Country Dance and Song Society

Celebrating our 75th year at Pinewoods Camp

American Dance & Music Week at Pinewoods
August 9 - 16, 2008

Sargon de Jesus's 2007 Photo Gallery

As of March 26, this week has spaces available.

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

Programs Homepage

Staff

Class Descriptions & Schedule

American Dance & Music Week at Pinewoods
and
Contra Dance Callers Course
August 9 - 16, 2008

Program Director:
Sue Rosen

Staff:
Lynn Ackerson
Mary Cay Brass
Lise Brown
Greg Canote
Jere Canote
Ellie Grace
Leela Grace
Lisa Greenleaf *
Annie Fain Liden
Eden MacAdam-Somer
Carol Ormand
Bruce Rosen *
Peter Siegel
Emily Troll
Larry Unger
George Wilson

* Advisors, plus:
Steve Howe

Program Description: [Back to Top]

Look up our Adult Programs for some general information; here is more detail about this particular program and staff.

Welcome to American Dance & Music Week 2008. We've assembled a wonderful staff and lined up a great program -- all we need is you to make this the high point of the summer. Please join us for another great week of dancing, singing, playing and partying.

What's happening at camp this summer? In addition to your daily dose of contras and squares, we'd like to introduce you to the fun and totally addictive joys of Cape Breton step dancing. Jump into the world of Appalachian clogging for additional aerobic exhilaration and sample the diverse pleasures of the daily dance potpourri. A full music program is sure to keep players of all levels engaged and challenged and don't forget the instrument we all possess -- our voices. An addition to our program that I'm really excited about is a daily arts and crafts hour; get creative and messy and take home a hand-made book. And if the schedule isn't packed enough, we've got several special "one-shots," like tune-writing and a song-swap. We wind down the daytime activities when we gather for the daily, not-to-be-missed, salon that features community fun and staff mini-concerts.

Evening dances to the great music and calling of our staff set the nights aglow and are followed by after-dance parties in the camphouse where you can see the wackier side of your new friends and have more opportunities for playing music and games, singing and dancing.

Campers return to Pinewoods year after year because it's a magical place where you can leave the rest of the world behind. Every great thing you've heard about a week at this camp is absolutely true. Come and see for yourself!

Lisa Greenleaf will lead her popular Contra Dance Callers Course (pre-registration required) during this week.

-- Sue Rosen, Program Director

Staff: [Back to Top]

The only thing larger than Lynn Ackerson's amazing assortment of colorful, patterned socks is her huge collection of great contras and exciting squares. She is known to dancers all over not only for her socks, but also for her calm, clear, and concise walkthroughs and calling.

Mary Cay Brass, renowned for her rich, varied and driving piano and accordion style, plays regularly with the Greenfield Dance Band and in many other musical combinations throughout New England . Mary Cay leads community choirs in southern Vermont and western Massachusetts, co-leads a hospice choir, is a regular staff member of Village Harmony camps and leads workshops across the country. Using traditional music to create community is her life-long passion and commitment.

Lise Brown, playing saxophone and flute, has performed everywhere from Radio City Music Hall to Calcutta, India, including stints with Celia Cruz and The Temptations. She is the leader and arranger for the contra dance big band Big Bandemonium, and has been on staff performing and teaching at Pinewoods, Swannanoa, Dance Flurry, Old Songs Folk Festival, Saratoga Dance Flurry, Falcon Ridge Folk Music Festival and more.

The Canote Brothers, from Seattle, WA, are as renowned for their affable attitudes and humor as they are for their music. Greg on fiddle, and Jere on guitar, both on banjo ukes, play for dances, lead songs and promote a good time. The Canote Brothers demonstrate their love and mastery of vintage styles from old-time fiddle tunes and country songs to novelty numbers and swing. They perform with spirit, humor, sterling musicianship and genetically-matched voices.

Ellie Grace grew up performing professionally as part of the Grace Family band and now carries on her family's musical tradition with her sister, Leela. Ellie has performed in the Dirk Powell Band and has taught percussive dance at the University of North Carolina at Asheville, in addition to touring and teaching nationally and internationally. Still in her twenties, Ellie nonetheless has a lifetime of experience to offer, delivered with joyful energy and humor.

Leela Grace, a Missouri native, and a recent Portland, OR transplant, has performed nationally for over 20 years, first with her family, and now as a solo musician and with her sister Ellie. She has also inspired thousands of school children, banjo students, percussive dancers and singers of all ages through her teaching. Her devious plan is to do her part to create world peace by returning voices and simple joys to their rightful owners.

