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Workshops - 2010
English Country Dancing
ECD is boisterous, elegant, silly, intricate, lyrical and bouncy, sometimes simultaneously. This set of three workshops, taught by Melissa Running, is intended to be particularly contra-friendly, emphasizing both the similarities and differences between contra and ECD. Each session will feature a different set of musicians - Alexander Mitchell (fiddle) with Ralph Gordon (on cello); The Contraptions, and Night Watch. This year, we have added an early evening dance on Saturday - it begins at 7:30 and ends at 9 - with music by Night Watch. You can dance ECD for 90 minutes and then head to the Gym for contras and squares.
Boisterous: http://youtube.com/watch?v=kwiZhHGa2tA
Elegant: http://youtube.com/watch?v=JUC4hmCyxZ0
Intricate: http://youtube.com/watch?v=eiXgPRPCF-c
Flirtacious: http://youtube.com/watch?v=U4TPSI-5ZpE
Valses Impaires
Ted Hodapp and Lynn Baumeister will teach what the French refer to as valses impaires or valses assymétriques. There is a 5-count waltz, an 8-count waltz (which is a 3-count plus a 5-count) and an 11-count waltz (which is a 3-count plus a 3-count plus a 5-count). To the untrained eye they look like any other waltz except the tempo is generally faster than we are used to. They are danced smoothly with an even turn, and are particularly good for working on smoothly turning with your partner. Definitely a mind-bender, because the feet are different. Recorded music.
5-count: http://youtube.com/watch?v=0oRJjkfDdkI
8-count: http://youtube.com/watch?v=6HxuBzOSCpQ
Hambo Workshop
If you have always had to "sit out" this dance, frequently played at the top of the second half, here's a workshop to get you started. Ted Hodapp and Lynn Baumeister will review the basics for beginners, and offer style pointers for more experienced dancers. Melissa Running will provide music on the nyckelharpa, a complex traditional Swedish instrument with 16 strings and 35 (or so) wooden keys. See http://youtube.com/watch?v=YldPnY4JxVM to hear a sample. This dance is much easier to learn with an experienced partner, so if you're a "hambo dance buddy," you'll be especially welcome. Recorded music. All levels.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=IVV1XOBeKu8
The real thing, danced on a lawn, very slowly:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=jo7A-AmW9-M
Intermediate/ Advanced Waltz
"Gents, get her on your left hip." All-in wrestling? No, it's a waltz lead into parallels. Gaye Fifer and Wayne Albright teach waltz at all levels at dance camps and weekends all over the country. In addition to two waltz workshops (nominally intermediate and advanced level, but subject to dancer input), they will twirl-start your mornings with early morning waltz to recorded music. Take a look at their helpful website:
http://wa64.com/Waltz.html
Dutch Crossing
Gaye Fifer will weave you through the complex interlocking patterns of this dance, which generates a transcendent sense of accomplishment and community. Music by The Love Mongrels. We'll have a sign-up sheet in the Dining Hall, as this dance requires sets of 16 dancers. For a particularly clear video, featuring dancers in color-coded shirts:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=xt_Twu6lyQM
Some People Call it Maurice
Morris dancing is a stick-clashing, bell-ringing, kerchief-waving dance form that requires energy and a sense of humor. The Contraptions will teach you Morris survival skills. (Why do Morris dancers wear bells? So that innocent bystanders can make a timely getaway.)
Gog MaGog Molly: http://youtube.com/watch?v=DbW-ATQpImI
Traditional: http://youtube.com/watch?v=cbifCM8n-Sc
Cajun
Su Peck teaches the traveling two-step and more. Recorded music. All levels.
Cajun jitterbug: http://youtube.com/watch?v=qm6WATAU-os
Cajun waltz: http://youtube.com/watch?v=s1gwx4cUjPY
Kerry Sets
Owen Morrison teaching, with music by Elvie Miller and Naomi Morse. These fast and bouncy dances were originally intended to be danced in small spaces (even kitchens), and are usually done in tight, 4-couple sets. There are lots of samples on YouTube, including:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=lWIIjm3uV5c
Write a Dance
What does it take to make a great dance? Why do some dances feel right and flow smoothly? This workshop will be led by master dance choreographer Bob Isaacs. Bring a move you've invented, or danced, that you think would be a good starting point, and by the end of the workshop, you'll be a co-author of a dance that Bob will call that evening.
International Dance
Jamie Platt, aka The Sound Guy, organizes an International dance camp at Timber Ridge, and leads a weekly International Dance at Glen Echo. He'll teach some line and circle dances. Recorded music. Here's a Macedonian circle dance:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=zcjmmHXLOns
Solo dance: http://youtube.com/watch?v=Rw-hAHcFmsQ
Joke Show
Ted Hodapp will lead the audience participation Joke Show at the break on Saturday night. If you've got a prize-winner of a joke (a one- or two-liner, please), write it up and see who applauds. This year's theme - it's open season, so submit anything you like - political jokes, oil spill jokes, walked-into-a-bar jokes, light bulb jokes, musician jokes.
A Rabbi and a Penguin Walk Into A Dance Weekend...
Orrin Star hosts a good old-fashioned joke-telling session. Bring one to share - or just sit back and enjoy.
Where there's a Will, there's litigation
Organizer April Blum is an estate planning paralegal. She'll outline what the basic protective documents are, when they become effective, and the legal structures that you might need to protect your children, yourselves, or your parents.
Sing-Sing
Saturday morning, Steve Bilanow leads rounds and more. Sunday it's Shape Note Singing, with Cat Baker and friends. Bring your Rise Up Singing and/or Shape Note songbook. The organizers will have a copy machine if you need more copies than you planned for.
FootSore
Camp doctor Susan Schmitt will explain how to care for the 26 bones, 33 joints, 107 ligaments, and 19 muscles and tendons in your feet. This very popular annual workshop will be held in the Infirmary (red building) this year.
Stretch
Morning stretches and Pilates to get you ready for the day, led by Jillian Carnrick. Meet at the grassy area in front of the Dining Hall (weather permitting). The bad weather location is on the Playhouse porch.
Juggling
SBill Amos will teach you the basic pattern, using floaty scarves with some "hang time." Meet in the Dining Hall porch area.
Pit-zicatto
Timber Ridge Camp has a very fine fossil pit. University of Maryland Senior Lecturer John Merck will provide a guided tour of the Camps fossil pit. You dig it, you keep it.