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Country Dance and Song SocietyFamily Week 2 at Ogontz
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Country Dance and Song SocietyFamily Week 2 at Ogontz
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Family Week 2 at Ogontz and Teachers Training Course August 2 - 9, 2008 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.
We hope you'll join us at Family Week 2 at Ogontz Camp! It promises to be a wonderful week full of laughter, dance, singing and fun in the beautiful White Mountains of New Hampshire! We will learn and play in age-group classes and come together throughout each day to share our stories, songs and dances at community gatherings, to enjoy delicious, family-style meals, to swim and play in the crystal clear lake and to laugh, dare we say guffaw, at the Green Chairs! It's an amazing combination each year at camp -- great staff and incredible families coming together to create a magical week of learning and fun!
The staff this week includes some of the most talented and entertaining teachers and musicians we know! Peter and Mary Alice Amidon will lead their very popular harmony singing class and will teach songs, stories and dance to our children. Kari Smith brings her expertise in longsword and clog dancing and some circus fun to crafts! We welcome Abby Ladin to Ogontz this year -- renowned foot percussionist who can teach anyone to move their feet! And, did we mention laughter? Prepare to be amazed by Sam Bartlett, master (and inventor) of Stuntology! He is also a world-class musician and will add his powerful rhythm and groove skills to the incredible music of Keith Murphy, Becky Tracy, Steve Hickman and Karen Axelrod. What a band we will have for dancing! And two of the best dance leaders in the country return to Ogontz! Steve Zakon-Anderson and Michael Cicone will lead us in American and English country dance. Michael, a professional folk singer, will also lead a singing workshop to include shape note and other favorites. Steve and Bettie Zakon-Anderson will offer a couples dance workshop in a variety of social dances in their clear and humorous teaching style. DeLaura Padovan brings her magical sparkle to share with our children and her ever-popular community dance repertoire for all of us! Steve Hickman will get the Family Dance Band playing for those dances and having a ball together on stage! And, to much popular demand, Roger the Jester returns to Ogontz! Be prepared to laugh at his hysterical antics and amazing talents. You won't want to miss the fun he brings to the Green Chairs!
Jane Miller will lead a Teachers Training Course concurrent with this week (pre-registration required). It's great to have all those friendly, enthusiastic teachers at camp! We can all help them learn the traditions we love, so that they can share them with their communities and spread the joy!
We've got stuntology, improv, jestering and story-telling, incredible music, fun crafts, dancing, singing, learning, laughing and relaxing! What more could a family want for a memorable vacation! Our family loves spending the week with your family and we need your talents, stories, humor and laughter to make the magic happen! Please join us for a great week at camp!
-- Bettie and Steve Zakon Anderson, Program Directors
Mary Alice Amidon is a warm and engaging music educator who connects song, dance and storytelling with children's literature. She is also an accomplished singer of traditional song and a multi-instrumentalist, not to mention a well-loved favorite at camp!
Peter Amidon fell into the world of traditional music (Cambridge, MA and Pinewoods) in 1975 and has never turned back. He is thrilled to now have a national reputation as a freelance musician/educator/publisher: teaching dance to children and teachers, leading harmony singing with adults and telling stories to everybody.
Karen Axelrod plays piano for English, American and Scottish dance and has been on staff at numerous dance events around the country for many years. She is highly regarded for her creative and rich piano accompaniment. She also plays accordion for the renowned longsword team, Orion Longsword and piano with the bands Foxfire and Woodlark. A professional dog walker -- with a PhD in dog walking from a highly respected internet correspondence school, Karen occasionally appears with the comedy improvisation troupe, the Villa Jidiots.
Sam Bartlett is an irrepressible mandolin, banjo and guitar player, known to dancers across the country for his fine musicianship and philosophy of Stuntology. His original music has been profiled by NPR’s All Things Considered, and Sing Out! magazine declared him a member of "the rhythm players hall of fame."
Michael Cicone first learned traditional English country, morris and court dance in 1980 as a performer in the green show at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, OR, where he worked with Carl Wittman. He has been leading English country dance ever since, teaching at regular dances and camps in Boston and western Massachusetts, Albany, Hartford and Philadelphia, as well as at Early Music and English & American weeks at Pinewoods, Heather and Rose weekends in Sisters, OR and dance weekends in Seattle and Monte Toyon, CA. Michael also regularly performs as a musician and choreographer for Christmas Revels productions in Hanover, NH and Boston, MA. He sings and plays hammered dulcimer with the popular folk trio Kallet, Epstein and Cicone.
Steve Hickman is a world-class fiddler, a passionate historian, a family homesteader, a late night weeder and a master hamboner. When not tending the goats on his family's organic CSA he keeps busy with his new passion of longbow breakdown fiddling, a bowing style that was very important before the era of microphones! He is a master at getting all of us to pick up our instruments and play! So get ready for another fantastic Ogontz family dance band under his patient leadership!
