Country Dance and Song Society English Dance Week at Pinewoods August 28 - September 4, 2004

As of September 2, this week is underway

Click here for a list of Dances taught English Dance Week 2004

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Program Description Staff Class Descriptions & Schedule

English Dance Week at Pinewoods August 28 - September 4, 2004 Program Director: Barbara Finney Staff: Karen Axelrod Helene Cornelius Harry Cowgill Doug Creighton Daron Douglas Jan Elliott Earl Gaddis Scott Higgs Jonathan Jensen Jessica Murrow Ian Robb Gary Roodman Jacqueline Schwab Bill Tomczak Advisors: Brad Foster Kari Smith

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 Dance Week provides a unique opportunity to be immersed in English social and ritual/display dance and music. Come to be instructed, inspired and entertained by the very finest teachers, dance leaders, musicians and performers anywhere.

In addition to a variety of extraordinary classes and evening dance parties, the camp will come together after lunch for a gathering, a unique time for staff performances and special presentations and for all to join in community through song and light-hearted dancing.

This summer's English country dance program features callers Helene Cornelius, Gary Roodman, Scott Higgs and Barbara Finney offering classes for dancers of different skill levels and several classes open to all. Gary, one of America's favorite country dance choreographers, will share his expertise in a class for choreographers in the English style. For budding and experienced callers there will be an open mic session under the guidance of Scott Higgs who will also be running an English Dance Leaders Course for a limited number of separate registrants.

For those interested in honing their musical skills, Jacqueline Schwab will teach a Band Class and there will be an open English country dance band, under the leadership of Daron Douglas, that will play for the open mic session.

This summer's seasonal display and clog dance program is thrilled to bring back England's Harry Cowgill. Last here in 1998, Harry will teach routines based on the dancing of the legendary Sam Sherry and show us some of his own prize-winning work. Harry will teach a rapper sword class as well. There is also longsword and border morris taught by Jan Elliott and Ian Robb's take on Thames Valley International's style of Fieldtown morris.

Songs and singing will be an essential ingredient of the program, integrated into the gathering and other venues. Ian Robb will lead a singing session every afternoon, open to all, singers and listeners alike.

Staff: [Back to Top]

Karen Axelrod plays beautifully expressive piano for English, American and Scottish dance (currently in the band Barley Moon with Daron Douglas and Dave Langford), and accordion for longsword and morris. In addition to her life as a musician and mother, Karen makes jewelry and performs with the improv comedy troupe, the Villa Jidiots.

Helene Cornelius is America's foremost expert on English country dance, with the widest repertoire around. Much-loved by English country dancers all over the country, she brings her vast repertory, long experience, standards of good dancing and concise teaching style to enrich the program.

Harry Cowgill is a step dancer from Lancashire, the protégé of the late great step dancer Sam Sherry. Sam started dancing with his brothers on the vaudeville, variety and music hall stage in the late 1920s while still a boy. Commencing at the advanced age of 19, Harry immersed himself in the Sherry family steps and style, and having been totally inspired by Sam, now aims to pass this inspiration on to all in his dancing and by his teaching.

Doug Creighton, currently musician for two morris teams and a member of the English country dance band Pleasures of the Town, brings a wealth of experience as dancer and musician to display dance classes. His box playing is bettered by no one and as guru of The Button Box in Amherst, MA, he keeps the world safe for accordions and concertinas.

Daron Douglas puts her own delightful fiddler's touch on English country dance tunes. 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.

Jan Elliott has been active in ritual dancing since she founded Ha'penny Morris of Boston in 1978. She has been active on numerous morris and sword teams in the U.S., Canada and England, and wrote her masters thesis on the relationship between music and dance in Cotswold morris. She currently plays for the Pinewoods Morris Men and dances with Thames Valley International, the Martha's Vineyard Swordfish, and occasionally with Bloxham Morris and Rogue Border Morris in England.

Barbara Finney has been calling dances for more than 20 years. An acclaimed dance leader, she teaches in Boston and at other regional dances, and has been on staff for workshops on both coasts and in Canada. Her dance background is varied and includes dancing with Ring o' Bells Morris, Ha'penny Morris and Half Moon Sword. She is currently a member of Still River Sword.

