Country Dance and Song Society 2005 Summer Programs

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Music Programs Dance Programs Family Programs Special Programs

Do you want to experience traditional English and/or Anglo-American dance and music in a beautiful outdoor setting? CDSS summer camps offer the opportunity to take daily classes, to sing, dance and play tunes, to swim, canoe and relax with new friends and old in three very special locations -

Buffalo Gap Pinewoods Ogontz

CDSS has been organizing and running summer programs for many years and we have long been committed to creating an inclusive social community at camp. Everyone is encouraged to enhance the spirit of camp by bringing ideas for special events, games or parties.

Music and Dance Programs

Each week's program has a unique focus and each offers a different mix of daily dance and music classes, singing and special workshops, with plenty of rest/play time. Once a day the whole camp gathers for games, singing or presentations. After dinner each evening there is a dance party, often with a concert, followed by late-night activities.

The minimum age for attendance at our adult weeks is 15. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. We can sometimes also accept a limited number of infants and children; please call for details. Adults without children are also welcome at Campers' Week at Pinewoods and Family weeks at Buffalo Gap and Ogontz. We do not consider gender in our admissions policy.

2005 Family Programs

Our family programs provide many opportunities to share traditional English and Anglo-American dance, music and storytelling as well as the beauty of the outdoors with children. A typical day will include two classes tailored to age groups. Morning starts with age specific classes for children age 4 and up, while parents and the teens pursue their own music and dance classes. After morning class, the whole camp gathers to sing and dance together, then adjourns to relax or swim before lunch. Children not napping after lunch may join their parents in a wide variety of classes designed for mixed age groups, followed by a second age specific class and swim time. After dinner the whole community comes together for a family dance followed by singing and stories.

As dusk settles a Pied Piper leads the families with children age 9 and younger (8 and younger at Campers' Week) to their cabin where the parents put their children to bed. Preteens stay halfway through the evening dance before their bedtime comes. Adults and teenagers can enjoy the evening dance and later activities, while roving monitors listen for wakeful children. If a child is uncomfortable, the monitor will alert the parent at the dance. Each family is expected to prepare their children for these scheduled bedtimes (see each week's schedule for details).

At the Family Weeks, each age grouping has a maximum number of spaces available. For Family Week at Pinewoods, preference is given to member families that include children age 4 to 17.

All campers over the age of five have a daily job to help camp run smoothly. Parents are generally assigned a job with their young children. At Buffalo Gap, housing is in large bunk rooms with one family per room in most cases. At Ogontz, each family will be assigned a cabin. At Pinewoods, most children over age six are assigned a roommate in a double or triple cabin near their parents. Anyone under age 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

2005 Special Programs

Teacher Training Course at Family Week 1 at Ogontz July 9 - 16
Square Dance Callers Course at American Dance & Music Week at Pinewoods July 23 - 30
English Dance Leaders Course at Campers' Week at Pinewoods July 30 - August 6
American Dance Musicians Course at English & American Dance Week at Pinewoods August 6 - 13
English Dance Musicians Course at English Dance Week at Pinewoods August 13 - 20

These special courses have limited enrollment and give budding or experienced callers, dance leaders, musicians and classroom teachers a chance to hone their skills, increase their repertoire and consider new points of view. The programs offer group exercises and solo practice time as well as time to participate in the concurrent week. Registrations to these sessions will be processed on March 14 (a week before all other weeks.)

The Country Dance and Song Society

The Country Dance and Song Society, through its resources and programs, preserves English and Anglo-American traditional dance, music and song, promoting their new expression, connects people who enjoy them and supports communities where they continue to thrive. We are a nonprofit organization, founded in 1915, with many members and 277 affiliated groups in the U.S., Canada and overseas.

The goal of the CDSS Sales Department is to help you make English and Anglo-American dance and music part of your life by offering high quality, useful materials from a wide range of sources. Much of it is unique and often self-published. Some of it is imported from overseas; some is available only from CDSS. All this is available by mail order and at our bookstore at each camp. Our price list is available on request.

We also send consignment orders to our camps and other events around the country -- contact our sales manager at or 413-268-7426 ext 2 for further details.

CDSS has an active publications program.

The Society provides a referral service with information about events throughout the U.S. and Canada as well as advice on programming and organization. Our library and archives are housed at the University of New Hampshire Library Special Collections.

Our principal support is our membership; new members are always welcome.

The Country Dance and Song Society
An association of people who celebrate traditional, historical and contemporary English and Anglo-American folk dance, song and instrumental music. Since 1915. Come Join Us!

Membership Rates as of Jan 1, 2004:
Individual $43
Limited Income Individual $28
Family $62
Limited Income Family $39
Contributor $85
Group Affiliate $85

Members receive:
a bimonthly newsletter, CDSS News
a members list
a group directory
a price list
10% discounts on purchases from the sales department
eligibility for loans and grants
group tax exemption and liability insurance
priority for admission to our summer programs
a voice in the governance of the Society.

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/