Country Dance and Song Society Family Week at Ogontz July 27 - August 3, 2002

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

Family Week at Ogontz July 27 - August 3, 2002 Program Director: Mary DesRosiers Staff: Alanna Callendrello David Cantieni Jubal Creech Andy Davis Donald Davis Merle Davis Robin Davis Regina Delaney Brad Foster* Seth Houston Jeff Mckeen David Millstone Ann Percival Conor Sleith Karen Billings Sutherland Pete Sutherland * Advisor, plus: Steve Howe

Program Description: [Back to Top]

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

Ogontz, in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, is a camp with a long and rich history of programs for children. It has its own lake surrounded by hundreds of acres of pine woods for roaming, sunny open spaces for playing and a glorious view of the mountains beyond. Its location in one of the oldest and most storied parts of the Granite State makes it a perfect setting for celebrating traditional song, dance and tales. See Ogontz for more description.

We are adding a second family week at Ogontz this year. The success of this new site attests to the need, in these stressful times, for programs that nurture and celebrate the whole family. Ogontz is a place where long-established CDSS traditions and unique Ogontz customs can meet and harmonize.

Families will be treated to a program of dance, story, harmony singing, instrumental music and crafts. Dance traditions will include New England contra and squares, old-time squares from the south, Irish ceili and stepping, English longsword and community dances from a variety of traditions for all ages.

Daily classes for each age group allow the children to make friends while engaging in age appropriate activities led by our skilled staff. Classes for those 13 and older allow a variety of choices in music, dance, storytelling and crafts. Evening dances, song swaps and tune sessions take place while roving babysitters keep watch over sleeping children.

Community gatherings each morning and evening bring all ages together to learn from one another while sharing in music and dance from campers and staff alike. On Friday a parade leads us all in a show-and-tell tour of camp that allows us to acknowledge each others achievements and joys in all that has happened during the week.

Swimming at the family-friendly beach, listening to harmonies carried by the wind or enjoying a quiet moment on the Adirondack chairs overlooking the lake and distant mountains make Ogontz an unforgettable experience for families.

Staff: [Back to Top]

Alanna Callendrello taught and performed at the Smithsonian National Folk Festival at the tender age of 12, accompanying her mother, Regina Delaney. She is a tireless and enthusiastic Irish dancer.

David Cantieni is a pioneer of the double reed contradance sound. David's masterful playing on flute, whistle and saxophone are guaranteed to keep dancers smiling: whether they're doing English, contras or swing.

Jubal Creech credits his first rhythmic training to his mother's heartbeat nine months before his birth. His study of natural rhythms continued while he grew up on Ocracoke Island, NC where his life is always affected by the ebb and flow of the tides. His travels have taken him to China, Gambia and Haiti. He is a dedicated student of West African and Afro-Cuban styles of percussion.

Andy Davis will share his songs, tunes and longswords with the 8-9 class, play for the evening dances, share his vast repertoire of community dances and games and maybe even lead some songs.

Donald Davis is a nationally recognized storyteller, teacher and dance caller from North Carolina. Donald's stories are drawn from traditional sources, as well as from his memories of growing up in the south. His presence has become one of the highlights of Ogontz Family Week.

Merle Davis is an experienced educator and workshop leader. Her bag of tricks includes theatre arts, literature and crafts which she will share with the 6-7 class.

Robin Davis will be back by popular demand! Robin will repeat her Ukrainian egg dyeing workshop and delight all with her papercrafts.

Regina Delaney is a dancer, singer, harpist and inspiring teacher of Irish dance. She was chosen to represent the Celtic tradition in New Hampshire at the Smithsonian National Folklife Festival in 1999. Regina performs regularly around New England, both with her ensemble and as a teacher of Irish solo and ceili set dances. This will be her first CDSS camp and we are delighted to have her!

Brad Foster is Executive and Artistic Director of CDSS and has taught for over 25 years at camps and festivals across the U.S., Canada and Europe.

Seth Houston is one of the first alumni of the world-famous youth chorus Village Harmony. Seth is a recent graduate of Oberlin, an accomplished composer and pianist and director of the teen chorus Big Sky.

Jeff "Smokey" Mckeen is one third of northern New England's hardest working dance band The Old Gray Goose and a professional oyster fisherman at his home in Maine. He is equally at home playing rhythm guitar, button accordion, fiddle or piano; and is a collector of old-time songs and yarns. This will be his first visit to family camp, where he will provide music for David's 10-12 class and accompany other dance classes.

David Millstone is an experienced teacher, author and film maker (his latest effort Paid To Eat Ice Cream is a biography of Bob McQuillen) who will share his knowledge of old and new contras and squares with the adult class and teach the morning session of the 10-12 class.

