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

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

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Family Week at Pinewoods July 27 - August 3, 2002 Program Directors: Cecily Pilzer Charlie Pilzer Staff: Mary Alice Amidon Peter Amidon Karen Axelrod Daron Douglas Roberta Gasbarre Robin Hayden Valerie Kosednar Dave Langford Meredith Langstaff Dave Macemon Elvie Miller Emily Miller Owen Morrison Naomi Morse Kathy Reid-Naiman Oran Sandel Robbin Schaffer Advisors: Sarah Pilzer Steve Howe Andy Davis Robin Davis

Program Description: [Back to Top]

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

Feet hit the floor rhythmically. They tap, step, dance. Musical sounds move out through the open sides of the dance hall to weave their way into tunes between the trees. The tunes fly upwards to the sky then spiral back down turning into songs on the lips of children and parents sitting and singing together on the camphouse porch. The songs skip down the steps to the dock in the pond finding laughter from happy swimmers. The laughter sails across the pond to the dining hall where campers are setting the tables. The bell for dinner rings out across camp, calling the dancers, the musicians, the singers, the swimmers, the setters, all together. This is Family Week at Pinewoods.

Family Week at Pinewoods provides an opportunity for parents and children to sing, dance, play and relax together in a wooded rustic environment between two ponds. Friendships from previous years are renewed and new friendships are made. The daily program is built around traditional American and English dancing, singing, instrumental music, storytelling, crafts and games. The staff has been chosen for their ability to instruct and inspire dancers and singers and performers of all ages and abilities. Many of this year's staff "grew up" at Family Week at Pinewoods and are eager to share their skills and enthusiasm. Campers, too, are encouraged to demonstrate their talents and knowledge.

Each morning there will be a class divided by age group; a Family Gathering where the entire camp community participate in dances, games and songs; and swimming. After lunch, campers can rest or nap or take a class with family members. Another age appropriate class, swimming and a community sing and story session fill the afternoon until dinner. Early evening activities include a community dance for all and a program of songs and stories. A Pied Piper will lead the younger children to their cabins and bed. Roving babysitters will check on sleeping children while teens and parents enjoy an evening dance and late night jam sessions, song swaps and socializing.

Tuesday evening will provide an opportunity for a camper-led evening program and dance. Friday afternoon will feature a festive parade, show-and-tell for the classes and games for all.

Staff: [Back to Top]

Peter and Mary Alice Amidon from Brattleboro, VT are versatile and widely respected performing and teaching artists who for the past 20 years have dedicated themselves to traditional song, dance and storytelling. The Amidons are equally at home doing a concert of stories and songs for adults or children, calling a contra dance for adults or a community dance for all ages, leading harmony singing workshops with adults, or doing an elementary school residency of singing, storytelling or traditional dance. Peter and Mary Alice are familiar faces at the major northeast U.S. music and dance festivals, at national music teacher conferences and at summer folk camps of traditional dance and song. They have performed concerts and led residencies in hundreds of schools, libraries and churches.

Karen Axelrod from Northampton, MA plays piano for English country, American and Scottish dance. This is her 20th summer at Pinewoods, and she has been at almost every Family Week since 1982 (either as a Pinewoods crew member, staff musician or camper). She is a member of the band Barley Moon with Daron Douglas and Dave Langford. In addition to her life as a musician and mother, she makes (and sells) jewelry and performs with the improv comedy troupe, the Villa Jidiots.

Daron Douglas plays English country dance fiddle with a background of a traditional Appalachian upbringing. She thanks her grandmother for the gift of her ballads and gardening preoccupation. She has played with the Knoxville Early Music Project, the Hominy Mamas and the contra dance band Misbehavin'. Daron has been on the staff of CDSS dance camps and at the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, N.C. She now lives and plays music in New Orleans.

Roberta Gasbarre is the Artistic Director of the Washington Revels, as well as the Director of Discovery Theater, the Smithsonian Institution's theatre for children. She is known for researching and presenting works drawn not only from the European mummers' repertoire, but also from commedia dell'arte, Japanese kabuki, Caribbean mumming and carnival and urban street theatre. But her greatest passion is for theatre as community, with each person playing equally to create something together.

Robin Hayden teaches English country dancing in Amherst, MA. Known for her lyrical dancing and dynamic teaching, she has participated in weekends, workshops and festivals across the northeast.

