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Country Dance and Song SocietyFamily Week at Buffalo Gap
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Country Dance and Song SocietyFamily Week at Buffalo Gap
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Family Week at Buffalo Gap July 16 - 23, 2005 Program Directors: Staff: * Advisors, plus: |
Program Description: [Back to Top]
Look up our Family Programs for some general information; here is more detail about this particular program and staff.
Welcome to Buffalo Gap Family Week 2005! If you haven't been here before, you're in for a treat. Not only is the dance pavilion sublime, but there's the pond fed by the eternal spring gushing from the ground waiting to cool you off after a long trip. This year we'll find good company and superb song, dance, art, nature walks, stunts to amaze and mystify even the most discerning and, of course, music everywhere.
Our program continues the tradition of building a community of families learning and playing together as well as allowing individuals to explore and make new friends on their own. Once in the morning and then again after dinner, we will gather together for rounds of dance and song along with performances of other types such as skits, the sharing of art projects, poems, or things you can do with bottle caps. The evening gathering always includes a story and don't forget the pied piper for the younger kids' bedtime. Culminating the week, Friday offers the parade through camp featuring costumes, the festival band and side shows where the paraders become the audience for a brief rest along the way.
Here are some of the offerings in the program this year. You may spend time with a master of "stuntology," try Irish sets or the fast and furious rapper. Do you want to sing or set your artistic side free? Maybe you could finally get your honorary degree from the Rube Goldberg school of marble machine design.
So when you come, bring your dance shoes, take that old sax from the closet, dust off your guitar and make your way to Buffalo Gap. We'll celebrate our families, our selves and our good fortune to be together in this community. -- David Cantieni and Ann Percival, Program Co-Directors
Mary Alice Amidon: Back by popular demand, Mary Alice will be lifting up her voice with us at Buffalo Gap. She'll be traveling down from her home in Brattleboro, VT to lead singing and dancing. Mary Alice comes with her gift of songs and stories and her many years as a music educator.
Peter Amidon has traveled from cheerleading in college, coiling ropes on a navy destroyer and working in a mental hospital to becoming one of the leading music and dance icons of Brattleboro, VT. You can enjoy Peter as he tells stories, leads dances and collaborates with Mary Alice in the harmony singing class.
Sam Amidon or Samam for short, may still be the youngest on staff. His music belies his years however and if you hear it you'll stop to listen. Maybe he'll share a sample of the free improv that he was studying in college. Alternately, if you want to find out about current movies, Sam's your man.
Sam Bartlett: There are a lot of things we don't know about this Sam; why didn't he go on to be a professional ping-pong player, how come he doesn't do ski racing any more, and why didn't he continue playing bluegrass style banjo? But this much we do know, Sam's coming back and he'll be doing art, music and stunts and we're going to love it.
Claudio Buchwald was raised in Peru until the age of ten, and discovered old-time music very soon after arriving in the U.S. and has been at it ever since. Claudio will share his fiddle and piano playing with us this week as well as his wiles as a school teacher backing up the young and talented Matthew Olwell in the 8-9s class. Claudio is the only known graduate of the Rube Goldberg school of marble machine construction. He has the authority to grant a limited number of honorary degrees in this subject.
David Cantieni, primarily playing Irish style wooden flute, has been making people dance to his music for more than two decades. David switched to dance music from Bach and Stravinsky on oboe after developing a passion for the traditional New England dance form -- contra dancing. The love of music and dance infuses all of David's many activities which might include rebuilding a 1955 Ford 850 tractor or playing the bombarde while leading a parade of costumed campers at family dance camp.
John Devine, tall and with a fine full beard, is much loved here at Buffalo Gap. He's got one of the most beautiful voices you'll ever hear even if he is doing one of the kids' all time favorites about bird____. And when he starts in on the guitar you've just got to dance. He brings a gentle power to all that he does, whether playing guitar, singing songs or tending his farm just over the ridge in northeast West Virginia.
Alisa Dodson joins us for her first family week. She has been dancing for 25 years and teaching English country dance, longsword, morris and mummers for the last 15. Her activities have been centered in the San Francisco Bay Area as well as Ann Arbor. We are very much looking forward to her dances and she'll lead a calling class as well as help carry on the Buffalo Gap mumming tradition.
Bridget Edwards: Comes to us from Paris, France where she hopes to run an Irish pub! It's been an adventure getting there, and it included years in the Boston area calling squares and contras. It took her to Bloomington, IN, and study in Ireland. We are so happy that she'll spend time with us this summer leading dances, teaching us Irish sets and presiding over the Beach Chairs.
Steve Hickman may often be found with John, he is shorter and his beard is lighter in color. He is a world class fiddler and has toured internationally with groups including the Fiddle Puppet dancers and Childsplay. He is dedicated to the family homestead south of our nation's capital. Steve has been known to strap on his head lamp and weed the garden to wind down late at night after an evening of music. We expect we'll be enjoying Steve's music this week rather than his weeding abilities.
Abby Ladin has taught thousands of people of all ages shapes and sizes the fundamentals of Appalachian clogging. She has toured, performed and taught nationally for 20 years.
Kappy Laning is the heart and soul of the CDSS camps at Buffalo Gap. She even got married here. This year she'll be there to welcome us and keep the camp running smoothly as well as lead the rapper class for a second year.
