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Country Dance and Song SocietyEnglish & American Dance Week at Pinewoods
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Country Dance and Song SocietyEnglish & American Dance Week at Pinewoods
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English & American Dance Week at Pinewoods August 4 - 11, 2007 Program Director: Staff: * Advisors, plus: |
Program Description: [Back to Top]
Look up our Adult Programs for some general information; here is more detail about this particular program and staff.
Recipe: Combine the energy and excitement of contras and squares with the sweep and majesty of English country dance. Add a dash of morris, a slice of rapper and scorching hot clogs. Season with singing and shenanigans for the most delectable feast imaginable!
Dance 'til you drop
From Belgium, Philippe Callens adds European flair and insight to English dancing, including an advanced session to challenge experienced dancers, and a class on reconstructing historic dances. Lisa Greenleaf headlines the American dance program, calling high-energy contras and squares with her signature humor and clarity. Program director Scott Higgs offers Harmony in Motion to highlight the connection between music and English dance favorites. At night, high-spirited dance parties feature all three leaders.
England's Laurel Swift inspires morris dancers to new heights. As morris jig medal winner in 2006, Laurel is required to perform at the Sidmouth Folk Festival on Sunday, so Jan Elliott (a widely-admired teacher and musician) will start the morris classes off on the right foot for her. Cloggers and rapper dancers: prepare for flashing swords and smoking floors under the tutelage of Laura Robertson -- renowned for her exciting dancing, creative improvisation and attentive teaching.
A Feast for the Ears
A handful of words cannot convey the artistry of our musicians, who combine conservatory-level mastery with lively improvisation and deep connection to folk roots. They play in more well-known bands than we have room to list, from Hold the Mustard to Childsplay to Lift Ticket.
Barbara Greenberg, Dave Langford and Naomi Morse play sizzling fiddles with great verve. Daniel Beerbohm and Doug Creighton create breathtaking melodies on winds. Paul Oorts and Owen Morrison dazzle us with their virtuosity on fretted instruments. Jonathan Jensen, Seth Houston and Kathy Talvitie anchor each ensemble, transporting dancers with brilliant piano playing. Almost none of these musicians are content with just one instrument, so be prepared for a ever-evolving swirl of colors and textures from button box, ocarina or a quartet of guitars.
You're invited to join the music-making fun! Seth leads two singing sessions each day, exploring a range of material from Africa to the Appalachians. We'll also draw on the teaching skill of our music staff for multiple workshops each day, on instruments, theory and regional styles. A detailed schedule has not yet been finalized, but we promise that you'll wish you could be in two places at once.
You make it happen
Each morning, Owen emcees the lively Gathering, featuring you! Bring something to share: a song, a joke or your rendition of Petronella on didgeridoo. Each afternoon, Scott hosts camper callers and Naomi leads a big band of camper musicians at Open Mic. Couple Dance Playshop promises dancers a delightful hour of unstructured swing and other couple dancing every day.
The official program looks great, but unofficial activities are often the highlights of a week at camp. Would you like to join in a chocolate-tasting party, madrigal singing, pirate raid or midnight karaoke? This summer, Chloe Maher will be our "camp catalyst," helping campers convert inspired ideas into reality. Let your imagination run free -- Chloe will use her creativity and resource knowledge to connect you with likely co-conspirators and materials.
The bottom line: catch up on your sleep before you come to camp! You won't want to miss a minute of this week's delights.
Warren Argo will lead a Sound Operators Course concurrent with this week (pre-registration required).
-- Scott Higgs, Program Director
Warren Argo will direct the Sound Operators Course during this week. He has over 40 years of amateur and professional experience with electronics and sound systems. Warren is also a musician, dancer and caller, whose humor and energy are sure to enliven our week. See the description of the Sound Operators Course for more details about this special, intensive program.
Daniel Beerbohm, a member of Hold the Mustard, A Joyful Noise and Reunion, joins us on clarinet, flute and pennywhistle. He spices his English and contra dance playing from a rich background of swing, klezmer and classical music.
Philippe Callens is in demand as a dance leader all across the U.S. and Europe. A native of Belgium, he has been teaching, publishing, calling and composing dances for more than 25 years. Among his publications are three volumes of English country dances and a CD recording (in collaboration with A Joyful Noise and Hold the Mustard).
Doug Creighton is a fine musician on the button accordion, flute and concertina. He has a wealth of experience as both dancer and musician for numerous display dance teams, plays in the English dance band Pleasures of the Town and joins in numerous contra bands. Doug is internationally known as the guru of The Button Box, where he keeps the world safe for accordions and concertinas.
Jan Elliott is widely known for her infectious enthusiasm, her broad knowledge of morris and sword and her concise teaching style. Jan has taught morris and sword for 25 years and performed with teams from California to Oxfordshire, England. She currently dances with the Martha's Vineyard Swordfish and Thames Valley International and plays concertina for the Pinewoods Morris Men.