Valerie Kosednar has been teaching vocal music in public and private schools for the past 14 years. An enthusiast for children of all ages, her most recent position was at The Little Red Schoolhouse and Elisabeth Irwin High School in New York City, where she sang and danced with 4-5 year-olds and conducted the high school chorus.

Dave Langford is an experienced and versatile fiddler and guitarist and fiddle teacher from the Boston area. A veteran of over 20 years of playing for all manner of dance events, Dave combines multiple styles of fiddling with fierce energy and drive. Dave is featured on recordings of the "mega-fiddle-band" Childsplay and currently plays in several musical configurations including The Latter Day Lizards with Bill Tomczak and Peter Barnes.

Meredith Langstaff, a student in Washington, DC, has attended many CDSS Family Weeks at Buffalo Gap. For the past several years, she has been a member of the teen chorus for Washington Revels.

Dave Macemon has been dancing and teaching for almost 30 years. He's been on staff at Berea Christmas School, Buffalo Gap, English Week at Mendocino and many dance weekends. He's danced in Revels productions in San Francisco and Portland. He is past foreman of Baltimorris, Chesapeake Sword and Deer Creek Morris and currently foreman of Iron Mountain Sword based in Lake Oswego, OR.

Elvie Miller is a student at Oberlin College and an avid dance musician and weaver. She spent many summers as a camper at Family Week. She spent last year studying traditional Scandinavian weaving at Fosen Folk School in Rissa, Norway.

Emily Miller, currently a student at Brown University, has taught Appalachian, gospel and early country singing around the Midwest with her mother for the past few years. She spent three months of last year singing with Larry Gordon as part of Northern Harmony and will join forces with him again this summer to teach at Village Harmony, his teenage summer camp.

Owen Morrison has been surrounded by traditional music and dance for as long as he can remember. He has been to Family Week at Pinewoods many times as a camper and is excited to be back this year as a musician. Owen currently plays guitar and mandolin for the Morrison Brothers contra dance band in Charlottesville, VA and can be heard on their new self-titled CD.

Naomi Morse is a biology major at Oberlin College. She grew up dancing, singing and playing violin at Family Week. She currently plays fiddle in a contra dance band and in the past few years has played for many dances in New England.

Cecily and Charlie Pilzer were instrumental in the founding of the CDSS programs at Buffalo Gap and were Camp Directors for a number of years. Cecily, a children's librarian in Washington, DC, is a member of Rock Creek Morris Women and a former member of Shepherdstown Northwest Morris. Charlie plays piano, bass, button accordion (and occasionally tuba) in a number of dance bands and plays accordion for the Foggy Bottom Morris Men. He tours with Spaelimenninir, a Scandinavian band. Cecily, Charlie and their daughter Sarah are active on stage and behind the scenes with Washington Revels.

Kathy Reid-Naiman is a wonderful children's performer. She teaches music and movement in many libraries in Ontario. Her award-winning recordings have become very popular with families with toddlers and young children. Her folk song repertoire comes from many sources from traditional to contemporary English and American. Kathy is the fiddler for The Toronto Women's Sword Team and is one half of Ragged But Right (the right half), an old-time duo. She plays guitar, fiddle, Appalachian dulcimer, banjo uke, banjo, bowed psaltery and autoharp.

Oran Sandel recently retired from his position as Artistic Director of Living Stage Theater Company, an outreach program of Arena Stage in Washington, DC, after six years in the position and 23 years with the company. He will continue his work of integrating the art of theater into the lives of children, youth and adults, as a freelance teacher, workshop facilitator and artist-creator. Through the Living Stage Residency Program, he has led master workshops in the creative process in communities ranging from East Palo Alto, CA, to Stockholm, Sweden.

Robbin Schaffer is a well-known caller of contras, squares and community dances in the mid-Atlantic region. Recognized for her choices of smooth, flowing dances and clear teaching style, she is much in demand by beginners and experienced dancers alike.

Family Week at Pinewoods 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	Morning Gathering
11:00 - 12:00	Swimming
12:15	Lunch
1:40 - 2:35	Early afternoon classes, mixed ages/Rest time
2:50 - 3:45	Afternoon classes, divided by age group
4:00 - 5:00	Swimming/Rapper
4:45 - 5:15	Community Singing and Stories
6:00	Dinner
7:00	Community Dance
7:50 - 8:45	Evening Gathering
8:30	Pied Piper/bedtime for children 9 and younger
8:45 - 10:45	Evening Dance Party
9:30	Bedtime for 10-12 year olds
11:00 - 12:00	Optional After-dance Activities

Class Descriptions: [Back to Top]
Children's classes by age group - 9:00 and 2:50

Ages 2 and 3
Childcare will be provided by Meredith. Children might bring a favorite book and a toy to share with others.

