Hey Days Staff
Bruce Hamilton (CA) is a thoughtful and energetic teacher of English and Scottish country dancing. He started dancing in college, and took up teaching in the early ‘70s. He founded the San Jose English dance and has taught English country dancing for over 30 years, all over the US and abroad. Lately he’s been focusing on non-choreographic elements of ECD: moving well, musicality in dancing, how to recover from mistakes, how to be a good partner, body mechanics, and the social and mental aspects. He doesn’t teach many new or complex dances (claims he can’t remember them!) but instead focuses on skills that apply across all dances. He carries this focus into his sought after callers workshops, which he’s done for the last couple of decades. Training ECD teachers is relatively unexplored territory and it’s very exciting. Learning to teach takes years, but even in a weekend or week-long mini-course he’s been able to point students in useful directions, and some have made great strides.
Bruce will teach two ECD classes and a Callers Workshop.
Jenny Beer (PA) calls Philadelphia her home dance community. She leads English country dances and, less often, traditional community dances and Scottish country dances. Occasionally you’ll see her playing dance piano, and she crafts a new dance now and again. A member of CDSS since 1982, Jenny started “country dancing” the second day of freshman week in Indiana and happily joined groups wherever life has taken her since: northern Japan, Vermont, Delaware, Berkeley, CA, Osaka, Japan. In earlier incarnations she was an avid contra dancer, and the first dance she ever wrote was “spinning Jenny,” which had three swings. More recently, she had a great time leading Swarthmore College’s folkdance class for 13 years. Jenny is vice-president of the Country Dance and Song Society.
Jenny will teach two ECD classes and lead the Open Mic for callers.
David Macemon (OR) is one of those rare individuals whose dance passions include both English Country Dance and English Sword and Morris. He started dancing in high school, and has been dancing and teaching ever since. David is known for his patient and clear teaching style. He communicates the joy of dancing through his teaching and enthusiasm for the dance. He has been on staff for many dance weeks and weekends around the country teaching ECD and Sword/Morris. David is Foreman of Iron Mountain Sword, and is one of the resident callers for the weekly English dance in Portland, Oregon.
David will teach longsword, rapper sword, and an ECD introduction class.
Alisa Dodson (CA) has been part of mumming groups on and off since 1987, first in California, later in Michigan and Vermont. She has led mumming workshops at Buffalo Gap and Mendocino, and is a longtime ECD dancer, teacher and sometime choreographer.
Alisa will teach the mummers play class.
Anita Anderson (WA), our 2015 program director, is an extraordinary English country and contra dance pianist, playing with Roguery, Tricky Brits, Bag o' Tricks, and other Northwest bands. She is also a superb dancer, and this informs her playing, to the dancers' delight. She brings a large bag of tricks to her piano playing, with influences from doo-wop, baroque, ethnic, and vintage dance music--all in attentive service to the dancers. Anita is passionate about matching her playing to the moods and movements of dancers. Over the years, she has presented musicians' workshops at several camps, including BACDS English Week at Mendocino and Lark in the Morning. She also teaches private dance piano lessons. Anita is an excellent singer, Scandinavian musician and dancer, and composer of contra and English country dance tunes.
Anita will play for ECD.
Karen Axelrod (MA) left the world of classical music over 25 years ago, and has found her home in the folk world. She is highly regarded for her creative piano playing at English, American and Scottish dance events around the country (including Pinewoods Dance Camps, Ogontz, Buffalo Gap, Berea Christmas Country Dance Week, The John C. Campbell Folk School, and BACDS events) and abroad. Her improvisational playing is lyrical, yet touched with humor and whimsy. Karen is in the band Foxfire, with Daron Douglas and plays accordion with 3rd String Trio, a band that plays old world cafe music. She also plays accordion for the renowned longsword team, Orion. In addition to her life as a musician, Karen is a dog walker. She is trying to complete a marathon in every state and not come in last. Karen used to perform comedy improv with The Villa Jidiots, and loves to teach improv to adults, children, and her canine clients.
Karen will play for ECD and co-teach a music ensemble workshop.