Lisa Greenleaf has been treating dancers across the country and overseas to her high spirited, witty calling for many years. Her rich repertoire, succinct teaching and commitment to community building make her a dance camp favorite.

Annie Fain Liden is a dancer/banjo player from Murphy, N.C., a few miles from the John C. Campbell Folk School. In search of her destined craft she came upon book and paper arts at Penland School of Crafts in 2002. She is a great believer in the blank book as a place to explore personal creativity. She teaches regionally and is sole-proprietor of A. Fain Books, a book arts business specializing in custom designed journals, sketchbooks and wedding books.

Eden MacAdam-Somer, a young and versatile fiddler with strong roots in classical music, has jumped with both feet into the folk music and contra dance scene, touring the country with Larry Unger in the band Notorious, playing in a style that is truly her own.

Madison, Wisconsin caller Carol Ormand is beloved throughout the contra community for her smooth and unflappable style, wickedly fun dances and penchant for keeping all the dancers on the floor smiling. Her delightful dance selections and concise, relaxed teaching style will keep you coming back for more.

Bruce Rosen has been part of Boston's contra and English country dance community since the mid-1970s as a dancer and musician. He plays rock-solid piano and lyrical guitar in the bands Phantom Power, The Fish Family and with a long list of great New England-style fiddlers. He's a rhythm machine at old-time sessions on the banjo uke and is seen most years conducting the NEFFA Festival Orchestra.

Sue Rosen has been dancing all of her life and attended her first callers workshop at Pinewoods in 1989. Since then she's become one of New England's favorite callers and has written contras that have become part of the standard repertoire of dance callers across the country and overseas.

Peter Siegel does it all -- old-time, bluegrass, Celtic and Québécois tunes, swing, political satire and the blues. Playing mandolin, banjo, guitar, foot percussion and singing, Peter is a member of the Beverwyck String Band, Greenfield Dance Band, the new old-time trio Underbelly and a general mainstay of the fiddle tune scene, and now tours as a solo musician. His knowledge, energy, insight and wry sense of humor make him a great teacher.

Emily Troll fiddles for contra dances around the Boston area, and sometimes brings her accordion along. She enjoys playing country music shows with the Vowelettes, and coffee-houses with her house-mates the Well-Beings. Ask her about her Pinewoods crew alumni contra dance band.

Larry Unger, prolific tunesmith and full-time musician for over 20 years, probably logs more road miles each year than any other contra dance musician, playing guitar, banjo, piano and bass with numerous bands. Larry's broad musical interests include old-time, blues and swing AND he's a great teacher too.

A multi-instrumentalist virtuoso and talented singer, George Wilson's repertoire samples a wide variety of traditional and folk styles. As a fiddler, he has nearly 500 tunes for dancing and listening. His dynamic fiddling, strongly influenced by Cape Breton and French Canadian styles, has been popular with contra dancers and concert goers since the 1970s.

American Dance & Music Week at Pinewoods
Tentative Class Schedule:

7:45 - 8:15 Breakfast

9:00 - 10:00

Eye Opening Contras Sue Rosen

Dance Band Peter Siegel

10:15 - 11:15

Cape Breton Step Dancing Ellie Grace

Dance Potpourri Eden MacAdam-Somer and Larry Unger

Harmony Singing Mary Cay Brass

Swing Music for Contra Dance Musicians Lise Brown

11:15 - 12:00 Swimming, Bookstore staffed

12:00 Lunch

1:30 - 2:30

Squares Without Borders Carol Ormand

Piano Mary Cay Brass

Fiddle: Bowing 747 George Wilson

Book Party: Mixed Media Book Making Annie Fain Liden

Callers Course Open Lab Lynn Ackerson

2:45 - 3:45

Afternoon Delights Lisa Greenleaf

Slow Jam Larry Unger

Beginning Appalachian Clogging Ellie and Leela Grace

4:00 - 5:00

Campers' Calling Hour Carol Ormand

Old-Time Jam Greg and Jere Canote

Harmony By Heart: How to Learn and Keep a Part Leela Grace

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

5:15 - 6:00 Salon

6:30 Dinner

8:00 Couple Dances

8:15 - 11:00 Evening Dance Party

11:00 After-dance activities

Class Descriptions: [Back to Top]

Eye Opening Contras -- Sue Rosen / Eden MacAdam-Somer, Lise Brown and Mary Cay Brass
A great selection of dances to get your day rolling while we incorporate Sue's tips on some little things that can make a big difference in our dance experience.

