Country Dance and Song Society

Contra Dance Callers Course at Pinewoods
August 25 - September 1, 2007

As of June 13, this week has a moderate waitlist.

Timber Ridge	Pinewoods			Ogontz
English & American Family Teachers	Early Music Folk Music Square Dance Callers Family	English & American Sound Operators English Dance	Campers' American Dance & Music Contra Dance Callers	Storytelling Week Family Week 1 Family Week 2 Teachers

Photo Gallery

Programs Homepage

Registration

Contra Dance Callers Course at Pinewoods
August 25 - September 1, 2007
Program Director:
Lisa Greenleaf

Tentative Schedule: [Back to Top]

7:45 - 8:15 Breakfast

9:00 - 11:15

Contra Callers Course Lisa Greenleaf

11:15 - 12:00 Swimming, Bookstore staffed

12:00 Lunch

1:30 - 2:30

Contra Callers Course Cis Hinkle / Peter Barnes, Pete Sutherland

2:45 - 3:45

Challenging Dances Of All Shapes Lisa Greenleaf

Music Theory Owen Morrison

4:00 - 5:00

Campers Calling Hour Cis Hinkle

Dance Potpourri various leaders

Shape Note Singing Stefan Amidon

Old Time Jam…better than it sounds! Mark Simos

4:45 - 5:15 Tea with Jam, Swimming
and Bookstore staffed

5:15 - 6:00 Salon

6:30 Dinner

7:45 Couple Dances

8:15 - 11:00 Evening Dance Party

11:00 After-dance activities

Program Description: [Back to Top]
Look up our Special Programs for some general information; here is more detail about this particular program and staff.

This contra callers course is an intensive workshop designed for advanced-beginner through intermediate callers who would like to build their skills in a supportive environment. We will focus on two particular topics important to any caller: teaching skills (understanding choreography and crafting a concise teaching vocabulary) and stage presence (becoming comfortable behind the mic, learning how to handle mistakes or unexpected situations, and working with musicians).

This program, held concurrently with American Dance & Music Week, is designed and led by Lisa Greenleaf. Lisa brings many years of experience to her callers' workshops. She has been on staff at camps across the country as well as Europe and particularly enjoys observing how people to learn dance as well as how they build effective dance communities.

Class Descriptions: [Back to Top]
The course has been expanded to cover three class periods during the day. In the morning we’ll start with a workshop to cover such topics as teaching figures, recognizing good choreography and working with musicians. The latter half of the morning will be a hands-on hour of basic microphone and stage techniques as participants practice conducting effective walk throughs. The afternoon session with Cis Hinkle and musicians, Peter Barnes and Pete Sutherland, will be geared towards calling with live music to real dancers, while receiving feedback in a constructive setting.

There will also be time later in the day to join the all-camp open mic session, a part of the concurrent American Dance & Music Week.

Participation is limited to ten students, and before camp each student is expected to complete a preparatory assignment, which will be explained at registration. Because we have a lot of material to cover, attendees are expected to have knowledge of basic calling skills before attending the course. Feel free to contact the CDSS office for more information about this.

Registration: [Back to Top]

The registration deadline for this course is March 19. If it is oversubscribed on the 19th, there will be a lottery. This course is limited to ten participants to ensure plenty of opportunity for active participation. In case of over-subscription, preference will be given to advanced-beginner through intermediate callers who were on the wait list last year. Please clearly indicate on your registration form if you would like to attend American Dance & Music Week if you do not get into this course. Scholarships are available.