Country Dance and Song Society Campers' Week at Pinewoods August 21 - 28, 2004

As of September 2, this week is over

Schedule & Fees Registration Info Registration Form Scholarships Camplife Programs Homepage

Program Description Staff Class Descriptions & Schedule

Campers' Week at Pinewoods August 21 - 28, 2004 Program Director: Kathy Reid-Naiman Staff: Kathy Anderson Ezra Fischer Katy Tarter German Shona Kearney Valerie Kosednar Jody Kruskal Chris Levey Hannah Naiman * Jesse Naiman * Tom Phillips Sue Ribaudo David Smukler Erik Talvitie Kathy Talvitie * Advisors, plus: Steve Howe Robin Kynoch

Program Description: [Back to Top]

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

Campers' Week is full of all the things you wish you could do all year round. The classes are stimulating and refreshing, the people are friendly and talented and the setting is close to perfection itself. This week is unique in many ways: almost everyone comes with something to share; at Campers' Week the campers can become staff and the staff become campers. Many people come as a family but most keep coming after their children grow up and move away. The children often return as adults, with or without their own families.

There are scheduled classes by staff twice a day for children aged 4 to 12. Those 13 years and older can choose from a wide range of activities: some will be staff led but many will be offered and taught by fellow campers. When you arrive at camp you will receive a skeleton program that shows all the staff led classes. Then on the first night after the dance we will have a meeting to set up the rest of the classes. In the past we have had English, American, Scottish, Irish, morris, rapper, clog, waltz, salsa, swing and step dancing, singing of all kinds, storytelling, yoga, martial arts and nature walks, just to name a few.

Though the days are jam packed with music and dance classes there may be times during the day when you would want to enjoy quiet time on the camphouse porch reading, beading or catching up with an old friend.

Twice a day (mid-morning and early evening) the camp assembles to share songs, stories and an assortment of entertainment from staff and campers. This is a time for everyone to participate and enjoy the many talents that everyone brings to camp.

After a full day of dancing, swimming, singing and playing, the youngest campers, with their parents, are helped on their way to bed by a pied piper who escorts them from the camphouse to their cabins with a familiar lullaby. Roving monitors will make frequent rounds of the camp making sure that all is well.

The rest of the campers then share a few more songs before heading to the dance floor. The evening dance band is made up of talented campers and staff members who change roles frequently during the evening to give everyone a chance to dance and/or play. The callers will ensure that each evening will have a balance of English and American dances.

After a few hours of dancing we'll head back up to the camphouse to end off the night with a late snack or refreshments and more dancing and revelry as the spirit moves. Many things happen late at night, some are planned and some are not. We plan to have a skit night, a pub night and an auction and in the past the campers have organized coffeehouse and parties on their own. And some people have been known to sleep.

Many other things happen during the week, too many to list here, but a big highlight every year is the costume ball. This year the theme will be Mother Goose!

Something that is especially wonderful is the young adults who have grown up coming to camp taking on and leading their own classes, calling a dance in the evening program or playing in the dance band. The future of country dance and song is unfolding here, and it's in good hands.

Staff: [Back to Top]

Kathy Anderson likes fun in all forms, but especially squares and contras with a twist. Old-time banjo and piano led her to dancing, which she loves to share with all kinds of groups and communities. Her years of experience in every kind of dance venue from Canada to the Virgin Islands, will ensure an enjoyable dance experience for all. Kathy will coordinate the evening dances, teach the contra and square class and lead a class for those interested in honing their calling skills.

Ezra Fischer first came to Campers' Week in 1992 when he spent most of his week hiding in his cabin and reading books. This year he will branch out his activities to a new width when he co-hosts Evening Gatherings with his telepathetic cabin-mate Erik Talvitie.

Katy Tarter German grew up singing and dancing in Berea, KY. Though specializing in Appalachian song and dance traditions, she has experience leading contra, English and various ritual dance styles. She's taught a variety of classes for both children and adults at CDSS family weeks, Christmas Country Dance School, Lady of the Lake Family Week and Cumberland Camp Family Week. This year she returns with new material, old favorites and a husband.

Shona Kearney is a goldsmith, step dancer, teacher and longtime member of Toronto Women's Sword. Shona is becoming famous for her subway musicals that have been performed for unsuspecting transit riders around Toronto. She will work with the "Talls" and teach longsword to the adults.

Valerie Kosednar's love of singing began in infancy, where (according to her mother) she hummed, crooned and gurgled tunes well before speaking her first words. A music educator for the past 15 years, Valerie currently teaches in New Hampshire and resides in Vermont where she conducts the Main Street Children's Chorus, teaches early childhood music classes at the Brattleboro Music Center and tours with the singing group Emerald Stream.

Jody Kruskal is a composer, performer, freelance educator and musical inventor. He plays Anglo concertina, sax and percussion with the contra dance bands Grand Picnic, Squeezology and Jaybird; he has composed extensively for the gamelan (Indonesian style percussion orchestra) and writes tunes for country dancing, as well as scores for theatre and dance companies. He teaches music and traditional dancing in schools, museums, summer camps and arts organizations and is the director of Brooklyn's Public Works Orchestra.

Chris Levey has been teaching English country and morris dance for over 25 years. He enjoys teaching a rich diversity of traditional and Playford style, historic and contemporary dances. Chris likes to emphasize dancer interaction, phrasing and how to move with a drive and energy that reflect the musical storyline.