Barbara Greenberg plays fiddle with Hold the Mustard, A Joyful Noise, A Band Named Bob and Reunion. She's much in demand at dances and camps across the country as a musician and as a leader of fiddle or band workshops. When Barbara is not in front of the microphone, she's preparing the next wave of musicians as a Suzuki violin teacher.
Lisa Greenleaf returns to English & American Week to share her love of community and her sense of humor. She has been busy calling at dance camps across the country and in Europe and looks forward to sharing old and new dance favorites.
Scott Higgs, our Program Director, has been teaching dance and organizing events for over 25 years. His business card squeezes everything important into just ten words: Playful, spirited, elegant, zesty, joyful contra, English and couple dancing. personal website
Seth Houston, piano, guitar and singing teacher, rocks the house with scintillating dance grooves. While adept at traditional styles, Seth also infuses his playing with funk, blues and swing. Seth's popular singing workshops combine great repertoire with a lively atmosphere to create a fabulous sound. Seth currently tours with Lift Ticket and is a noted composer of choral music and contra dance tunes. personal website
Jonathan Jensen is an inspired pianist in musical styles ranging from English country and contra to ragtime and jazz. Jon is a composer of brilliant dance tunes and waltzes, a frequent performer at dance events and a bassist with the Baltimore Symphony. When not playing piano at camp he is often filling in on whistle, recorder, ocarina or mandolin and offering his original songs, both silly and serious.
Dave Langford is a versatile fiddler, guitarist and fiddle teacher from the Boston area. A veteran of over 20 years of playing for all manner of dance events, Dave combines multiple styles of fiddling with fierce energy and drive. Dave is featured on recordings of Childsplay and currently plays in several musical configurations including The Latter Day Lizards with Bill Tomczak and Peter Barnes.
A Pinewoods camper since childhood, Chloe Maher has enjoyed Scottish country, English country, contra, clogging and rapper for many years. Currently, she plays piano with several bands for English, Scottish and contra dances. Chloe is one of the leaders of the Philadelphia area rapper team, dances with Fiddlekicks Cloggers and sings gleefully whenever an opportunity arises (especially shape note!).
Owen Morrison grew up in the music and dance world and began playing for dances as a teenager. He now plays guitar and mandolin with several bands and at dance events around the country. Owen also shares his delight in dancing Kerry sets, teaching these high-energy dances at Pinewoods, Berea and many a late-night party.
Naomi Morse grew up surrounded by music and dance and recently returned from over a year of living in York, England. While living in the U.K., she studied Renaissance singing and explored the traditional music of the British Isles and Sweden. Naomi is known for her energetic and driving fiddle playing for both contra and English dancing in many bands, including Night Watch, Housetop, Big Bandemonium and Childsplay.
Belgian native Paul Oorts displays his musical versatility on many "things with strings" and on musette accordion. He plays Celtic and continental European repertoire in duo with his wife, Karen Ashbrook, as well as English, Scottish, vintage and contra with Goldcrest and various DC-area bands.
Laura Robertson began dancing as a teenager in New York and New England. She went on from contra to morris, rapper and Appalachian clogging, as well as step dancing of various traditions over the past 30 years. She has performed Appalachian clogging as a member of Footworks and Pedantics and is foreman for Charm City Rapper and the Stepsisters, an English/American/Irish percussive team.
Laurel Swift is a brilliant dancer, choreographer and musician from London, best-known as the director of the innovative Morris Offspring. She has devised dramatic stage morris shows, mixing costumes and furious stick routines, but also excels at traditional morris performance and is a three-time medal winner at Sidmouth.
Kathy Talvitie's own joy of dancing is matched only by her love of playing music for other dancers. She is active in the Delaware Valley as a player, dancer, organizer and composer. In addition to playing piano with Hold the Mustard and A Joyful Noise, Kathy plays guitar with the contra band Raise the Roof.
| English & American Dance Week at Pinewoods Daily Schedule: |
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| 7:45 - 8:15 Breakfast | |
| 9:00 - 10:00 | |
| Advanced English | Philippe Callens |
| Harmony in Motion | Scott Higgs |
| Energy in Rhythm | Laura Robertson |
| 10:15 - 11:15 | |
| Contra Ecstasy | Lisa Greenleaf |
| Cotswold Morris: New Perspectives | Laurel Swift |
| Everyone Come Sing! | Seth Houston |
| Enriching your Melodic and Harmonic Toolbox | Barbara Greenberg |
| 11:25 - 11:55 Camp Gathering with Owen Morrison | |
| 11:55 - 12:30 Swimming, Bookstore staffed | |
| 12:30 Lunch | |
| 1:45 - 2:45 | |
| English for All | Philippe Callens |
| Cotswold Jigs | Laurel Swift |
| Couple Dance Playshop | |
| Global Roots Singing | Seth Houston |
| Eurotunes by Ear | Paul Oorts |
| 3:00 - 4:00 | |
| Square Dance Hoedown | Lisa Greenleaf |
| Rapper | Laura Robertson |
| Alive Again! | Philippe Callens |
| Getting in the Groove | Seth Houston |
| 4:00 - 4:25 Tea | |
| 4:30 - 5:30 | |
| Irish Sets | Owen Morrison |
| Open Mic | Scott Higgs, Naomi Morse |
| Clogging for All | Laura Robertson |
| 5:30 - 6:15 Swimming, Bookstore staffed | |
| 6:30 Dinner | |
| 8:00 Evening Dance Party | |
| 11:00 Optional after-dance activities | |
Class Descriptions: [Back to Top]
Social Dance:
Advanced English: Dances with a Challenge -- Philippe Callens
A class for dancers who are very familiar with English country dance and its wide and varied scope. Figures will not be taught and dancers must also be experienced with learning dances quickly.