Abby Ladin came of age at music and dance camps where she and her sister were often the only kids. Abby has taught thousands of people of all ages, shapes and sizes the fundamentals and possibilities of Appalachian clogging. She has performed nationally for 20 years, and has most recently been seen clogging around her living room with her 1 year old twins.
Jane Miller, a "teacher's teacher," will oversee the Teachers Training Course for the week. She founded the Price Farm School in Antrim, NH and is on the faculty of Antioch University New England. Jane has been involved with traditional dance and song for most of her life. Thirty-three years ago she introduced Mary Alice to contra dancing.
Keith Murphy's distinctive rhythmic sound on guitar, mandolin, piano and foot percussion has helped drive several great contra dance bands including Nightingale, Wild Asparagus and Assembly. Having performed at many dance events throughout the U.S. and Canada as well as overseas, he brings a wealth of experience and sophistication to his playing. Keith also brings the spirit of his native Newfoundland mummering tradition to camp, so join him in creating the 2008 version of an Ogontz-based mummers play.
DeLaura Padovan is an irrepressibly joyful presence around camp, whether she is dancing and singing with the children or leading dancing for the whole Ogontz community. DeLaura (along with Steve Hickman and their two daughters) raises chickens and goats on her family homestead. She also teaches and organizes for her local Virginia home schooling community, and has been singing lately in their local nursing home. Spreading joy wherever she goes, her motto is "life is camp"!
Roger Reed, bka Roger the Jester, is a consummate performer who left an early career with the Swiss theatre troupe Mummenschanz to take to the road, recreating the wandering lifestyle of a medieval fool and leaving a trail of laughter throughout 23 countries.
Kari Smith has been performing and teaching a variety of English and Anglo-American display dance traditions since 1985. A rare combination of distinguished scholar/educator and great dance teacher, she is currently teaching teachers to use music and dance in the classroom and to use the arts to address needs in local communities.
Becky Tracy has dance music in her blood. She grew up in a dancing family and trained with the best fiddle teachers. Becky has a distinctive clarity of tone, a rhythmic attack owing much to French Canadian playing and the melodic quality of Irish music. Her unmistakable sound has made her a defining presence among dance musicians.
Bettie Zakon-Anderson first learned to contra dance in 1979 when the music caught her ear on her way to the college pool hall. She has taught a variety of couples dances, from hambo and waltz to swing and Zydeco, at camps and weekends throughout the U.S. over the last 15 years. In her clear, humorous style, she focuses on good partnering skills and the details of leading and following.
Steve Zakon-Anderson has been calling contras, leading workshops for callers and teaching couples dance for over 25 years. He has performed at dance camps and festivals in 36 states, including Pinewoods, Ogontz, Buffalo Gap, Lady of the Lake, Augusta and Brasstown. His own dance compositions are well-known to dancers and other callers. Steve's clear teaching, energetic calling and sense of humor have made him a favorite of dancers of all ages and abilities.
| Family Week 2 at Ogontz Daily Schedule click for tentative Detailed Daily Schedule |
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| 7:45 - 8:30 | Breakfast |
| 9:00 - 9:55 | Morning classes, divided by age group |
| 10:00 | Refreshments |
| 10:15 - 11:00 | Morning Gathering |
| 11:00 - 12:15 11:00 - 12:00 |
Swimming, Bookstore staffed and/or Late Morning Classes |
| 12:15 | Lunch |
| 12:45 - 1:15 | Bookstore staffed |
| 1:30 - 2:25 | Early afternoon classes / Rest time |
| 2:35 - 3:30 | Afternoon classes, divided by age group |
| 3:30 | Refreshments |
| 3:40 - 4:40 | Swimming and/or Late afternoon classes |
| 4:55 - 5:30 | Merriment at the Green Chairs |
| 5:50 | Dinner |
| 7:15 | Community Dance |
| 7:45 - 8:30 | Evening Gathering |
| 8:15 | Pied Piper / Bedtime for children 9 and younger |
| 8:30 - 10:45 | Evening Dance Party |
| 9:30 | Bedtime for 10-12 year olds |
| 11:00 | Optional after-dance activities |
Class Descriptions: [Back to Top]
Children's classes by age group -- 9:00 and 2:35
Ages 2 - 4
Stories, songs, movement, rhythms and projects! These tiny campers will have a wonderful time with the caring presence of DeLaura in the morning and Bettie in the afternoon.
Ages 5 - 7
These lucky children will enjoy the magic of Mary Alice in the morning and DeLaura in the afternoon. Songs, games, crafts, dancing! What fun they'll have learning and doing!
Ages 8 - 9
What a great age to learn to clog! Simple footwork and square dance patterns, plus hand clapping and partner play. Silly stunts thrown in for good measure -- all in the morning with Sam and Abby. In the afternoon, Peter will teach longsword and enthrall these campers with his stories.