Hannah Naiman, who you may remember her as "that little brat with long hair" or maybe "that obnoxious teenager with long hair" and, if you were around last year, "that loud twenty-something year old with dreaded long hair", has been coming to Campers' Week for a very very long time. Last year she and her brother had a ball teaching the teen class, and so, like all blockbuster movies, she's back in the sequel. Hannah is studying modern dance at Concordia University in Montreal.

Jesse Naiman has joined the folk culture fully in the past year and is in danger of becoming just like his parents. In the past year he has learned to play the mandolin and joined the Toronto Morris Men. He is also part of a soon-to-be famous band, Hardcore Lazerhawk 4000, a band that plays dance tunes and sings traditional songs in four part harmony.

Tom Phillips has been playing violin for English country dances in the New York City area for 25 years, sometimes with his band The Dressed Ship (also starring Jody Kruskal.) He also plays fiddle for contras and squares with The Fish Family. Tom will be our evening dance band co-ordinator.

Kathy Reid-Naiman teaches early childhood music and movement classes in Ontario. She has made five recordings that are used extensively as teaching aids in classrooms across North America. She has been coming to Campers' Week since 1989 as a teacher or a camper and has frequently been on staff at Ogontz and Pinewoods Family Weeks. She is the fiddler for Toronto Women's Sword and is one half of the old-time duo Ragged but Right.

Sue Ribaudo is an accomplished singer and song leader. She loves to build community through music and will coordinate the morning All Camp Gatherings. She offers vocal classes at various music programs during the summer and works as a music teacher and choral director in New York City during the rest of the year. Sue is also a song writer and recording artist.

David Smukler and his family have been coming to Campers' Week for years. David is a dance caller and musician, a storyteller and a teacher who hails from Syracuse, NY. He's been involved with folk music and dance for over 40 years.

Erik Talvitie has been attending Campers' Week since he was six. Last year he missed it for the first time in order to undergo intensive Evening Gathering host training in an undisclosed desert location. He is excited to be back and promises to use his new hosting powers only for the forces of good and niceness.

Kathy Talvitie plays for both English country and contra dancing. She plays piano with Hold the Mustard and A Joyful Noise and guitar with Raise the Roof. She has been a regular at Campers' Week for over a dozen years.

Campers' Week at Pinewoods Daily Schedule
7:45 - 8:15	Breakfast
9:00 - 9:50	Morning classes, divided by age group
10:00	Refreshments
10:15 - 11:00	All Camp Gathering
11:00 - 12:00	Swimming, Bookstore staffed
12:15	Lunch
1:30 - 2:20	Quiet activities/Rest time
2:30 - 3:20	Afternoon classes, divided by age group
3:20 - 3:35	Campstore Open
3:30 - 4:20	Swimming, Bookstore staffed, classes
4:00 - 4:20	Tea
4:30 - 5:20	Late afternoon classes
6:00	Dinner
6:45	Singing Games
7:30 - 8:25	Evening Gathering
8:00	Pied Piper/bedtime for children 8 and younger
8:30 - 11:00	Evening Dance Party
9:20	Bedtime for 9-12 year olds

Class Descriptions: [Back to Top]
Children's Classes 9:00 and 2:30
The age groupings for children's classes are tentative; they will be set after registration is complete.

Littles (age 4-6)
Sing and dance, read books, be bunnies who hop. Jody's morning class will have something for everyone. In the afternoons you will play singing and movement games, act out story songs, learn simple dances and explore Valerie's diverse instrument collection!

Smalls (ages 7-8)
Singing games, stories and songs are a perfect way to start the day with Katy. In the afternoon Jody has promised a reprise of Buzz Buzz Busy Bee ! So there will be singing, dancing and costume making. You'll build and play musical instruments, sing and dance and make up silly songs.

Middles (ages 9-10)
We will sing a variety of songs and enjoy a few movement games and dances along the way. Valerie will bring drums and rhythmic instruments for Drumming Circle each day. Feel free to bring your own drum or instrument if you'd like. The focus of Katy's afternoon class will be social dance but there will be some singing and other surprises thrown in as well .

Talls (ages 11-12)
You'll start your day off with rapper or longsword with Shona and in the afternoon David has so many ideas they won't all fit on this page. There might be social dance, ritual dance, singing, storytelling, writing, calling, or environmental projects. The sky is the limit.

Teen Class
Now that we've seen that the teens can handle Kerry Sets, it's time to delve into that trick bag full of songs and dances that Hannah and Jesse left in the shadows last year. Since Ireland stole the spotlight last year, this year we're going to give some other countries a chance to shine. We'll sing songs and rounds gathered from Vienna, Africa and heck, even America. And we'll dance. This year's dance agenda is to show you how English dancing really is cool. We promise.

Adults (ages 13 and up)
Chris Levey is our English country dance teacher. He'll teach some old chestnuts and new favorites. We'll learn a selection from the old classic Playford style repertoire, some recent compositions that have gained popularity and a few of his favorite odd-balls. Kathy Anderson will lead squares and contras -- dances with a little twist, old traditions and new creations to lift the feet. She'll also teach a callers' class -- back by popular demand. Last year this class had doubled in size by the end of the week. Campers' Week is a breeding ground for new callers and Kathy's welcoming and supportive style contribute greatly to its popularity. Shona Kearney will once again challenge you with a longsword class.

Community Gatherings
Sue Ribaudo returns this year to host our morning All Camp Gatherings and for the Evenings Gathering, Erik and Ezra will use their persuasive charms to encourage one and all to share the stage. Bring a song to sing, a story to tell, a tune to perform or a round to teach.

Program Description Staff & 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/