Earl Gaddis is a full-time dance musician, having played fiddle and viola for a mixture of English, Scottish, American and international dancing for nearly 40 years at dance camps, workshops and balls throughout the U.S. and abroad. He is a member of Bare Necessities and has been known to play spirited percussion accompaniments to Balkan dance music on a garbage can when no other instrument was available.

Scott Higgs loves to help dancers discover fresh opportunities for delight. In 25 years of teaching, he has invigorated experienced dancers from Seattle to Antwerp, composed dozens of original dances, and introduced countless neophytes to the joys of English country dance. When not on staff, Scott earns his keep at Pinewoods by cleaning bathrooms and maintaining the computer database.

Jonathan Jensen is an inspired pianist in a wealth of musical styles from English country and contra to ragtime and jazz. He is a composer of brilliant English country dance tunes and waltzes, performer with Reunion, and bassist with the Baltimore Symphony. When not filling the piano chair at camp, he often rounds out the ensemble on whistle, recorder, ocarina or mandolin.

Jessica Murrow is the long time musician for the Bowerie Boys morris team in New York City. She also dances with Guiding Star Clog Morris and treats English country dancers with the beautiful sound of her oboe.

Ian Robb was brought up in England, but has lived in Ottawa, Canada since the mid 1970s. Ian is one of this continent's most influential singers of English folksong, and is a member of the acclaimed vocal harmony trio Finest Kind. He is a long time member of Thames Valley International, one of North America's more venerable Cotswold morris teams, and piloted Ottawa's northwest morris side, Hog's Back Morris, throughout their existence in the 1980s.

Gary Roodman discovered English and American dancing in 1976 at Pinewoods Camp -- and it changed his life forever. He has been teaching country dancing ever since, and in 1982 began writing English- and contra-style dances. He now has six books in his Calculated Figures series and two CDs of music for his dances. His dances are being done across the U.S. and Canada, and, he has heard, in Europe and Japan.

Jacqueline Schwab has been an English country dance musician for over 25 years and is a founding member of Bare Necessities. She is widely known as the pianist on 10 Ken Burns's PBS documentaries (including The Civil War , Baseball and Mark Twain ) and on over 30 recordings, including with Bare Necessities, singer Jean Redpath and fiddlers Alasdair Fraser and Laura Risk. Jacqueline also has three solo recordings. She has performed for former President Clinton at the White House and at the Smithsonian. A longtime dancer, Jacqueline plays and teaches English dance workshops with Bare Necessities around the country and abroad.

Bill Tomczak has been playing clarinet for folk dance of one kind or another since 1979. In that time, he has developed a reputation as a tasteful and innovative improviser who has learned to blend seamlessly into a wide variety of fiddle styles. He runs the third Friday contra dance in Greenfield, MA. Bill currently plays for contra dancing and English Country Dancing with The Latter Day Lizards and a variety of other musicians. He has recorded with The Latter Day Lizards, BLT, Wild Asparagus and Yankee Ingenuity and appears on the recordings Cascade of Tears and Gypsy Wine with Mary Lea and friends.

English Dance Week at Pinewoods Tentative Schedule:
7:45 - 8:15 Breakfast
9:00 - 10:15
ECD: Advanced	Helene
ECD: The Joy of Movement	Barbara
Advanced Clog	Harry
Cotswold for All: Fieldtown	Ian
10:30 - 11:45
ECD: for All	Barbara
ECD: Calculated Figures	Gary
Beginner/Intermediate Clog	Harry
Border Morris for All	Jan
11:45 - 12:30 Swimming, Bookstore staffed
12:30 Lunch
1:45 - 2:15
Gathering	Ian and Jan
2:30 - 3:30
Open Mic/Open Band	Scott / Daron
Dance Writing	Gary
Northwest Morris for All	Ian
Rapper Sword for All	Harry
3:35 - 4:25
Singing	Ian
4:00 - 4:25 Tea
4:30 - 5:30
ECD: for All	Helene
Longsword for All	Jan
Dance Band	Jacqueline
5:30 - 6:15 Swimming, Bookstore staffed
6:30 Dinner
8:00
Couple Dancing
8:15
Evening Dance Party
11:00
Optional After-dance Activities

Class Descriptions: [Back to Top]

English Country Dance and Music Classes:

Advanced -- Helene / Jacqueline, Earl
Helene will teach a variety of dances from her vast repertoire for dancers who are very familiar with basic English country dance movement and style, and who like challenges.

