Country Dance and Song Society

Square Dance Callers Course at Pinewoods
August 24 - 31, 2002

As of May 13, this week is full with no wait list.

Buffalo Gap	Pinewoods			Ogontz
Dance Week Dance Leaders Family	Early Music Folk Music Family	English & American American Musicians English Dance English Musicians	Campers' American Dance Square Callers	New Family Teacher Family

Schedule & Fees

Registration Info

Registration Form

Scholarships

Camplife

Square Dance Callers Week at Pinewoods
August 24 - 31, 2002

Program Director:
Larry Edelman

Tentative Schedule: [Back to Top]

8:45 - 11:40

Square Dance Callers Course Larry Edelman

11:45 - 12:15

All Camp Gathering

2:00 - 3:00

Travelogue of Square Dances Larry E.

Couple Dances Ron

Rhythm and Doos Teilhard

Theory without Tears Ginny

3:15 - 4:15

Contras and More Lisa

Jitterbug Swing Ron

Singing for All Sam & Joe H.

Tune-a-Day Joe F.

4:30 - 5:30

Afternoon Delights Lisa

Open Mic/Open Band Campers & Staff

5:45 - 6:15

Cinq a sept: informal gathering

7:30

Larry's Videos

8:00

Couple Dances

8:15 - 11:00

Evening Dance Party

11:00

After-dance Activities

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

This course on teaching and calling dances is aimed at building the skills of all levels of callers, from novice to veteran, in a supportive way. The emphasis of the week is calling traditional Southern, New England and old-style Western square dances. Topics will include understanding different calling styles, square dance breaks, phrasing, vocal skills, teaching techniques, memorizing, collecting and notating dances, building repertoire, program planning, working with musicians, leading communities and much more. There will be plenty of opportunities for practicing calling skills in class as well as at daily Open Mic/Open Band sessions, where participants can learn and practice teaching and calling contra dances and other formations as well as squares.

This program (held concurrently with American Dance & Music Week) is designed and led by Larry Edelman. Skilled in a variety of calling styles, Larry has traveled widely in the U.S. and Europe, delighting both novice and veteran dancers with his humor, enthusiasm, skillful teaching, knowledge of dance history and colorful calling. He is an avid dance researcher and has intensively studied the traditional dances of southwestern Pennsylvania. Larry is the author of Square Dance Caller's Workshop, a workshop text on the art of calling square dances. In addition to his calling, Larry brings expertise as a dance musician on fiddle, mandolin and guitar and has been playing for dances for more than 20 years.

Class Descriptions: [Back to Top]
To take advantage of the wonderful calling, music and dance resources of American Dance & Music Week each day is divided into two parts. The participants of the Callers Course will meet every day from 8:45 to 11:40 for an intensive workshop with Larry. These sessions are designed to allow for plenty of opportunity for callers to practice new skills. Each caller will be encouraged to design a personal project/goal to accomplish by week's end.

In the afternoons and evenings, participants can choose from among the activities available at American Dance & Music Week. Those classes are described on that page.

Materials: [Back to Top]
A sheet of dances to study in advance will be sent to registrants with their acceptance materials.

Registration: [Back to Top]
The registration deadline for this course is March 18. If it is oversubscribed on the 18th, there will be a lottery. The class will be limited to 16 to ensure plenty of opportunity for active participation. Scholarships are available.