Country Dance and Song Society Family Week at Buffalo Gap July 12 - 19, 2003

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Program Description Staff Class Descriptions & Schedule

Family Week at Buffalo Gap July 12 - 19, 2003 Program Directors: Betsy Blachly Chapin Henry Chapin Staff: Adam Brown David Cantieni John Devine Daron Douglas Michael Gorin Edith Gwathmey Sarah Henry John Krumm Tully Larew Leslie Jeanne Milbourne DeLaura Padovan * Bill Peek Ann Percival Joseph Pimentel * Fred Todt Tim Van Egmond * Advisors, plus: Charlie Pilzer

Program Description: [Back to Top]

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

Join us in the beautiful, secluded West Virginia valley that is home to Buffalo Gap Camp. If you have been there, you already relish the central open-air dance pavilion, you anticipate walking through the forest up to the ridge and you have experienced the sauna. If you have not spent a week at Buffalo Gap, do come along! We anticipate being as in touch with the animals that share the valley as we were last year, with visits from frogs, crickets, a heron and other critters.

We have planned a splendid week combining American dance, English social and ritual dance, song, story, hands-on arts and nature. There will be a great staff of old, new and returning friends. Our storyteller is Tim Van Egmond, of Massachusettes, who is also a member of Swallowtail. Morris dancing, including both kinds of sword, border morris and maybe even some Cotswold, will be lead by Adam Brown of Canada and Sarah Henry of New York. Calling duties will be coordinated and lead by Joseph Pimentel and John Krumm, assisted by other staff and many callers-in-training. What a band we have! Daron Douglas, John Devine, Ann Percival and David Cantieni will amply fill the band duties, with special guest Bill Peek playing English piano. Morris music will be supplied by Michael Gorin. Song singing and leading will be expertly shared by Ann Percival, John Krumm, Betsy and Henry Chapin and others, and shape note singing will be lead by Fred Todt. We will be joined this year by ceramist and teacher Edith Gwathmey, who has a special project in mind: We will dig beautiful, natural West Virginia clay from the stream bed, pot with the stuff all week, and fire up a kiln at the final bonfire. And what would Buffalo Gap Camp be like without woodcarver Tully Larew? Of course he will be back. At the end of each day, Pied Piper John Devine will lead children and families to their cabins for bed.

Families will be together each day at the two family dance gatherings: in the morning before swimming, and in the evening after supper. Twice a day there are classes when children are with peers (2-3s, 4-5s, 6-7s, 8-9s and, in the morning, 10-12s). After lunch there are classes which encourage family participation. Naps are allowed, respected and sought after by some.

Swimming is twice a day, with a good long stretch in the afternoon. We'll set up a "Casbah" again, so bring extra throw pillows, wall hangings or Turkish coffee pots. Friday culminates the week with a Festival Day including a parade through camp, all kinds of presentations of the show-and-tell kind, and ends with a swim, more games, the clay firing and a closing bonfire.

Staff: [Back to Top]

Betsy Blachly Chapin is most happy singing and playing instruments with young children. She is the music specialist for the Bank Street College of Education School for Children and the Family Center. This year she has been finishing her internship in music therapy toward a masters degree at New York University. Yes, she will bring her glockenspiel to camp.

Henry Chapin spent summers across Long Pond from Pinewoods Camp, and thus the music and dance seeped into his very genetic code. Although he may try to stray away, particularly while directing arts curricula for New York public schools in his Upper Westside neighborhood, Morris, country dance, singing and playing traditional music are high up on his list of passions. Henry is a member of the Bouwerie Boys Morris, has spent many Decembers working on various Revels and is the caller for the Carnegie Hill Band.

Adam Brown, our morris teacher, is a native of Canada, a member of Thames Valley International Morris and, by the time we reach camp, a graduate in biology at Laval University in Quebec City. Just call him Dr. Brown! Adam is well-grounded in English dance of all varieties. When not dancing, Adam will be found chasing butterflies, taking families on nature walks and, if we are lucky, he might sing a heartfelt song of the morris.

David Cantieni is a Massachusetts wind instrumentalist, pioneer of the double reed contra dance sound and father of camper Gus. Perhaps David is better known as one of the founding members of Wild Asparagus. Veteran of countless dance camps, David's masterful playing brings grace and excitement to all manner of dance music, be it on flute, whistle or that good ol' time southern Appalachian saxophone.

