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Country Dance and Song SocietyEnglish & American Dance Week at Pinewoods
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Here is the chart of dances taught in 2003
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Country Dance and Song SocietyEnglish & American Dance Week at Pinewoods
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Class Descriptions & Schedule
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English & American Dance Week at Pinewoods August 23 - 30, 2003 Program Director: Staff: * Advisors, plus: |
Program Description: [Back to Top]
Look up our Adult Programs for some general information; here is more detail about this particular program and staff.
English & American Week has some special offerings for you this summer. Not only will you enjoy all the usual Pinewoods treats -- seeing old friends and making new ones, relaxing on the dock, swimming, hanging out in the bookstore. You'll also get to choose from three tracks of exciting classes -- dancing, singing and music. And of course, there will be fun at all times. Bring your dance shoes, bring your instruments, bring your best dances to call -- we'll see the summer out!
For your country dancing enjoyment we have Brad Foster and Michael Cicone leading modern and classic English country dances, including a period with simultaneous graded classes. Sue Rosen and Mary Devlin will lead American contra and square dancing with classes aimed at enhancing your dancing enjoyment. Mary Devlin and Jim Oakden will run the open mic and this is your chance to call, play for dancing or, of course, dance some more. Our display dance teacher this year is Jan Elliott, and she has exciting plans for longsword and two graded Morris classes. We're especially pleased to have border morris back after many years. And we have a wonderful musical staff this year, with two great bands -- Bag o' Tricks (West coast) and A Joyful Noise (East coast) -- joining with other exceptional musicians for nonstop fun.
Karen Geer will reprise her enthusiastically received singing technique class and get even those who didn't know they could sing sounding great. Karen will also teach a song leading class, the perfect opportunity to sing those great chorus songs and learn about leading songs at the same time.
There's a new music track this year and musicians of all experience levels are welcome. Create your own combination of music and dance classes, whatever is right for you. Shira Kammen will lead a band workshop focusing on improvisation and of course there's the opportunity to play for dancing during the open mic and camper night. And there's even more -- Dave Bartley will teach a tune writing class, so who knows what gems will emerge from the week.
Your day will include five class periods, an all-camp gathering showcasing camper and staff talents and time for tea and swimming. Dance parties each evening will include both English and American dancing, and the fun continues with late night activities. Besides the traditional opening and closing night parties, skit night/talent show, the usual fabulous auction and jam sessions galore, we have a couple of special treats planned. One evening we'll journey to the Balkans for music and dancing; another will be Sing n' Swing night with dancing to show tunes, rock and roll -- whatever you want to sing and play.
Midweek we will have "free night"; with no formally scheduled activity but there's always the camper-led dance. Bring your dances to call and/or instruments to play! The week will end with class presentations on Friday, followed by a party at Pinecones and the final Grand Ball. We'll see you there!
Anita Anderson (Seattle, WA) is an extraordinary English country and contra dance pianist, playing with Bag o' Tricks, Tricky Brits and other Northwest bands. She is also a superb dancer, and this informs her playing to the dancers' delight. Anita is an excellent singer, Scandinavian musician and dancer, and the composer of some favorite contra and English country dance tunes.
Dave Bartley (Seattle, WA) plays mandolin, guitar, cittern and other plucked string instruments, and is a prolific dance tune composer. Dave's odyssey from rock guitarist to classical guitarist to eclectic sideman and tunesmith filters through his fingers, making you wonder what he'll do next. Dave plays with Bag o' Tricks, Tricky Brits, KGB and the Greek band Pangeo. He recently played on stage with the Seattle Opera. Personal Webpage
Daniel Beerbohm (Lawrenceville, NJ) is a member of A Joyful Noise, Hold the Mustard and Reunion, playing extraordinary clarinet, flute and penny whistle. His rich musical background -- which includes swing, Klezmer and classical music -- spices his English and contra dance playing to the delight of dancers everywhere.
Michael Cicone (Waltham, MA) has been teaching English country dancing since 1980 when a stint as a dancer at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, OR, introduced him to the form and thereby changed his life. He also plays and teaches the hammered dulcimer and performs with the trio Kallet, Epstein and Cicone and in a duo with Susan Robbins.
Mary Devlin (Portland, OR) loves creating the opportunity for maximum dance fun. Her quick explicit teaching, clear calling and choice of flowing dances has made her a favorite of dancers all over North America. Mary also dances with Iron Mountain Sword and has danced with several Appalachian clog teams. In addition, she's President elect of CDSS. Personal Webpage
Jan Elliott (Woods Hole, MA) is known across the U.S. for her infectious enthusiasm, her broad knowledge of morris and sword, her concise and dependable teaching style and as a dancer and musician who can keep up with the best. A founding member of Ha'penny Morris of Boston, she has taught morris and sword for 25 years and performed with teams from California to Canada to Oxfordshire, England. She currently dances with the Martha's Vineyard Swordfish and Thames Valley International, and plays English concertina for the Pinewoods Morris Men.