Dance Band -- Peter Siegel
Players will learn about band dynamics, assembling medleys, chord choices, working with callers, playing for the dancers and melodic interpretation. Working in the larger group and small ensembles, we will hash out ideas and come up with ways of creating exciting and enjoyable music. Some musical proficiency would be helpful but all levels are welcome to attend and participate.

Cape Breton Step Dancing -- Ellie Grace / George Wilson
Ellie is thrilled to share her life-long passion for percussive dance in this class featuring her newest love: Cape Breton step dancing. You will learn the exciting rhythms and footwork of this beautiful and energetic dance from Cape Breton Island in Canada.

Dance Potpourri -- Eden MacAdam-Somer and Larry Unger
Variety is the spice of life! Waltz, tango, swing, zweifachers, hambo or English country dance. There's something for everyone.

Harmony Singing -- Mary Cay Brass
Come explore the sounds of harmony from many world traditions: from the Balkans, to South Africa; from the Republic of Georgia to Appalachia. We will wake up our ears and souls and create our own community from the experience of sharing in these new, diverse and exciting sounds!

Swing Music for Contra Dance Musicians -- Lise Brown / Peter Siegel
This theory based class is for intermediate to advanced musicians who would like to learn how to play swing music. Using familiar swing and contra tunes, we will learn how to read and understand chord changes in order to create melodic improvisation. Knowledge of key signatures and scales is necessary. Participants should bring music paper and pencils, and are encouraged to record each class.

Squares Without Borders -- Carol Ormand / Greg and Jere Canote and Larry Unger
Revel in squares from the north, south, east, west, center and abroad, including some with unusual geography: five, six, seven or eight couples, Kentucky running sets and grid squares. Dare to be square!

Piano -- Mary Cay Brass / Emily Troll
A piano workshop for players who know chords and have some experience backing up fiddle tunes. We will look at chord substitutions, creating textures and putting life and lift into your playing. We will also explore different ways to play the back up styles of various genres - Québécois, Celtic and old-time -- bringing out the unique integrity of each.

Fiddle: Bowing 747 -- George Wilson
All fiddlers are welcome to this class in which George will reveal the secrets of bowing technique. Learn to use your bow to express yourself, play more rhythmically, percussively and danceably. George will get you to play like you mean it while ensuring fun in the process.

Book Party: Mixed Media Book Making -- Annie Fain Liden
Come rest your feet awhile and make a collection of amazingly varied, mixed media book structures that can be used as small gifts, personalized journals, simple photo albums or even songbooks. No previous experience needed.

Callers Course Open Lab -- Lynn Ackerson / Eden MacAdam-Somer and Bruce Rosen
Dancers are welcome to join this period designed to give the Contra Dance Callers Course participants experience calling with live music to real dancers, while receiving feedback in a constructive and supportive setting.

Afternoon Delights -- Lisa Greenleaf / George Wilson, Peter Siegel and Bruce Rosen
All are welcome to come and enjoy this rich sampling of contras and other formations, guaranteed to tickle and satisfy every dancer's palate.

Slow Jam -- Larry Unger
Come and jam with us! All levels and instruments are welcome. We'll play tunes that are easy enough to pick up by ear at a speed that everyone can enjoy. This is also a good opportunity for more experienced musicians to practice the instruments that you don't usually play on.

Beginning Appalachian Clogging -- Ellie and Leela Grace
Now is your chance to get "feet-on" experience in Appalachian clogging. Starting from "step one", everyone will learn fun, exciting steps to take to any dance floor. Discover the joy of making music with your feet in a high-energy, supportive environment!

Campers' Calling Hour -- Carol Ormand / Emily Troll, Lise Brown and Bruce Rosen
Campers take over the calling during this session with our fabulous staff musicians. Whether you are an expert, a neophyte or somewhere in between, come share your talents, your new dance compositions and your favorite dances. Dancers, come groove to the great music and to the wealth of camper talent.

Old-Time Jam -- Greg and Jere Canote
Come learn some new tunes and wail away on old favorites, while working on some stylistic points of old-time and string band music

Harmony By Heart: How to Learn and Keep a Part -- Leela Grace
With a patient, light-hearted approach, Leela will help you discover the power of voices raised in harmony. Through large and small group singing, we will practice the fundamentals of two-, three- and four-part harmony using by-ear techniques. All abilities and experience levels are welcome. Come explore the possibilities!

Salon -- Jere and Greg Canote (5:15 - 6:00)
Salon (noun): a fashionable assemblage of notables (literary figures, artists or statesmen) held by custom at the home of a prominent person. Gather in the salon, aka Camphouse, with our MCs, Greg and Jere, for entertainment and laughs, singing and staff concerts.