Ages 4 and 5
Valerie starts the days with Shake It, Baby! and what better way to begin a summer's day than to sing, learn simple dances, explore rhythmic instruments and play singing games? We will delight in the pleasures of all aspects of creative music making. Bring your voice, your body and your ideas! In the afternoons, the class will join Oran to Explore Your Imagination, a playful look through songs and theater at the way things are and the way they could be.

Ages 6 and 7
Music, Movement and Activities with Kathy will fill the mornings of this age group. Robbin will share her love of fabric arts during the afternoon class, Adventures with Yarn. Come prepared to weave, knot, glue and play!

Ages 8 and 9
Mary Alice will share folk songs, stories, singing games and dances in the morning. The class will learn a square dance, longways and other partner dances as well as lots of stories and songs to share with families and friends outside of class. Single Under, Double Under, Hilt-and-Point Ring and a Lock are all parts of the longsword dance this class will learn in the afternoon with Charlie and Kathy.

Ages 10 to 12
Oran will lead a Theater Quest, an exploration of theater, stories and creativity during the morning class. In the afternoon, Peter will prepare these students to fully participate in the adult evening dances. They will be learning contras, squares and English country dances. They will also compose an original dance. Music will be provided by Dave L. and Owen.

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

Contras/Squares: Dances with Flow -- Robbin Schaffer/Daron Douglas, Dave Langford, Karen Axelrod
Robbin will give campers an energizing start to their day.

Cotswold Morris: Adderbury -- Dave Macemon/Charlie Pilzer
Morris dancing is an aerobic and lively style of dance. Whether you're new to the dance, or have been dancing for many years, Dave's class in the Adderbury Morris tradition will provide an entertaining session for all who attend.

Ages 13 and up - AFTERNOON CLASSES (2:50-3:45)

Harmony Singing -- Mary Alice Amidon & Emily Miller
Emmy and Mary Alice will lead the group in three- and four-part harmony singing. Parts will be taught both by ear and by written music, drawing from English, Appalachian, white southern folk hymn singing and black gospel singing traditions.

English Country Dance -- Robin Hayden/Daron Douglas, Karen Axelrod
For all levels. In the course of the week, dancing some of the most compelling and accessible dances in contemporary repertoire, we'll explore the wide range of expressiveness in this dance form, from the exhilarating vigor of traditional dances to the playfulness of Playford and the simple elegance of modern favorites.

EARLY AFTERNOON CLASSES (1:40-2:35)

Singing Picture Books (9 and younger with parent) -- Mary Alice Amidon
Using books that tell a story through song as well as books for which she has composed a tune, Mary Alice will tell stories from all around the world accompanied by guitar or drumming, with lots of audience participation.

Crafts (8 and up, younger children may attend with a parent) -- Cecily Pilzer
Come try your hand at a Dream catcher, knitting, crocheting or collages. Cecily's craft boxes provide almost endless ideas for keeping your fingers busy.

Adventures with Natural Fiber Weaving (8 and up) -- Elvie Miller
Use natural fibers of all kinds and explore various simple weaving techniques to make bags, belts and wall hangings.

Tunes, Timing, Tempo and Togetherness (10 and up) -- Dave Langford
Have fun exploring these and other aspects of ensemble playing for dancers. Open to all levels of musicianship.

Mumming (13 and up) -- Roberta Gasbarre
The mystery and mayhem of the wild tradition of mumming comes to Family Week. This ancient form of theatre, originally performed in people's homes and the village streets, features broad characters like the Quack Doctor and the Turkish Knight, comic and epic battles, the combat and the cure of the hero and his mythic enemies -- and more! Led by Roberta, the players will rehearse and perform their extravaganza for the whole camp at the end of the week.

Longsword: Salton (13 and up) -- Dave Macemon/Daron Douglas
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 in class is the one Dave put together for the Portland Revels in 2000.

The Late Afternoon Classes at 4:00-5:00

Rapper: Swalwell (13 and up) -- Dave Macemon/Naomi Morse
Rapper is danced with short, flexible swords, with teams made up of five dancers. The Swalwell traditional dance will be the basis of the dance that Dave will teach to all levels of dancers. A few relatively modern figures are included for a change of pace.

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/