John Devine is a resident of the Mountain State of West Virginia and will be our Pied Piper extraordinaire, back by popular demand. John is a solid mountain of rhythm guitar in many settings, with a not-so-secret leaning toward swing songs and joy. John is well known for his backup guitar work for all styles of country dancing from English to New England to Southern, and plays with whatever band will have him in the middle Atlantic area.

Daron Douglas plays 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 travels to play for dances with Barley Moon (with Karen Axelrod and Dave Langford) and Goldcrest (with Dave Wiesler and Paul Oorts). She now lives and plays music in New Orleans.

Michael Gorin, a long-time fixture of New York City's traditional music and dance scene, is a founding and active member of Bouwerie Boys -- one of the City's foremost Cotswold morris sides, Grand Picnic -- the "mother of all NYC contradance bands," Duffy's Insurance -- quirky newcomer to the dance band circuit, and Gillygaloo -- adult-friendly acoustic music for children. Michael also frequently performs at school hoe-downs and the like. But he's probably most widely recognized as the fiddler for Half Moon Sword, NYC's perennial purveyors of rapper and longsword; and as Emma and Molly's dad.

Edith Gwathmey is a master potter and master teacher of children and graduate students at the Bank Street College in New York. She returns to Buffalo Gap after some years away, and will lead explorations in local clay, doing creative things with natural elements and making paper.

Sarah Henry has been involved with rapper, longsword, Cotswold morris and English clog dancing for almost a quarter of a century. Sarah is an active member and teacher of Half Moon Sword, NYC's renowned women's sword team and producers of the annual Half Moon Sword Ale, and of Ring o' Bells, the oldest women's Cotswold side in North America. She has taught at Pinewoods, Buffalo Gap, Country Dance*New York's True Brit weekends, the Sidmouth International Folk Festival in England and Emma and Molly's elementary school. By day, Dr. Sarah is a historian, in charge of programs at the Museum of the City of New York.

John Krumm is a well-known and well-loved dance/music magician. He has been the music and dance specialist at the Miquon School in Pennsylvania for over 20 years, and has been calling and playing for dances for over 26 years. John will bring to camp his family: wife Becky and son Tom, and his endless repertoire of good singing songs. John has written numerous rounds, some of which by now are deeply woven into the canon of singers all around America. Currently John can be found on the bandstand with either The Commotions, Colonel Mike's Dance Band or Little Rodeo.

Tully Larew of Greenville, West Virginia, is a former high school teacher, who has been Buffalo Gap Family Camp's stalwart, patient and inspiring woodcarving master for every single summer since the beginning! Tully's woodcarving class has given our camp a rite of passage coveted by those under 10 since BufGap Family Week started. His carvers' porch is a quiet, industrious and well-loved haven in a busy camp. Tully suggests that would-be carvers bring a high-quality tool with them to camp, already sharpened.

Leslie Jeanne Milbourne, our earth educator and Nature Goddess, is an environmental educator who relishes exploring, discovering and learning how the earth works, and helping families discover the natural beauty of the Buffalo Gap valley. She, with daughter, Chenaya and husband, John Devine, lives just down the road; what better family to show us the neighborhood? She has worked extensively in her field for over 15 years with preschoolers through college students. We are never separate from nature; Leslie helps us to open our senses to the world in which we live.

DeLaura Padovan, a Buffalo Gap mainstay with her husband Steve and their three daughters Olivia, Tara and Marin, is as vibrant as a song and as sturdy as the goats on her Virginia farm. She is a family dance leader, singer and organic farmer as well as one of the pioneers of living life the best way possible, which includes singing, calling, signing and creating one thing out of another. She and Steve make cheese from the goat milk Steve collects as part of their community-supported agriculture cooperative.

Bill Peek, the secret weapon of 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, including Cathal McConnell's recently released Long Expectant Comes at Last. He works as a music teacher, choir director and church organist on Long Island and Brooklyn, NY.