Ages 10 - 12
Peter will teach contra and English country dance in the morning, with Becky on the fiddle, and start each class with a story. In the afternoon the 10-12s will work on jestering and trick clog dancing with Roger and Kari, maybe both at the same time!
Ages 13 and up Morning classes (9:00 - 9:55)
American Dance -- Steve Zakon-Anderson / Steve Hickman, Keith Murphy
Steve is known for his clear teaching, great sense of humor and wonderful selection of dances that will be fun and even educational! With Steve and Keith providing the music, it will be a great way to start the day!
Longsword -- Kari Smith / Karen Axelrod
Learn an exciting traditional dance with Dr. Kari, accompanied by Karen's amazing accordion!
Ages 13-18 Afternoon classes (2:35 - 3:30)
Teens Smorgasbord (age 13-18) -- Sam Bartlett, Mary Alice Amidon
We’ve got something special in mind for the teens this summer -- a little bit of everything! Mary Alice and Sam will start each class by leading a song/jam session. Bring your instruments if you play and your favorite song ideas. Sam will also teach from his unfathomably broad repertoire of stunts: pointless, pleasurable games and techniques to amaze and annoy nearly everyone. Each day there will be a different focus and sometimes a guest teacher. Bettie and Steve will offer some swing, Kari will bring some ritual dance and Roger will teach some jestering skills. That still leaves some time for teens’ choice and more singing!
Ages 19 and up Afternoon classes (2:35 - 3:30)
English Country Dancing -- Michael Cicone / Becky Tracy, Karen Axelrod
Some old, some new, flowing and delightful taught in Michael's clear and engaging style with two great musicians to help you move so gracefully.
Appalachian Clogging -- Abby Ladin / Steve Hickman
BASICS BASICS BASICS! Explore the power of feet hoofing in unison and shuffle step step step your way to a solid and funky rhythmic experience. If you already clog, Abby will challenge you with syncopation and playing with the beat.
Late Morning Classes (11:00 - 12:00)
Shape Note and Other Favorites (13 and up) -- Michael Cicone
Michael brings his many years as a professional singer, his skill at directing music and his love of Shape Note songs to share with all the fine singers at camp.
One Shot Delights -- Staff and camper-led variety
This is a great opportunity for campers to share their talents! Steve Zakon-Andrson will use this time on the first day of camp to offer a workshop for new dancers and those desiring a refresher. Bring your ideas and lead a class too!
Swimming and Bookstore Staffed (11:00 - 12:15)
Enjoy the beauty of Ogontz Lake and peruse the recorded talents for sale at the CDSS bookstore (also open 12:45-1:15).
Early Afternoon Classes (1:30 - 2:25)
Napping and resting (99 and under)
A great time to relax and recharge! Also, family walks exploring camp are great!
Play Time (4 and up) -- Sam Bartlett, Roger the Jester
Sam and Roger will offer a quiet, relaxing time at the Boat House for all children who would just enjoy some time to play. There are toys and games down there, but Sam and Roger will have some fun up their sleeves as well. A silly time for all who will.
Circus Sculptures (7 and up) -- Kari Smith
What fun can be had with colorful wire, bits of cardboard, wood and straw and creative imaginations! Kari's circus sculptures have been at camp before and boy are they fun to make! Spend the week on a detailed creation or make something new each day.
Family Band (8 and up) -- Steve Hickman
Learn great tunes by ear with one of the most versatile and entertaining musicians around. We'll look forward to dancing to your tunes at the Community Dance!
Couples Dance (13 and up) -- Bettie and Steve Zakon-Anderson / Becky Tracy, Keith Murphy
A smorgasbord of couples dances that are often done at contra dances. Refine your turning waltz, master that hambo, polka and schottische. Maybe pivot and waltz to some zweifachers. Just dancing to the amazing music of Keith and Becky will be a treat!
Late Afternoon Classes (3:40 - 4:40)
Mumming (8 and up) -- Keith Murphy
Always a highlight at camp, help create this year's original, Ogontz mummers play with Keith.
Harmony Singing (13 and up) -- Peter and Mary Alice Amidon
Beautiful choral arrangements and heartfelt community singing with two of the best harmony singing leaders we all know and love. Such a beautiful, rejuvenating way to spend the late afternoon!
Swimming
A great way to cool off after a busy day!
At the Green Chairs (4:55 - 5:30)
Merriment -- Roger the Jester / Peter Amidon, Karen Axelrod, Sam Bartlett
The highlight of each day at camp is when we all come together at the Green Chairs. And Roger doesn't just entertain us with his jestering; he involves us, teaches us, enables us to do things we didn't know we could do! He and Peter will be trying out some new stories in their hilarious and always unpredictable, collaborative performances which they call "We Know Not What We Do." Mix in Karen's Improv and Sam's Stuntology and they'll have us all creating the fun at the Green Chairs together. Prepare to laugh good and hard. Really belly-aching hard!
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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