For All -- Helene / Jonathan, Bill, Jessica
A captivating mix of 17-18th- and 20-21st-century dances for everyone's enjoyment called by a master.

Calculated Figures -- Gary / Jonathan, Earl
A class devoted to dancing Gary's own compositions, for folks who are familiar with basic English country dance movement and style. We will be doing many of Gary's better-known dances, a few that are less well known and maybe some new things.

The Joy of Movement -- Barbara / Karen, Daron, Bill
While covering all the basic figures of English country dance, this class will also focus on the elements of style that can increase your enjoyment of dancing. For inexperienced dancers who want to learn and for all who want to improve and experience the joy.

For All -- Barbara / Jacqueline, Daron
A variety of dances from historical to traditional and 17th through 21st centuries, for all to enjoy.

Dance Writing -- Gary / Jonathan
This will be a workshop for anyone who (a) has written a dance and wants to try it out and get some feedback, or (b) has never written a dance but might like to try their hand at it, or (c) has no plans to write a dance but is interested in discussing what makes certain dances (and dance tunes) so good. Working in small groups, we might even try writing a dance or two. Everyone who loves English country dancing is invited to participate.

Open Mic/Open Band -- Scott / Daron
Bring an instrument and join Daron in the band. Bring a favorite dance and present it to the group. Or just bring your dance shoes and enthusiasm; we'll enjoy an upbeat session for all, loaded with variety and fun!

Dance Band -- Jacqueline
Jacqueline will share her expertise and lead the group in exploring topics brought up by the class, with the goal of becoming better dance musicians. Participants should be able to play a melody or accompaniment on their instrument. An ability to read music is helpful but not required.

Ritual/Display Dance Classes:

Beginner/Intermediate Clog -- Harry / Doug
This class will be paced so that newcomers to clogging can be comfortable and those with some experience can find a challenge. Harry will teach Sam Sherry's hornpipe and/or waltz clog routines.

Advanced Clog -- Harry / Doug
Harry will teach the Sam Sherry reel (not previously taught in America) to cloggers who are experienced and ready to pick up new steps quickly.

Cotswold Morris for All -- Ian / Jessica
The distinct version of Fieldtown, as danced by Thames Valley International, is known to some but Ian's long association with it and his attention to detail will make it well-known to this class.

Border Morris for All -- Jan / Karen
Jan will be exploring the ever-popular border morris tradition through the style of Rogue Morris, an energetic women's team from Oxford, England. We will explore contemporary dances for odd numbers of participants, and dances that are adaptable for varying numbers.

Northwest Morris for All -- Ian / Doug
Ian will teach dances from the repertoire of the dynamic Hog's Back's Morris of Ottawa. These are mostly newly written clog morris dances, borrowing from various traditional sources.

Rapper Sword for All -- Harry / Jan
The footwork, the figures, the flash and the fun. Here is a chance to try your hands and feet at this fantastic form. Harry will teach figures in the tradition of High Spen, drawing on his experience of 15-plus years dancing rapper.

Longsword for All -- Jan / Karen
Jan will teach selected figures from the Vineyard Swordfish's amalgam of the "Helmsley I" and "Helmsley II" dances, known affectionately as "Helmsley, Version 2.1". The class may also consider the challenges of figures which are difficult or impossible to perform as originally described, devising our own interpretations.

Song:

Singing -- Ian
Each afternoon we will join Ian in the choruses, in leading a song or just enjoying the song by listening. Ian has a vast repertoire and will happily join the chorus of your song as well. All are welcome.

Program Description Staff Class Descriptions & Schedule Top

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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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