Country Dance and Song Society New Family Week at Ogontz Music and Dance for All July 20 - 27, 2002

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

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New Family Week at Ogontz July 20 - 27, 2002 Program Directors: Laurie Cumming John Mayberry Staff: Mary Alice Amidon* Peter Amidon* Jamie Beaton Mary Cay Brass Andra Herzbrun Horton Russell Horton Jonathan Jensen Shona Kearney Dave Langford Jane Miller* Rodney Miller Kathy Reid-Naiman* Brad Sayler Bill Wellington * Advisors, plus: Brad Foster Steve Howe

Program Description: [Back to Top]

The success of our newest CDSS camp has enabled us to offer another week of music and dance for all ages. The program at this week is inclusive of all types of families -- those with children and those without. Individuals, couples and families with children are all welcome to attend and enjoy a full program of daytime classes and evening dances.

Our newest week will treat campers to a program of contra and square, English country, English ritual, step-dance and community dancing, harmony singing, stories, instrumental music and crafts and the unique dramatic form of mumming. 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 up allow a variety of choices in music, dance, singing 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 us all together to learn from one another while sharing in music and dance from staff and campers alike. On Friday a parade leads us all in a show and tell tour of camp that allows us to acknowledge the joy and excitement of 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 will make Ogontz an unforgettable experience.

Ogontz has its own lake surrounded by hundreds of acres of pine woods, sunny open spaces and a glorious view of the mountains beyond. See Ogontz for more description.

Look up our Family Programs for some general information.

Staff: [Back to Top]

Peter Amidon is a storyteller, singer, teacher, dance caller and all around organizer of community music and dance. He has extensive experience teaching traditional dance to children, leading shape note singing and performing traditional songs with....

Mary Alice Amidon, a warm and engaging music educator who connects song, dance and storytelling with children's literature. She is also an accomplished singer of traditional song and a multi-instrumentalist.

Jamie Beaton has been indulging his love of singing and Morris dancing for over 20 years, and for the last dozen or so years, has shared his passion for both at many sessions at Pinewoods. In partnership with John Mayberry, he has performed at numerous festivals and clubs, but most of all enjoys sharing songs informally. A native and longtime resident of Ontario, Jamie now lives in Massachusetts with his wife, Deb and his daughter, Maggie. He is also a (fairly) reliable contact for the infamous Bullero Brothers.

Mary Cay Brass is a well-known contra dance pianist, founder and director of the River Singers in southern Vermont and experienced teacher of music to children. She is a regular staff member of the Village Harmony camp and has published a collection of Balkan songs.

Laurie Cumming, a founding member and former teacher of Toronto Women's Sword and accomplished step dancer, has taught dance at numerous camps, schools and festivals. During the school year, she delights in teaching visual arts to school age children.

Andra Herzbrun Horton is a founding member, former teacher and current dancer/musician for Marlboro Morris and Sword and has been a teacher at numerous CDSS events and summer camps since 1980. She has taught music in elementary schools for 10 years and is currently an elementary school librarian.

Russell Horton has taught percussion and led games at summer camps since 1983. He has been on staff at various CDSS weeks including Family Week at Pinewoods.

Jonathan Jensen is an inspired pianist in a wealth of musical styles from contra and English country to ragtime and jazz. He plays bass with the Baltimore Symphony but is better known at camp for having one of the largest collections of ocarinas anywhere! He is full of vitality and many musical surprises.

Shona Kearney is a goldsmith, step dancer, teacher and longtime member of Toronto Women's Sword. She returns to Ogontz to provide childcare for the 2-3s. Shona is looking forward to many adventures around camp with this group of young campers. She will also teach a clog class.

Dave Langford, a fine dance musician on fiddle and guitar from the Boston area, plays with The Latter Day Lizards, Mosaic and Childsplay. He has performed at numerous dance camps around the country.

John Mayberry is the "Fool" of the Toronto Morris Men and an active member of the Canadian folk music scene since 1977. John is an accomplished traditional singer with many years of experience in street theater and mumming.

Jane Miller, founder and head teacher of the Price Farm School in Antrim, N.H., for 18 years, recently returned to school herself for a Ph.D. She now teaches graduate students for Antioch New England Graduate School.

