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
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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
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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 |
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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 |
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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. |
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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. |
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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.
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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.
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Juggling
SBill Amos will teach you the basic pattern,
using floaty scarves with some "hang time." Meet in the Dining Hall porch area.
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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.
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