Country Dance and Song Society English & American Dance Week at Buffalo Gap July 5 - 12, 2003

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Program Description Staff Class Descriptions & Schedule

English & American Week at Buffalo Gap July 5 - 12, 2003 Program Director: Kathy Anderson Staff: Daniel Beerbohm Philippe Callens David DiGiuseppe Daron Douglas Barbara Greenberg Nat Hewitt Scott Higgs George Marshall Bill Peek Laura Robertson Cynthia Shaw Anne Siess Tom Siess Larry Unger * Advisor, plus: Brad Foster Lisa Greenleaf Donald Hughes Gail Lacy Kappy Laning

Program Description: [Back to Top]

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

Looking for a camp with a friendly welcoming atmosphere, lots of great dancing under the tutelage of talented instructors with a great variety of musical delights to lift your feet? Come to English & American Dance Week at Buffalo Gap, a week for dancers who love English dancing, contra dancing, ritual dancing or who would like to learn something new.

Buffalo Gap offers a chance to make new friends, as dancers from all over converge on this beautiful spot. Enjoy the magic of dancing in the open pavilion, overlooking the cool lake which invites you for a swim. The sauna is a great gathering spot for relaxing your body and mind. Enjoy a snack at the after-dance party, or play tunes until the wee hours.

Special treat this year -- our guest from Belgium, Philippe Callens, will stimulate us with his overseas view of English country dance, as he offers classes in traditional and modern dances. So come join us -- get to know our staff as well as the other campers, as we share the joy of dancing to wonderful music.

Calling all callers! This year we offer classes in calling -- contras, squares and English dances -- for novices or those who wish to improve their skills with the expert guidance and instruction of our staff. Tom and Anne Siess will be back to regale us with song, joined by Daron Douglas with her haunting Appalachian ballads. Tom will keep us on our toes at gathering. And we'll have a couples dance class led by George Marshall, with plenty of opportunities to practice in the evenings.

Staff: [Back to Top]

Kathy Anderson from Dayton, OH, has been calling almost since she started dancing in 1980. She will focus on her true love, squares, this week, as she makes her debut as Program Director. She also is an old-time musician, playing banjo and piano .

Daniel Beerbohm, a member of Hold the Mustard, A Joyful Noise and Reunion, joins us on clarinet, flute and penny whistle. He spices our English and contra dancing playing from a rich background of swing, Klezmer and classical music.

Philippe Callens is internationally known as a dance leader of English country dancing and other styles. A native of Belgium, he has been active in the dance community for more than 20 years, teaching, publishing, calling and composing, and has called all over the U.S. for the last ten years. He combines high quality dancing with enjoyment. He has authored numerous publications including two volumes of English country dances and a CD recording in collaboration with the bands A Joyful Noise and Hold the Mustard. Personal Webpage

David DiGiuseppe, from Chapel Hill, NC, is well-known for his fiery accordion playing, extending into contra dance, English, Irish and Southern old-time styles. He is a founding member of the dance band Footloose and has performed professionally since 1978. He has released numerous recordings and has published two extensive collections of fiddle tunes arranged for accordion.

Daron Douglas puts her own delightful fiddler's touch on English country dance tunes and contra dance music. She will grace us with ballads from her traditional Appalachian upbringing. 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.

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 across the country as a musician and as a leader of fiddle or band workshops. She's also passing her love of music on to her Suzuki violin students.

Nat Hewitt, from New Hampshire, is a knockout fiddler who stretches the limits of creativity. He knows how to excite and inspire dancers. He also plays banjo, mandolin, guitar, bagpipes and cello! A dance musician since the age of 14, Nat currently performs with Reckless Abandon, a contra dance band.

Scott Higgs, from Philadelphia, returns to Buffalo Gap to delight all with English and American dance programs that range from exuberant to elegant. Scott has a special knack for making the mysteries and beauties of English dances accessible to all. His welcoming style helps dancers discover and delight in beautiful, joyful dancing.

George Marshall from Western Massachusetts, is a consummate teacher and caller of smooth contras. George tours nationally with Wild Asparagus and Swallowtail, and plays English concertina and bodhran.

Bill Peek, from the New York dance community, is a quiet but gifted dance pianist who has been on the traditional dance music scene for many years. He is a contra dance and English country dance pianist, tune composer and has played guitar and banjo with several old time bands. He plays with Grand Picnic and can be heard on several recordings.

Laura Robertson, from outside Baltimore, MD, began Appalachian clogging in North Carolina, where she was a member of Footworks. She is currently foreman of Charm City Rapper and the Stepsisters, an English/American/Irish percussive team, and she performs Appalachian clogging with Tom Hinds in Pedantics.

Cynthia Shaw musical director for the New York Christmas Revels since 1995, has appeared on Garrison Keillor's A Prairie Home Companion at NYC's Town Hall and on NPR. As an accompanist she performs with singers in NYC and is a regular pianist for Country Dance*New York's contra and English dance sessions. She sings at Lincoln Center with the New York Philharmonic and The American Symphony Orchestra and is the Upper School Chorus teacher at the Brooklyn Friends School. Personal Webpage

Tom & Anne 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. They are wonderful campers, contributing song, music and crafts to the community, as well as uniting the group at gathering.