Brad Foster (Amherst, MA) has been teaching and playing piano, accordion and concertina for country dancing for 35 years, and is known throughout the U.S., Canada and Europe for his clear teaching and insightful approach to English and American country dance. Brad is the Executive and Artistic Director of CDSS, was a founding director of the Bay Area Country Dance Society and was a co-founder of the Mendocino English and American dance weeks.
Karen Geer (Brooklyn, NY) sings beautifully and she is wonderful at encouraging others to find their own singing voice and helping those who consider themselves "singing impaired" to discover that they really do sing very well. If we ask nicely, Karen will no doubt also favor us with some tuba solos during camp.
Sande Gillette (Seattle, WA) has both feet firmly in the two worlds of dance and classical music. As a dance musician she plays inventive contra and English country dance fiddle with Bag o' Tricks and Tricky Brits, and as a classical musician she plays violin in the Seattle Symphony (maybe you caught her at Carnegie Hall with them in February!). Her dual lives provide lucky dancers with superb fiddling music.
Barbara Greenberg (Lawrenceville, NJ) plays wonderful fiddle with A Joyful Noise, A Band Named Bob and Reunion. She's in great demand at dance camps across the country for both her English country and contra dance playing. When she's not playing for dances, Barbara is preparing the next wave of classical and folk musicians as a Suzuki violin teacher.
Charlie Hancock
Shira Kammen (Albany, CA) plays violin, vielle and a mean English country dance fiddle. She's the founder of Class V Music, an ensemble dedicated to performance on river rafting trips. Shira has performed and taught all over the world with groups ranging from the medieval ensemble Fortune's Wheel to a new music group, Ephereros, to Trouz Bras, which plays dance music of Celtic Brittany. The strangest place Shira has played is in the elephant pit of the Jerusalem zoo. Personal Webpage
Jim Oakden (Santa Cruz, CA) stumbled into early music from the classical music scene, and from there discovered the world of traditional and ethnic music. Having diverse tastes, he has played in many bands and performs on an absurd number of instruments, from accordion and bagpipe to whistle and zurna. (We'll see how many he can get on the plane.) Jim is also a dance organizer and performs at music and dance camps on both coasts and in England.
Bruce Rosen (Newton, MA) is a stellar contra dance pianist and an accomplished display dance accordionist. Long involved in the Boston music and dance scene, Bruce performs with any number of different bands. You'll discover how his accordion playing promotes higher jumps and capers!
Sue Rosen (Newton, MA) is one of New England's favorite contra and square dance callers, creating exciting dance programs that are both accessible and fun and which combine the best of new and classic material. She also composes terrific contras and is an excellent Cape Breton step dancer.
Our sound operator this year, Warren Argo (Seattle, WA), is tops at coaxing the best possible sound from any system and delights in explaining the intricacies of sound in a way that makes sense to non-sound people. When he's not twirling the dials, Warren dances and plays excellent old time banjo.
| English & American Dance Week at Pinewoods Tentative Schedule: |
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| 9:00 - 10:00 | |
| English Country: Dances of Pat Shaw | Brad Foster |
| Squares and Square Roots | Sue Rosen |
| 10:15 - 11:15 | |
| Advanced English Country Dance | Brad Foster |
| English Country: Old Dances, New Millennium | Michael Cicone |
| Border Morris: Rogues Morris | Jan Elliott |
| 11:15 - 12:00 | |
| Swim/Bookstore | |
| 12:00 | |
| Lunch | |
| 1:15 - 2:15 | |
| Open Mic | Mary Devlin & Jim Oakden |
| Longsword: Sowerby | Jan Elliott |
| Song Leading | Karen Geer |
| Tune Composition | Dave Bartley |
| 2:30 - 3:30 | |
| English Country: Modern Delights | Michael Cicone |
| Contras: Go With the Flow | Mary Devlin |
| Experienced Morris: Oddington | Jan Elliott |
| 3:45 - 4:45 | |
| The Coolest Contras | Sue Rosen |
| Band: Music from the Inside Out | Shira Kammen |
| Singing Technique | Karen Geer |
| 4:50 - 5:20 | |
| Tea, Swimming and Bookstore | |
| 5:25 - 6:00 | |
| Camp Gathering | Karen Geer |
| 6:30 | |
| Dinner | |
| 8:00 | |
| Evening Dance Party | |
| 11:00 | |
| After-dance Activities | |
Class Descriptions: [Back to Top]
English Country Dance Classes
Dances of Pat Shaw -- Brad Foster/Shira Kammen, Anita Anderson, Barbara Greenberg
Pat Shaw was one of the most prolific composers of the last century; he also did reconstructions and presented a few traditional dances. The combination of all of Pat's dances and tunes offers a tremendous variety of tempo, formation and mood. Come and enjoy Pat in all his variety.