Ann Percival will have new tricks, glue sticks and hot licks, for her first Family Week at Ogontz. She'll teach the 4-5 class, play some guitar and piano for dances and add to our repertoire of camp songs.

Conor Sleith will help out with the piano accompaniment duties, in the style of his mentor, Bob McQuillen. He may also be found playing electric guitar in the woods.

Karen Billings Sutherland is an experienced singer and teacher of voice who is equally at home in both classical and traditional music. She will share her love of singing and games with the 4-5 and 6-7 classes and introduce her 13 and up class to the joys and mysteries of old-time harmony singing.

Pete Sutherland, among the finest dance fiddlers in the country, is passionate about his music, whether it be New England, Appalachian, Irish or rockabilly. He is also an accomplished teacher and composer, and will share his music with the afternoon 10-12 class. Pete will also direct the family band, play for the evening dances and join in the harmony wherever he finds it.

Family Week at Ogontz Daily Schedule click for tentative Detailed Daily Schedule
7:45 - 8:15	Breakfast
9:00 - 9:55	Morning classes, divided by age group
10:00	Refreshments
10:15 - 11:00	Family Gathering
11:00 - 12:15	Swimming
12:15 - 12:45	Buffet lunch served
1:30 - 2:25	Early afternoon classes/Rest time
2:35 - 3:30	Afternoon classes, divided by age group
3:30	Refreshments
3:40 - 4:40	Swimming Late afternoon classes
4:55 - 5:30	Afternoon story on the lawn
6:00	Dinner
7:15	Community Dance
7:50 - 8:30	Evening Gathering
8:20	Pied Piper/bedtime for children 9 and younger
8:30 - 10:45	Evening Dance Party
9:30	Bedtime for 10-12 year olds

Class Descriptions: [Back to Top]
Children's classes by age group - 9:00 and 2:35

Ages 2 and 3
Fun and adventures are provided. Bring a book or favorite toy to share with the group.

Ages 4 and 5
Mornings with Ann feature crafts and music; afternoons with Karen will include songs, games and make-believe.

Ages 6 and 7
Mornings with Pete will include stories, songwriting and surprises. Merle will lead the afternoon class in art, theatre and exploration.

Ages 8 and 9
Andy will introduce the morning class to the excitement of longsword dancing. In the afternoon Jubal will share his love of drumming, dance and music from around the world.

Ages 10 to 12
David M. will offer lots of dancing, plus singing, writing and calling dances, storytelling and theatre games. Andy's afternoon class will feature singing, dance and music making.

Ages 13 and up - MORNING CLASSES (9:00-9:55)

English Dance -- Brad Foster/David Cantieni, Jeff Mckeen
Dances both basic and engaging, and some dance surprises from Brad's huge repertoire.

Harmony Singing -- Karen Sutherland
Karen will lead daily sessions featuring singing styles currently alive in the Northeast, with a steady gaze on traditions informing the present. Techniques for healthy singing will help vocalists of all levels grow in skill and confidence.

Ages 13 and up - AFTERNOON CLASSES (2:35-3:30)
Contras and Squares Dance -- David Millstone/David Cantieni, Conor Sleith
David M. will teach elegant contras over two hundred years old, to recent high-energy compositions in unusual formations. Great music will be provided by David C. and Conor.

Irish Dance -- Regina Delaney & Alanna Callendrello/Pete Sutherland
This class will introduce the fun and beauty of Irish ceili dancing, which includes set dances and some stepping. If you've "always wanted" to try Irish dance, this is for you!

EARLY AFTERNOON CLASSES (1:30-2:25)
Storytelling (All ages) -- Donald Davis
Donald will tell stories for campers of all ages.

Family Band (All ages) -- Pete Sutherland
For all ages.

Crafts (8 and up, with parent) -- Robin Davis
Ukranian egg dying with Robin

Swing dance -- Ann Percival & David Cantieni
David and Ann introduce the unenlightened to swing dance basics and teach some new moves for the experienced.

LATE AFTERNOON CLASSES (3:40-4:40)
Power Singing for Teens -- Seth Houston
A singing class for campers 12-19, led by Seth featuring exuberant music from the South African, Georgian, gospel and shape note traditions.

Crafts
Paper crafts with Robin and simple instrument making with Karen

Irish Songs and Melodies (All ages) -- Regina Delaney
Regina will bring her Irish harp, lovely voice and great collection of Irish music to listeners of all ages.

AFTERNOON STORY (4:55-5:30)
Each afternoon Donald Davis will share a story from his own experience growing up in North Carolina. Come to the green chairs by the dining hall, relax and listen!

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/