Program: Class Descriptions

For details on the schedule, click here.

Click on the links below for details of the 2020 classes.

 

Six Johns

For dancers of ALL abilities

150 years of the English Country Dance through the collections of six of its publishers - all called John. Appreciate the range and longevity of this dance form by sampling the output from six different time periods.

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ECD (Advanced): A Concentration of Kynaston

For SKILLED and ACCOMPLISHED dancers

A Concentration of Kynaston Dances by Nathaniel Kynaston from the high point in the development of the English Country Dance; concentration by you, the dancers. Not for the love-sick or faint-hearted. 

This session is intended to be challenging for intermediate and accomplished dancers. You'll need to have a strong sense of personal orientation and the ability to learn quickly without needing dances called after the first few times through, as well as the skills to recover well. You should also be familiar and comfortable with heys for three and four in various orientations, triple minor progression, double figure eights, and fast circular heys. These figures are our starting point and will not be taught.

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ECD: Collectors, Grand Dames, and Choreographers--The Women of English Country Dance

For dancers of ALL abilities

Dance your way through the 20th century! Since the beginning of the folk revival, women have been instrumental in resurrecting and sustaining traditional music and dance. We will start by exploring some favorite dances collected by British women at the turn of the century. As English dance became popular in America, women on both sides of the Atlantic helped push the folk dance tradition in new directions and rose to prominence as teachers. Since the 1960s, women choreographers have gifted us new classics, genre-blending dances, and an ever-increasing variety of new compositions.

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ECD: Dig In

For dancers of ALL abilities

There are loads of gorgeous dances that take just a little too much teaching time to put on a regular weekly dance program. This session is all about those dances. We'll take the time not only to learn them, but to enjoy dancing them well. You'll need to be completely familiar with heys for 3 and 4 and dolphin heys, double figure 8s, and be comfortable with triple-minor progression. It helps if you can keep your head when those about you are losing theirs.

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ECD: Strengthening Your Core

For dancers of ALL abilities

There's always a way to improve our own skills and to become better partners. In this session you can learn how to make better use of the space on the floor, improve your phrasing and deepen your appreciation of the way the dance patterns and the music intertwine.

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Longsword

For dancers of ALL abilities

Join in the lively, traditional longsword dance from the fishing village of Flamborough. The dance uses wooden swords (held in the left hand!), is danced with a step-hop, and has the coolest hey in sword dancing. Wear sneakers or other shoes with a good grip. Traditional blue fisherman's ganseys (sweaters) are optional!

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Rapper Sword

For dancers of ALL abilities

Rapper sword dancing is an exciting, fast-paced sword dance from northern England. We will learn the percussive stepping, traditional and newly created figures, and how to move and work together as a team, getting ready to put together a dance with your new skills. The class will be tailored to the skills of the campers attending. Bring hard-soled shoes if you have them and get ready for some excitement!

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Stretching

Open to ALL

Take care of your muscles and joints so that you can keep dancing all week long. In this daily class, Megan will lead a variety of gentle stretches and yoga-inspired grounding exercises, with accommodations and care for dance injuries. Special attention to knees, ankles, hips, and shoulders. [Yoga mats will be available, though you are welcome to bring your own.]

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Songs for the Session

For singers of ALL abilities

Come learn, and share, songs that are great for group singing.

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Chorus Songs

For singers of ALL abilities

Songs with choruses from a variety of traditions-sea songs, works songs, pub songs--fun for all.

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Camper Band

For musicians of ALL levels

Erik will coordinate camper musicians so that everyone who wants to will be able to play in ensembles for the camper night dancing. We’ll work together and in smaller groups to provide fun and creative music for the night of camper-led dancing.

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Candles in Honeysuckle Cottage

For musicians of ALL levels

Staff musician and prolific composer Jonathan Jensen will lead a repertoire class of his ECD tunes, waltzes, swing tunes, tangos, rags and more. All instruments are welcome. You will be emailed a list of tunes to be played, and PDFs of those not in Barnes.

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Photos by Brooke Friendly