Advanced English Country Dance -- Brad Foster/Anita Anderson, Dave Bartley, Sande Gillette
This class will include an eclectic mix of old reconstructions and new compositions, old favorites and new discoveries and is designed to stretch your repertoire, improve your dancing and be great fun. For experienced dancers only.
Old Dances, New Millennium -- Michael Cicone/Barbara Greenberg, Daniel Beerbohm, Charlie Hancock
Refine your dancing skill as you dance some of the finest of the 17th-18th century and broaden your perceptions of what we can find in them that's relevant to our time. A fun and enlightening class for all.
Modern Delights -- Michael Cicone/Shira Kammen, Jim Oakden, Charlie Hancock
An afternoon treat -- join Michael for some of the best English country dances from the 20th and 21st centuries.
American Country Dance Classes
Squares and Square Roots -- Sue Rosen/Sande Gillette, Bruce Rosen
Whether driving or stately, innovative or classic -- explore the world of squares, and some contras that have borrowed from square dance repertoire.
Go With the Flow -- Mary Devlin/Sande Gillette, Dave Bartley, Anita Anderson
Great dances and music are a given. Then we'll explore how to make contra dancing even more fun with tips for getting the most from every dance.
The Coolest Contras -- Sue Rosen/Barbara Greenberg, Daniel Beerbohm, Charlie Hancock
Breeze through the very best of contemporary contra dance choreography. Smooth moves, great story-lines and wonderful music combine to make for heavenly dancing.
Morris and Sword Classes
Border Morris: Rogues Morris -- Jan Elliott/Jim Oakden
Border morris is lively, fun and suitable for all levels of experience (including none!). Jan will teach stick dances, with simple stepping patterns and an emphasis on the geometry of the figures. Wear athletic shoes.
Longsword: Sowerby -- Jan Elliott/Bruce Rosen
Open to all, Jan will help you learn or improve your sword skills and teamwork. She will teach the dance as danced by Vineyard Swordfish in the 1990s, a linked dance with an intriguing triangles figure. Wear sturdy shoes.
Experienced Morris: Oddington -- Jan Elliott/Bruce Rosen
You will learn the dances as done by Ha'penny Morris in the 1980s. In addition, you'll discuss issues of morris music and its relation to movement style with Jan and Bruce. Participants should have prior morris experience and bring suitable shoes.
Music Classes
Song Leading -- Karen Geer
Do you enjoy leading songs? Would you like to improve your song leading, or perhaps start leading songs? Or would you just like to come in on the chorus? No matter which, this is for you! Karen will help with tips as you sing English and American folk songs with chorus.
Tune Composition -- Dave Bartley
Dave writes great dance tunes and loves helping others write tunes too. Come with tunes to refine, ideas or just an open mind and see what tunes emerge!
Music from the Inside Out -- Shira Kammen
Explore another approach to playing tunes. You'll start with English dance music as a base and move on from there to modal and rhythmical improvisation exercises and making up your own melodies in an English country dance style. We will use The Barnes Book of English Country Dance Tunes which will be available from the bookstore at camp.
Singing Technique -- Karen Geer
Back by popular demand, Karen will help everyone discover just how easy it is to sing and sound good. We'll look at basic breathing and singing techniques, basic harmony and song concepts. Mostly we'll have fun in a non-judgmental class. Bring your questions about singing. Beginning singers and people who don't yet enjoy singing are especially encouraged to attend.
Other Classes
Camp Gathering -- Karen Geer
Join Karen, your MC, in a daily extravaganza of camper and staff talent, singing, stories and high jinks. A great way to wind down before dinner and to hang out with the whole camp!
Open Mic for Callers, Musicians and Dancers -- Mary Devlin & Jim Oakden
Come to dance, call or play music -- or do it all! Mary will coach callers and give feedback (if you wish) while Jim leads musicians in great dance music. We'll dance contras, squares, English country dance ... it's up to you! (Bring your Barnes if you have one.)
Staff
Class Descriptions & Schedule
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413-268-7426 |
Country Dance and Song Society 132 Main St/PO Box 338 Haydenville, MA 01039-0338 Office Hours M-F 9:30am - 5:00pm EST |
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