Rodney Miller is one of the most beloved and highly-respected New England fiddlers of our time, setting the standard for other musicians and helping to drive the current revival of contra dancing in New England and around the world. His interests also range to jazz and his own compositions. A regular at dances in New England and at festivals around the country, Rod is also an expert violin maker and repairman.

Kathy Reid-Naiman is a captivating performer of music for young children. She has produced three wonderful recordings and is the fiddler for Toronto Women's Sword.

Brad Sayler, an English and American caller, will provide a bit of a challenge with an eclectic selection of dances from the English and American traditions, tempered with a generous portion of warmth and humor.

Bill Wellington, widely-acclaimed children's performer and recording artist, weaves wonders when it comes to storytime. His tales are one-of-a-kind renderings of traditional stories, as well as fantastic fruits of his own imagination. He's a heck of a caller, too.

New 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	All Camp 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 crafts, stories and adventures are provided by Shona. Bring a book or favorite toy to share with the group.

Ages 4 to 6
In the morning Mary Alice will play her accordion and lead this group while they enjoy and learn many songs, chants, fingerplays, singing games and dances. The afternoon class of songs and singing games will be led by Kathy.

Ages 7 to 9
In the morning, this group will make the rite of passage into the world of ritual folk dance by learning a traditional longsword dance with Laurie and Kathy. In the afternoon they will learn some great songs and fine-tune dancing skills with Mary Cay.

Ages 10 to 12
In the morning Peter and Mary Cay will prepare the 10-12s to fully participate in the adult evening dances, to do contras, English country dances and square dances. The class will also compose an original dance. In the afternoon Andra and Russ will introduce the group to Molly dancing, traditional songs and games.

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

Longsword: Handsworth -- Andra Horton/Dave Langford
Andra will teach the Handsworth longsword dance. This is an energetic 8-person dance from the Sheffield area with 8 figures and one lock. All levels of experience are welcome.

Contras and Squares -- Bill Wellington/Jonathan Jensen, Rodney Miller
This class on contras and squares will try to ensure that dancers give each other the best ride possible.

Ages 13 and up - AFTERNOON CLASSES (2:35-3:30)

Harmony Singing -- Peter & Mary Alice Amidon
Mostly a capella harmony singing from a variety of Anglo-American secular and sacred traditions including shape note, English pub, rounds, gospel quartet and other old and new arrangements of folk songs and hymns.

English Country Dance -- Brad Sayler/Dave Langford, Jonathan Jensen.
After covering the basic movements used in English country dancing, campers will explore the dances that make this such an exciting dance form, from Sharp to Shaw, waltzes to hornpipes and Well Hall to Dublin Bay.

EARLY AFTERNOON CLASSES (1:30-2:25)

Books, Songs and Stories (ages 5 - 9) -- Mary Alice Amidon
Mary Alice will tell folktales from Africa, Japan and the far north. Picture books of stories will be included and campers will try retelling their own stories.

Crafts by Campers (suggested ages: 8 and up) -- Camper Led
Here is an opportunity for campers to share their favorite crafts and art-making projects! Any campers interested in leading a craft may email/talk to Laurie for more details.

Step Dance (10 and up) -- Shona Kearney/Rodney Miller
Adults (and children 10 and up with dance experience) will learn jig steps from the repetoire of Alex Mulligan whose style of dancing is likened to an early form of tap dancing. Hard- soled shoes or taps are preferable for this class but not mandatory.

Dance Band (10 and up) -- Dave Langford
Campers will have fun exploring tunes, timing, tempo, togetherness and many other aspects of ensemble playing for dancers. Open to all levels of musicianship.

Singaround (All ages) -- Jamie Beaton
Campers are invited to come and share their favorite songs, join in on the old standards or pick up the chorus to something new. No expertise or special shoes required.

LATE AFTERNOON CLASSES (3:40-4:40)

Ocarina (13 and up) -- Jonathan Jensen
Open to campers who can read music and have some experience playing recorder, whistle or other woodwind. Using Jonathan's collection of vintage ocarinas you will play easy arrangements of familiar and unfamiliar music. Class limited to eight participants.

Mummers Play (9 and up) -- John Mayberry
This class will look at some traditional mummers plays and use them a starting point to compose and perform a never-before-seen New Family Ogontz Mummers Play.

AFTERNOON STORY (4:55-5:30)
Each afternoon Bill Wellington will share a story on the lawn near the dining hall for as many as will.

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/