Larry Unger, from Lincoln, MA, plays rock-solid rhythm on guitar, banjo and bass with Uncle Gizmo, Reckless Abandon, Big Table and Reckless Ramblers. Larry's fiddle tunes and waltzes are ever-popular, and he's always fun to stay up late with at camp!

English & American Dance Week at Buffalo Gap Tentative Schedule:
9:00 - 10:10
Not Quite Playford	Philippe Callens
English for All	Scott Higgs
American Clogging	Laura Robertson
10:25 - 11:35
Stylish Contras	George Marshall
English Leaders	Scott Higgs
Morris	Laura Robertson
11:50 - 12:20
Camp Gathering	Tom Siess
12:40
Lunch
1:30 - 2:00
Community Sing	Tom & Anne Siess, Daron Douglas
2:15 - 3:15
Square Fun	Kathy Anderson
Couple Dancing	George Marshall
Rapper	Laura Robertson
3:15 - 4:15
Modern Delights	Philippe Callens
Many Moods of Contra	Scott Higgs
Contra Callers	George Marshall
Square Callers Needed!	Kathy Anderson
Band	Larry Unger
4:30 - 5:30
Open Mic	Philippe Callens/Barbara Greenberg
Something about Dolls	Anne Siess
Special Offerings	by campers or staff
6:30
Dinner
8:00 Couple Dancing
8:15 - 11:00 Dance
11:00
After-dance refreshments Late-night parties (camper initiated)

Class Descriptions: [Back to Top]

English Country Dance

Not Quite Playford -- Philippe Callens/Daniel Beerbohm, Barbara Greenberg
A class for advanced English dancers. Between 1651 and 1800 literally thousands of country dances were published in London. During this class, we'll take a look at some of the more complex material published in that period, not only by the Playfords, but also by Walsh, Thompson and others.

English for All -- Scott Higgs/Daron Douglas, David DiGiuseppe
A joyful banquet of favorites, old and new. Selected dances will be accessible to all, yet feature special delights for experienced dancers to savor.

Modern Delights -- Philippe Callens/Daron Douglas
An English country dance class for all, featuring interesting and pleasant dances by 20th (and 21st) century choreographers, including several written by Philippe himself.

American Dance

Stylish Contras -- George Marshall/Larry Unger, Nat Hewitt, Daniel Beerbohm
Drawn from a repertoire of dances devised by composers across the country, these are some of George's favorite contras collected over the past 25 years. During this session we will explore Becket, double progression, double contras and chestnuts as well as the common duple-improper formation. Tips, techniques and suggestions for smooth dancing will be offered in George's own inimitable fashion.

Square Fun -- Kathy Anderson/Larry Unger, Nat Hewitt
We'll develop tight squares by building on old moves and adding new ones, mingling the traditional with the modern.

Many Moods of Contra -- Scott Higgs/Barbara Greenberg, Daniel Beerbohm
Hard driving and energetic, smooth flowing and romantic, percussive, fluid, playful, time tested, brand new and off-the-wall! ... we'll explore the full range of delightful contras, with tips to ensure that you (and your partners) enjoy all the opportunities for magic and connection.

Callers and Leaders

English Leaders -- Scott Higgs
How can leaders make every dance as successful and delightful as possible? We'll discuss techniques for teaching, presentation skills and collaboration with musicians. We'll practice calling and explore many of the 1,001 elements of effective dance leadership.

Contra Callers -- George Marshall/David DiGiuseppe
This introductory workshop uses a hands-on approach to address issues of timing, phrasing, teaching techniques, interaction with musicians and programming. The session is intended to be of interest to dancers as well as aspiring callers, providing insight to the art and science of calling contras.

Square Callers Needed! -- Kathy Anderson
For new callers. Learning this skill from the start is easy, and if you've been putting it off, we'll build your confidence with lots of practice calling different types of squares with rhythm and style, using patter calling to maximize the connection with the music and drive the action.

Open Mic -- Philippe Callens/Barbara Greenberg

Couple Dancing

Couple Dancing -- George Marshall/David DiGiuseppe
Scandinavian turning dances offer a wonderful opportunity to develop and polish partnering skills. The snua, schottish, hambo, mazurka and polska as well as waltz will be presented.

Clog, Morris and Sword

American Clogging -- Laura Robertson/Nat Hewitt
Laura will start with the basic steps in clogging and flatfooting, moving to the music.

Morris -- Laura Robertson/Tom Siess

Rapper -- Laura Robertson/Daron Douglas

Music

Community Sing -- Tom & Anne Siess, Daron Douglas
These three will lead the group and all are invited to join in and raise your voice in song.

Band -- Larry Unger
Come and play tunes of various styles, some by ear and some from music. We will jam and discuss ideas on how to play better together as a group. All levels and instruments are welcome.

Gathering and Crafts

Camp Gathering -- Tom Siess
Tom varies the pace with clever ideas to amuse and entertain us and to help us get to know each other better. Bring ideas that you'd like to share.

Something about Dolls -- Anne Siess
Anne's clever idea for this year -- she will bring fabrics and patterns and we will be creative.

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/