Lynne Mackey started out, at the age of 4, playing piano by ear. Then she started her classical lessons and her career as a concert pianist developed. She could be found playing background music at hotel brunches during high school. After the rigors of conservatory, Lynne's first job in Bluefield, WV, near Galax brought her in contact with fiddle and dance music. When they asked her to play along, she did and finally found the balance where her training and the early years of playing by ear came together. Lynne will share her heart and chops in the English dance band.
Leslie Jeanne Milbourne is mindful of her surroundings, filled with the quiet intensity of one who is listening with all her being. Her nature walks and observations help us appreciate the immediate Buffalo Gap surroundings. She also shows us how we can continue observing nature at home. She, John Devine and daughter Chanaya, share a patch of earth just down the road.
Matthew Olwell grew up near Nellysford, VA where he now helps his dad make some of the worlds most beautiful flutes. He recently retired from touring and dancing with the well-known dance troupe, Footworks. We'll be looking forward to his percussive dance workshop as well as the 8-9s rhythm and music journey. He's also going to help out with Irish set dancing playing the bodhran and flute.
DeLaura Padovan, bursting with energy and ideas, has been involved in Family week for over a decade. One year she and her husband Steve Hickman showed up with goats in their van so that they could keep up the milking schedule. Most kids at camp got a chance to help out. This year she'll lead dances and have adventures with the younger kids with all the grace and humor that she brings to the rest of her undertakings.
Ann Percival is Minister of Fun, artist, musician, social worker, and, once more, Family Week co-coordinator. She grew up dancing with her Norwegian grandparents at the Sons of Norway hall in Brooklyn. Her first dance performance, at the Gloria Rosetti School of Dance, was Blame it on the Bossa Nova. Ann is at her best doing art with children. Or is it singing one of her many sing along songs? This year there will be plenty of both .
| 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 |
Bookstore staffed/Swimming and/or Late morning class |
| 12:30 | Lunch |
| 1:15 - 1:45 | Bookstore staffed |
| 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 |
| 4:45 - 5:30 | Bookstore staffed |
| 5:30 | Sing For Your Supper |
| 6:00 | Dinner |
| 7:15 | Community Dance and Gathering |
| 8:30 | Pied Piper / Bedtime for children 9 and younger |
| 8:30 - 10:45 | Evening Dance Party |
| 9:45 | Bedtime for 10-12 year olds |
Class Descriptions: [Back to Top]
Children attend classes by age group at 9:00am and 3:00pm, while those 13-adult attend the class of their choice. All children are expected to attend class during the age group times.
Children's classes by age group -- 9:00 and 3:00
Ages 2 and 3
Morning class will be with Leslie Jeanne -- expect some fun craft projects as well as visits to nature. Stay tuned for crafts, stories and adventures with DeLaura in the afternoon.
Ages 4 and 5
Mornings with DeLaura will feature crafts, songs and theater while afternoons with Mary Alice will include her singing storybooks.
Ages 6 and 7
Singing, hand clapping and toe tapping -- mornings with Mary Alice. Flora and fauna, crafts and more with Leslie Jeanne in the afternoon.
Ages 8 and 9
Matthew and Claudio in the morning for music and dance -- the sky's the limit with the two of them. In the afternoon Peter will educate and amuse with longswords, stories and dances.
Ages 10 to 12
Peter begins the day for the 10-12s with a story and then some contra dancing. In the afternoon Sam B. and Ann team up for a mysterious class at the beach house. Be prepared to get your hands dirty!
Ages 13 and up Morning classes (9:00)
Morning Mix: Contras and Squares -- Bridget Edwards / Sam Amidon, Sam Bartlett, Ann Percival, John Devine
Ages 13 and up Afternoon classes (3:00)
English Country Dance -- Alisa Dodson / Steve Hickman, David Cantieni, John Devine, Lynne Mackey
Percussive Dance -- Matthew Olwell / Sam Amidon
Foot percussion from many traditions.
Late Morning Classes at 11:00
Family Band (all ages) -- David Cantieni, Claudio Buchwald
Mumming (10 and up) -- Alisa Dodson
Mysterious Buffalo Gap theater- Join us!
Early Afternoon Classes at 2:00
These classes offer a chance for families to do something together.
Napping/Resting (99 and under)
Highly respected!
Nature Walk for Families (all ages) -- Leslie Jeanne Milbourne, John Devine
Explore Buffalo Gap with our resident naturalists.
"Around the House" Ceili Dance (10 and up) -- Bridget Edwards / Sam Amidon, David Cantieni, Matthew Olwell
Our most requested dance form -- Bridget is here with Irish sets!
Art in the Afternoon (all ages: under 8 w/parent) -- Ann Percival, Sam Bartlett
Join us as we turn the beach house porch into a community art center. Many different mediums will be explored. Lanterns, masks, clay, paste paper, needle felting......?
Marble Machines (10 and up) -- Claudio Buchwald
Make the great marble machines with hand tools, wood, glue and marbles!
Late Afternoon Classes at 4:15
The Beach Chairs: Stories and Handwork (all ages) -- Bridget Edwards
Relax in our community. Learn the songs and stories that have shaped the lives of a number of our fellow Buffalo Gappers. Bring your handwork and/or handiwork to share!
Harmony Singing: (10 and up) -- Peter and Mary Alice Amidon
The best! Heartfelt community singing.
Callers Class: (13 and up) -- Alisa Dodson
Rapper: (12 and up) -- Kappy Laning / Steve Hickman
Learn this fast paced percussive dance.
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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