dance floor. She also plays for step dancing and conducts workshops in dance fiddling and dance ensemble playing.

Dave Macemon is excited to be back on staff at Buffalo Gap. Dave has been dancing and teaching for almost 30 years. He's been on staff at Berea Christmas School, Buffalo Gap, Mendocino and many dance weekends. He is past foreman of Baltimorris, Chesapeake Sword and Deer Creek Morris. He currently is foreman of Iron Mountain Sword based in Lake Oswego, OR.

Bob Pasquarello, on piano and mandolin, has been a dance musician since 1980, featured in A Band Named Bob, Colonel Mike's Dance Band and many others. For seven of the past dozen years, he has led Princeton's Rum & Onions and he has been an integral part of the Brasstown Folk School's Contra Dance Musicians Workshop since its inception in 1995. He's also a composer of beautiful waltz melodies. When Bob is not playing music himself, he is teaching it to young children at the Miquon School.

Joseph Pimentel's calling combines cool dances, clear teaching, youthful perspective and respect for tradition. Dancing since high school in New England, he draws on many years of experience as he teaches English country dance, contras and squares at local dances, weekends, special events and in elementary schools. He is highly sought after throughout the Midwest and increasingly further afield, from Boston to Fairbanks. Several of Joseph's own dances have made their way around the country, too.

Paul Prestopino plays all the fretted instruments, plus harmonicas and the occasional recorder. He began his professional musical career in 1961 as accompanist with the Chad Mitchell Trio and has recorded with numerous folk, pop and rock-'n-roll artists. He presently divides his time between designing, building and maintaining equipment for the Record Plant Remote audio truck, and once again touring as accompanist, with Peter, Paul & Mary.

Anne and Tom Siess have been mainstays of the London, Ontario, folk music scene for more than 20 years. Tom was chair of the Home County Folk Festival for 10 years and Anne was Volunteer Coordinator for many of those years. Tom is currently President of CDSS. Anne is a fibre artist and active participant in the Canadian Embroiderers' Guild.

Kathy Talvitie plays piano and guitar as a member of Hold the Mustard, A Joyful Noise and Raise the Roof. She is very active in the Delaware Valley dance community as a player, dancer and organizer. She's known for her sensitive and creative music.

Fred Todt is a song and dance leader from Columbus, OH. He has been on staff at Berea Christmas Country Dance School, and has led singing at the Lansing Looking Glass Festival and the Columbus Winter WarmUp dance weekend. His comfortable confidence, strong voice and gentle guidance inspire singers throughout the Midwest, encouraging experienced and reluctant singers alike to raise their voices in joyful song.

Dance Week at Buffalo Gap Tentative Schedule:
9:00 - 10:00
Good Morning Contras	Kathy A.
Morris	Dave
10:15 - 11:15
English as a Second Language	Joseph
Body and Soul (advanced ECD)	Bruce
Write-a-Dance	Kathy A.
11:30 - 12:15
All Camp Gathering	Tom
1:15 - 2:00
Community Sing	Tom & Anne
2:15 - 3:15
Modern ECD (for all)	Joseph
Garland	Kappy
Fabric and Fibre	Anne
3:30 - 4:30
Hot Squares	Kathy A.
Longsword	Dave
Mummers	Alisa
4:45 - 5:45
Shape Note	Fred
Open Mic	Mary
8:00
Couple Dances
8:15
Evening Dance Party
11:00
After-dance refreshments Late-night parties (camper initiated)

Class Descriptions: [Back to Top]

Good Morning Contras -- Kathy Anderson/Kathy Talvitie, Laura Lengnick, Paul Prestopino, Daniel Beerbohm
Wake up with Kathy and get your day going on the right track with a few classic contras mixed with new hits and mind benders, danced with style and grace.

Morris -- Dave Macemon/Tom Siess
Morris dancing is an aerobic and lively style of dance, accompanied by Tom's melodeon as well as jingling bells on the dancer's legs. Dave will lead newcomer and old hand alike in one of the basic morris traditions, forging the satisfying unity that comes from sharing this joyous dance form.

English as a Second Language -- Joseph Pimentel/Bob Pasquarello, Andrea Hoag, Paul Prestopino
So you already love contra dancing, but aren't yet an English fan. Having come from just that place, Joseph draws generously from the joys of contras while skillfully introducing the secrets that make English so exciting. Forget stuffy and boring -- these dances are driving, flirty and full of cool connections with partners, neighbors and others. Assumes some contra dance experience -- and those who already love English are welcome, too!

Body and Soul (advanced ECD) -- Bruce Hamilton/Kathy Talvitie, Barbara Greenberg, Daniel Beerbohm
This class is for the experienced English country dancer. Rather than studying dances, we'll look at what the dancer can bring to the party. For the "Body" portion we'll study posture, how to move (and stop!) and how to use arms and hands. For the "Soul" part we'll explore how we think about the dances, the music, the people who make it and our fellow dancers. We'll pull the two together by using posture to give ourselves freedom to express the music, and by paying attention to how we touch the people we dance with.

Write-a-Dance -- Kathy Anderson
Explore the principles of what makes a good dance, turn your favorite moves into a dance and test these and other new dances by current authors.

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 that 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".

Modern ECD (for all) -- Joseph Pimentel/Kathy Talvitie, Daniel Beerbohm, Andrea Hoag
Join Joseph for a celebration of this living tradition, exploring English dances written by modern composers including Gary Roodman and Fried de Metz Herman, among others. Many of these dances have already become favorites around the U.S., and many commemorate people and experiences familiar to our own dance community. The focus is dancing -- and lots of it -- with just enough background and styling to help bring personal connections to the dance. For everyone.

Garland -- Kappy Laning/Laura Lengnick
Kappy will teach garland and/or ribbon dances that originate in the south of England. These dances have been danced by children, women and men. Although considered part of the morris tradition, the stepping and movements are more gentle and graceful. All experience levels are welcome.

Fabric and Fibre -- Anne Siess
Back by popular demand after the success of last year's woven quilt wall hangings, Anne will guide you through a new project, guaranteed to please and make you proud. This is for all -- no sewing experience necessary.

Hot Squares -- Kathy Anderson/Barbara Greenberg, Laura Lengnick, Paul Prestopino
Maximize your square fun! Expert Kathy will lead us in dancing squares from various traditions, and comparing variations on a theme.

Longsword: Salton -- Dave Macemon/Andrea Hoag
Salton is an energetic longsword dance. It is danced with a slow Polka step, and the figures are just "different" enough to make it interesting to all levels of dancers. The interpretation we'll do is the one Dave put together for the Portland Revels in 2000.

Mummers -- Alisa Dodson
Be a hero! Be a fool! In this class, we'll learn a bit about the history of mumming, we'll read some plays, we'll see what it takes to step forward and announce "In Comes I..." and we'll perform a play that includes Dave's sword dancers.

Shape Note -- Fred Todt
Learn to sing shape note hymns from The Sacred Harp, sung unaccompanied in rousing four-part harmony. This style of singing, which has its roots in colonial New England, spread down the Appalachians during the 19th century and flourished in the rural South. No experience necessary -- come to sing or just to listen.

Open Mic -- Mary Devlin/Barbara Greenberg
Join Mary and Barbara for a potpourris of callers, dances and musicians. Come call English, contras, squares -- your choice, and get feedback if you like. Musicians, learn new ideas as you play for the dances. Dancers, come and enjoy the results. Guaranteed to be a fun session for all!

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

http://www.cdss.org/