Daron Douglas (LA) is a captivating fiddler for American and English dance traditions with a background of a traditional Appalachian upbringing. She brings years of living in the mountains, playing Renaissance music, leading contra and English country dance bands, some music school, the spell of New Orleans, and much old-time music making. Daron plays with the dance bands Foxfire and Goldcrest. She also brings a rich repertoire of songs from her great-grandmother, who was one of Cecil Sharp's informants in the southern mountains. Daron weaves on her grandmother's loom, fiddles on a violin her father made, and gardens in zone 9...hibiscus, beauty berry, and arugula. Daron has been on staff at many dance camps nationally, including CDSS camps, at Ashokan, and at the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, NC.
Daron will play for ECD and co-teach a music ensemble workshop.
Paul Hutchinson (UK) began his career as an organist and choirmaster. An accordionist, for ten years he led the notorious dance band The Old Pull & Push, leaving to form folk/rock giants IQ40. Paul rejoined the folk world in 1995 as a member of Fieldwork Productions, enjoying international success with Mick Ryan's opera, 'A Day's Work'. In 1997 he teamed up with John Hymas and Tony Harris as Hoover the Dog, and accepted an invitation to join the highly acclaimed Country Rock band Ida Red. As well as leading workshops, Paul also freelances with various bands, features on a number of international releases by North Star Records and when time allows, presents the folk programme on Radio Maldwyn. He currently tours with the duo Belshazzar's Feast. Check out Paul's website.
Paul will play for ECD and teach a music workshop.
Wayne Hankin (VT) is a leading artist of period woodwinds--instruments dating before 1750. Over a 25 year career, he has performed over 4000 concerts, played every major city in the US, Canada, and many venues worldwide. Although his discipline focuses on early music, Wayne has also played with several notable jazz figures, done music direction for theatre, worked in film and television, and toured with Cirque du Soleil. He has composed more than 300 works for period instruments. Wayne is a favorite playing music for English country dance at several national camps, including BACDS weeks, Lark Camp, Pinewoods, Chatauqua, Interlochen, and Berea. Check out Wayne's website.
Wayne will play for ECD and teach a music improvisation workshop.
Betsy Branch (OR) has been a mainstay of the Portland, Oregon dance community for many years. Her exuberant dance fiddling has delighted dancers on both coasts and her warmth and engaging smile extend beyond the stage and draw in dancers and listeners alike. Betsy is an accomplished harmony singer and song leader and has taught singing and harmony workshops around the country. Most recently, she was on staff at CDSS Harmony of Song and Dance at Pinewoods. She is the Associate Music Director of Portland’s Revels theater company, and their house fiddler. Betsy plays for English and Irish dancing, and in several contra dance bands, including Wild Hair and The Quarks, and is a leader in the Portland Megaband. Her primary passion is teaching and mentoring fiddlers and dance musicians. Betsy teaches privately out of her home in SE Portland, and for workshops around the region. When not playing or teaching, she works as a music editor, arranger, and transcriber.
Betsy will lead singing, teach the band workshop, and play for ECD.
Kimberly McKittrick (WA) had been an avid contra, English country and Morris dancer and contra caller for several years when friends persuaded her to dust off her violin to play for dancers. Her greatest love as a fiddler is playing for display dance; her mix of percussive and melodic playing supports the dancers, whether close to the ground or high in the air. Kimberly has fiddled for several Morris and Sword sides: Shambles in Houston, Mayfield in the Bay Area, and Sound & Fury in Seattle, as well as for display dancers in Revels companies in Houston and Tacoma.
Kimberly will play for longsword, rapper sword, and ECD.
Charlie Hancock (CA), pianist and accordionist, is equally adept playing for English country, Scottish country, contras, and display dancing. Performed with brilliance, drive and clarity, his music is infused with jazz, swing, and Irish influences. He has played for BACDS dances, camps, and balls for more than 20 years, with occasional gigs further afield, including Pinewoods and the Portland (OR) English ball. He is a member of several dance bands: Raggedy Annes, Swing Farm, and the Guppies. He also plays with the Bay Area folk ensemble Euphonia, and has recorded with Sylvia Herold, Holly Tannen, and Cathie Whitesides.
Charlie will play for ECD and lead the Open Mic for musicians.
Alan Roberts (WA) will return after doing a great job as sound engineer in 2014. A regular sound engineer at dance events in the Northwest and at CDSS weeks at Pinewoods, he is also a fiddle player and dancer. Aware of the nuances that make us happy, he is able to provide a great experience for callers, band members, and dancers.