Program: Class Descriptions 2024

For a schedule of these classes, click here. 

ECD Sampler

For dancers of ALL abilities
Bridget Whitehead 

Enjoy a wide range of English country dances, including favorites old and new. We’ll build up our repertoire of ECD figures as we go, whether that’s learning new figures for the first time or refining them for more dancing pleasure.

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ECD: Kind and Easey

For dancers of ALL abilities
Bridget Whitehead   

How do we take care of ourselves and one another on the dance floor? Come explore physical and social aspects of being kind and at ease, such as hand connections, accommodations (e.g., for injuries), recovery skills, and providing helpful help. Bring a sense of play as we look for ways to dance with generosity and mental flexibility. 

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ECD (Advanced): To Boldly Go 

For SKILLED and ACCOMPLISHED dancers
Melissa Running   

Put your thinking caps on, get your geometric brains in gear. Be ready to move with exuberance and precision, to dance with the whole room, to experiment boldly, to laugh in your failures, to shine in your recoveries. We will dance familiar dances with minimal teaching, and chew on some crunchy choreographies.

You should know standard ECD figures without teaching (including heys for 3 and 4 in various configurations, double figure eights, set and link) and be eager to grasp new concepts.

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ECD: Music for Dancers 

For dancers of ALL abilities
Melissa Running   

Time signatures, keys, upbeats and downbeats, measures and phrases and musical forms--what do these things mean, and moreover, what do they mean to us as dancers? Music is an integral part of the dance and is often what moves us to dance in the first place. We'll take a look at where it's been, where it's got to, and some of what makes it tick. Come ready to dance--though there may be some talk-y bits at times, the chief aim is for you to feel how these things affect your body and spirits while dancing.

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ECD: The Joy of Sets

For dancers of ALL abilities
David Millstone 

In the first edition of Playford, the majority of the dances were set dances for two, three, or four couples. With the rise of “longways for as many as will,” set dances disappeared from the ECD repertoire. Recent decades have seen a revival of those forms. Easier sets function as a small group workshop in which to develop dance skills and teamwork. Sets also present opportunities for more experienced dancers to explore choreographic variety, and to develop the ability to remember unfamiliar patterns. During the week we'll explore set dances old and new, simple to more complex. 

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Square Dance Potluck 

For dancers of ALL abilities
David Millstone   

“Square dance” means different things in different parts of the country and at different times; in our weeklong feast, we'll sample them all. Our menu includes 19th century quadrilles, New England prompted squares, Quebecois swing-fests, southern Appalachian big sets, fast-tempo Ozark jigging, Southwestern patter, singing squares, double quadrilles and odd formations, and a taste of early modern square dances from the 1950s. From elegant to rip-snortin', there's something for all appetites.

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Callers and Choreographers Open Mic

For callers, choreographers, and dancers of ALL abilities
Facilitated by Renée Camus   

Are you a budding caller who would like to practice your prompting skills? Are you a choreographer in need of bodies for testing a new dance? Do you enjoy being one of the first dancers to try a new dance or discover a nascent talent? Then join us for our Open Mic/Choreography Testing session! The first few days are open to any caller who wants to practice prompting tried and true dances in front of a kind, forgiving audience—and an opportunity to work with some of our excellent staff musicians. The last few days are for choreographers to try out their new ECD creations on dancers to see how they feel with live music. There may also be opportunities to receive feedback, if desired. And of course, callers and choreographers can’t practice without willing dancers, so please join us! Anyone may join, and drop-ins are welcome.  

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Country Dance History: A Complex Braid

Open to ALL
David Millstone   

Contras, squares, and English country dance form a complex braid. In this series of talks, we'll explore everything from 17th century court dances to foot-stompin' hoedowns, from Regency ballrooms to New England town halls to remote Texas ranch houses... and much more! (For example, how did an early international folk dance leader result in 40,000 people attending the National Square Dance Convention half a century later?) You'll come away with a solid picture of how these dance forms evolved, as well as meeting the key individuals in various 20th century revivals. Daily presentations will include videos, audio clips, photographs, and plenty of time for questions and discussion.

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Social Singing: Tools and Songs

Open to ALL

Betsy Branch

Come sing and learn in a fun, interactive workshop on social singing. Explore a variety of skills including ear-learning and harmony singing. Learn songs for pub sings and other social singing settings, and how to lead them. You will be able to try out your new and refined skills at pub night! 

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Listening While Playing

For musicians of ALL levels

Jonathan Werk

Many of us follow sheet music with our eyes while playing for English Country Dance; it’s important that we also listen and hear with our ears. Come learn some tunes by ear, and discuss strategies and experiment with exercises to become less dependent on the page even when it is right in front of you, allowing you to be more responsive to your fellow musicians and environment. 

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Tunes: Around the World in Five Tunes

For musicians of ALL levels
McKinley James

Take a quick dive into several different styles of music and come away with a tantalizing taste of the many rich cultures of traditional music. Over the week we will play five tunes from various Celtic and Western European musical styles, ranging from Swedish polskas and Breton andros to Quebecois brandys. Each day we will choose one style and listen to prominent musicians, discuss the ornaments, and learn a tune or two!

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Camper Band

For musicians of ALL levels
Eric Martin with Karen Axelrod

Camper Band Class is a great way to connect with others in making beautiful and inspiring dance music! The main goal for the first part of the week will be to prepare for camper night. We will work on learning the tunes for the dance and will experiment with variations of instrumentation, texture, and mood. For the two sessions after camper night, Karen Axelrod will join us to lend her vast experience and wit while guiding us through various ensemble games and exercises aimed at enhancing creativity and responsiveness. Even if you cannot play at dance tempo, we will help you find something fun and interesting to contribute.

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Music Grab Bag

For musicians of ALL levels
staff and camper led

Experience a wide variety of one-day music workshops led by staff and campers, including tune writing with Rachel Bell, non-traditional accompaniment for traditional tunes with Jeff Spero, and slow jam with Dave Langford.

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Comedy Improv

Open to ALL
Karen Axelrod 

Do you want to add a bit of fun and humor into your day? Come play a bunch of theatre games similar to “Whose Line is it Anyway,” as Karen guides you through a variety of simple structures and games and we aim to quiet our internal self-critical voice. The goal is not to create a comedy improv performing troupe - it’s just to have fun. No experience necessary. And you don't even have to be funny.

Care of Body and Mind

Open to ALL
Bridget Whitehead

Enjoy a daily refresher to keep you dancing all week long. Yoga, stretching and other gentle techniques to loosen tight muscles, decrease soreness, and cultivate peace of mind. No yoga background is required and multiple options will be given to accommodate different bodies. [Some yoga mats will be available, though you are welcome to bring your own.]

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Daily Gathering

Open to ALL

facilitated by Betsy Branch

Our daily camp gathering is a chance to entertain your fellow campers. Read a poem, tell a joke, perform a skit, sing a song…share your talents – sublime, ridiculous or somewhere in between.

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