We've put together a top-notch group of callers, instructors, and musicians that will keep you moving throughout the weekend.
Your musicians...
Known for her flowing
contras and fast-moving, exciting squares, Kathy Anderson is a strong advocate
of well taught, clearly called squares and contras. She has brought her
enthusiastic style to dancers across the US, Canada, and Europe, and has long
been a favorite caller at dances and dance camps on the West Coast. Her smooth
vocal delivery and repertoire of quirky contras and high-energy squares make for
a fun, challenging dance experience.
Kathy has been calling and writing dances since 1982. She was introduced to squares and contras as a player of old-time banjo and piano music, and soon progressed from dancing to calling. Dances Kathy has written include Carmen's Hat, The Deep Well, The Long Road, Southern Nights, Swing Into Matrimony, and Weave the Line.
BECKY HILL calls frequently at workshops and dance camps, and is an experienced caller of intergenerational dances and programs for special needs populations. Author of Twirling Dervish, a book of contra dances, she has performed with Cleveland Ballet in Ohio and California as the caller for George Balachine's Square Dance. Becky's third book The Rosen Hill Collection is out.
Colin calls at many Folk Festivals and Folk Dance Clubs, and for nine years helped run the “Beginners” sessions at Cecil Sharp House in London every Thursday. He has called at Folk Dance courses in Holland, Germany and Denmark, and for Dance Weeks in the U.S.A. at Pinewoods in Massachussetts, Mendocino in California, Brasstown in North Carolina and Buffalo Gap in West Virginia, plus a week of Dancing down the Nile in Egypt. For many years he contributed a regular column to the EFDSS magazine “English Dance & Song”, containing his thoughts on many aspects of the Folk Dance world plus dances by himself or others.
Colin is too outspoken to be everyone's favourite caller, but will appeal to dancers who appreciate an entertaining and varied session including some fairly complicated dances without the reverential attitude to Playford, Tradition or EFDSS that some people adopt.
Musicians
The Yet to be Named Band!
Steve Hickman
Laurie Andres
Laurie Andres, from Seattle, WA, has delighted audiences all over the
U.S., Canada and Europe with his extraordinary, versatile and distinctive playing on piano accordion and piano. A master of musical
whimsy, Laurie plays with wit, color, emotion and compelling
danceability. He plays for contra, square, English country, Morris and clog dancing, performs with several ensembles, including The
Rhythm Rollers, and the Kosher Red Hots. He calls an English country dance series in Seattle and has been on staff at Buffalo Gap,
Pinewoods and many other music and dance festivals since 1980.
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John
Devine is a traditional musician whose extraordinary talents
have been appreciated by lovers of traditional music and dance in the
Washington, DC area and elsewhere for over thirty years. John has played
for dancers, festivals, concerts, school programs, and workshops. He often
performs with Steve Hickman and they now have a
long awaited CD! He plays with numerous other folks, including
Fiddlestyx and Blue Bamboo. John's joy for music is most noted in his
exceptional singing and talented guitar playing. He brings strong
musicianship, a lively stage presence and authenticity to his music,
along with humor and sincerity.
Charlie Hancock
Charlie
Hancock (Berkeley, CA) plays piano and accordion for contra, English, and
Scottish country dancing. He has played for BACDS dances, camps, and balls
for 14 years, with occasional gigs further a field, including Pinewoods, Juneau,
and the Portland (OR) English ball. He is also a member of Bay Area folk
ensemble Euphonia, and has recorded with Sylvia Herold, Holly Tannen, and Cathie
Whitesides.
Kathrine Gardner
The Hillbillies From Mars have been rocking the contra dance scene in the San Francisco Bay Area since 1983. They combine their love and dedication to Celtic and American traditional fiddle music with a healthy dose of their own "folk roots" of rock 'n' roll, swing, Latin and African beats, forging a new tradition of dance music.
Kevin
Carr: fiddle, bagpipes, accordion, banjo, vocals, storytelling
Kevin's powerful fiddling forms the backbone of the Hillbillies' French Canadian
and Irish repertoire. In addition, he adds musical texture through his
virtuosity on the Irish bagpipes and diatonic accordion. Kevin is also an
accomplished storyteller, and delights audiences young and old with tales from
Celtic and Appalachian sources. (Oregon)
Ray
Bierl: fiddle, guitar, vocals
Ray's background in Appalachian and Cape Breton fiddle styles adds another
dimension to the group's repertoire. His driving fiddle backup technique shifts
squares and contra dances into high gear. Ray is well known on the west coast as
a folk singer, and his country and cowboy songs are often featured in the
Hillbillies' performances. (California)
Paul
Kotapish: mandolin, guitar, percussion
Paul's versatility on the mandolin and guitar have made him a long-time favorite
in the traditional music scene. His rock solid rhythms and harmonic textures
form an integral part of the Hillbillies' sound. Paul has recorded and toured
internationally with several bands, including Kevin Burke's Open House. (California)
Daniel
Steinberg: keyboards, flute, percussion
Daniel's polyrhythmic piano/synthesizer backup and dynamic flute playing fill
out the band's sound. The Hillbillies perform many of his original dance tunes
and feature his innovative arrangements of traditional material. Daniel's
workshops in French Country Dance and Instant Choir have received rave reviews
at dance festivals around the country. (California)
Carlo Calabi has been playing guitar and singing old time country, folk, cajun, bluegrass, cowboy, and English drinking songs and sea chanties since he was a coyote pup in 1963. He works part-time as a vineyard and winery mechanic, is still trying to finish his castle, and is a member of The Cajun Coyotes. Carlo's song-leading has been delighting Spring Weekend attendees for over ten years.
Last Updated: Tue Nov 21, 2006