Harmony in Motion -- Scott Higgs
A session of favorite melodies, matched with expressive choreographies. Give your body the joy of transforming gorgeous English music into beautiful dancing. Scott's clarity and humor make this a fine session for those who already love English dancing and a great introduction for those who soon will.
Contra Ecstasy -- Lisa Greenleaf
Come tune up your dance skills as we enjoy a wide repertoire of fun contras. Become a better dancer and attain dance Nirvana!
English for All -- Philippe Callens
Explore the delightful variety of English country dancing and its gorgeous music. From today's novelties to the 350-year-old dances, from classics to unknown dances, we'll sample many styles and moods.
Couple Dance Playshop
Lots of swing dancing and waltzes, some hambos, polkas and tangos … you may not know how to dance them all, but we'll figure it out together as the music sweeps us along! This unstructured playshop is based on the principle of "learning by doing:" pick up some pointers from one partner, pass some along to the next. Nobody will teach this session, but an occasional "show and tell" should help to ground newcomers and give us all some new skills.
Square Dance Hoedown -- Lisa Greenleaf
Discover the joy of squares as we explore those satisfying 50s' dances right through to the creative concoctions of contemporary composers. Square dancers know how to have fun, and with the inspiring rhythm of our fine musicians, we'll be flying high in no time.
Irish Sets -- Owen Morrison
Irish sets are the quadrilles (square dances) as they developed in Ireland: fast-paced with lively music. These social dances feature simple patterns, regional styles and plenty of potential for self expression. No experience necessary -- you'll end each session with a big smile on your face!
Display Dance:
Energy in Rhythm -- Laura Robertson
A fast-moving stepping class. Explore energetic rhythms and roots from Africa to Appalachia.
Cotswold Morris: New Perspectives -- Laurel Swift
Laurel pushes the boundaries of morris dance, including elements of stage performance, while remaining firmly rooted in the tradition. Come prepared to stretch your dance horizons! This class welcomes first-time morris dancers as well as veterans.
Cotswold Jigs -- Laurel Swift
Laurel (recent winner of 3 jig competitions) shares her creative energy and performance know-how with experienced morris dancers. You will learn some dances, but mostly focus on working with the jig(s) you know to create performances that captivate your audience.
Rapper -- Laura Robertson
Delight an audience with daring and dangerous (demented?) sword dancing!
Clogging for All -- Laura Robertson
Make music with your feet! Come explore the basic steps, then progress to improvisation and dialogue with our musician.
Music:
Everyone Come Sing! -- Seth Houston
Come sing songs from American traditions and around the world. No experience is required and you don't need to know how to read music; Seth will teach the parts.
Global Roots Singing -- Seth Houston
This session is for those who want to sing with extra focus and zest. We'll sing songs that sparkle with lovely harmonies, groove with great rhythms and capture the soul. Written music will be provided, but you don't have to read it; Seth will teach all the parts. Repertoire may include African, Balkan, Appalachian, gospel and shape note songs.
Music Workshops:
We are planning a rich program of 3 classes each day for instrumentalists, drawing on the skills of our exceptional music staff. … stay tuned (!) for further details.
Enriching your Melodic and Harmonic Toolbox -- Barbara Greenberg
Eurotunes by Ear -- Paul Oorts
Getting in the Groove -- Seth Houston
Hard to Categorize:
Camp Gathering -- Owen Morrison
Join Owen, your MC, in a daily extravaganza of camper and staff talent, singing, stories and high jinks. A great way to wind down before lunch and hang out with the whole camp!
Alive Again! Bringing new life to old English dances -- Philippe Callens
This class will look at the reconstruction of country dances, both English and continental, published between 1650 and 1800. Philippe will share his research and techniques for making old dances come alive. Because the process of reconstruction is creative as well as interpretive, some modern-day choreographies may also be examined to illustrate related themes.
Open Mic for Callers and Musicians -- Scott Higgs, Naomi Morse
Come to call, dance, play music or do it all! Scott will coordinate calling and caller feedback (if desired) while Naomi leads musicians in great dance music. We'll dance contras, squares, English ... it's up to you!
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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