Ann Percival is a vocalist par excellence and rhythmic backbone of Wild Asparagus, and is also Gus's mom. Her vivacious personality and amazing repertoire of swing, gospel and other songs of many traditions are sure to keep everyone in camp jumpin' and jivin'! Every summer there are more swing tricks and gorgeous songs that she brings to share.

Joseph Pimentel draws on many years of experience calling English country dance, contras and squares at local dances, weekends and special events. He is highly sought after throughout the Midwest and from Boston to Fairbanks. Several of Joseph's own dances have made their way around the country, too.

Fred Todt is new to Family week this year, but not to Buffalo Gap. He has led singing in the Midwest and has been on staff at the Berea Christmas Country Dance School. He arrives with a reputation as an expert waltzer as well.

Tim Van Egmond ia a storyteller in Western Massachusettes and a founding member of the contra dance band Swallowtail. He weaves together tales, tunes, and songs - from the rib-tickling to the spine-tingling to the heart-warming. He accompanies himself on a wide variety of instruments, including guitar, hammered dulcimer and conga drum. His high-spirited enthusiasm, warmth, and engaging humor create a moving and enjoyable experience for all who hear him.

Family Week at Buffalo Gap 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 11:00 - 11:45	Swimming and/or Late morning class
12:30	Lunch
2:00 - 2:45	Early afternoon classes/Rest time
3:00 - 4:00	Afternoon classes, divided by age group
4:15 - 5:30 4:15 - 5:00	Swimming and/or Late afternoon classes
5:15	Sing For Your Supper
6:00	Dinner
7:15	Community Dance and Gathering
8:30	Pied Piper/bedtime for children 9 and younger
8:45 - 10:45	Evening Dance Party
9:45	Bedtime for 10-12 year olds
11:00	Optional After-dance Activities

Class Descriptions: [Back to Top]
Children's classes by age group -- 9:00 and 3:00
Children attend classes by age group at 9:00am and 3:00pm, while 13-adults are attending their classes. In the morning, Tim will visit each group during the course of the week as a guest. Those age 10 to 12 may choose among 10 and up classes in the afternoon. All children are expected to attend class during the age group times.

Ages 2 and 3
Morning class will be with Betsy, who will bring instruments and books. In the afternoon class, DeLaura will find a lot of amazing things to do and make. Families are asked to bring favorite books, toys and songs to share.

Ages 4 and 5
DeLaura will lead the singing, dancing and crafts in the morning. In the afternoon, Betsy will sing, dance and cavort with stories, books and instruments.

Ages 6 and 7
In the morning the group will play with clay, leaves, sticks, rocks and stuff with Leslie Jeanne. John Krumm will take this group on musical journeys in the afternoon.

Ages 8 and 9
John Krumm is the leader in the morning, with songs, stories, games and dances. In the afternoon, Sarah will teach longsword.

Ages 10 to 12
In the morning, there will be "Elegant" (English country) and "Rowdy" (border morris) dances with Henry and Adam. At 3:00, there are choices listed under Adult Classes below.

Early Afternoon Classes at 2:00
These classes offer a chance for families to do something together!

Nap, rest, snore, dream (99 and under)

Nature Walk for Families (All ages) -- Adam Brown and Leslie Jeanne Milbourne

Clay Explorations (All ages) -- Edith Gwathmey

Contras (8 and up) -- Joseph Pimentel/John Devine, Ann Percival, Daron Douglas

Woodcarving (10 and up) -- Tully Larew

Shape Note Singing (10 and up) -- Fred Todt

Adult Classes (13 and up unless otherwise specified)

Clogging -- Sarah Henry/Michael Gorin (9:00)

English Country Dance -- Joseph Pimentel/Bill Peek, Daron Douglas (9:00)

Family Band (All ages) -- David Cantieni, Bill Peek (11:00)

Rapper (10 and up) -- Adam Brown/Michael Gorin (3:00)

Swing Dance (10 and up) -- Ann Percival, David Cantieni, Daron Douglas, John Devine (3:00)

Clay and Sculpture (10 and up) -- Edith Gwathmey (3:00)

Slow Jam (10 and up) -- Camper led (3:00)

Mumming (10 and up) -- Henry Chapin (4:15)

Woodcarving (10 and up) -- Tully Larew (4:15)

Sing For Your Supper -- John Krumm (5:15)

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/