The Bay Area Country Dance Society Website

Program and Schedule:

Our program embraces a new vision that is designed to appeal to new dancers, old hands, and everyone in-between. The staff will enlighten you to the Zen of dancing in workshops that are really playshops, designed to challenge you to think about dance in new ways. Celebrate those magic moments in a dance where you go “ahhhh!” Learn the secrets of how to make your dancing more enjoyable for yourself and those around you. Explore fiendishly challenging yet ultimately satisfying dances.

Musicians and callers will have the opportunity to share ideas with our talented staff on building energy and enthusiasm through presentation. We equally focus on both contra and English dance as well as other dance styles.  This abundance of options allows campers to indulge in a number of dance styles.

Here's the preliminary schedule (more details to come and all items subject to change):

HELGESSON HALL SESSIONS

• Saturday 9:00-10:15am, Contra Espresso
  Fun and flirtatious dances to launch the day with energy and enthusiam.  Kathy Anderson, Marni, Dave L., Dave B., Russell
   
• Saturday 10:30-11:45am, Perfect Harmony (English)
  A session for everyone, exploring the marelous pairing of English dances with their tunes.  If you've never tried English dancing or are a bit dubious about it, make an extra special effort to attend this session.  One or two of the dance taught this morning may appear on the evening dance program.  Scott Higgs, Peter, Ryan
   
• Saturday 1:15-2:30pm, English Country Dance Explorations
  An experimental exploration of English dance through games, experiments, and plenty of lively dancing. Come ready to stretch your stretch your limits and try something new.  Scott Higgs, Marni, Michelle, Erik
   
• Saturday 2:45-4:00pm Contras with Connection
  Find the way to maximize the dance experience with strong connections.  Kathy Anderson, Dave B., Ryan, Russell
   
• Saturday 4:15-5:30pm, Waltz-Contra-Waltz-Contra
  Can you guess what we're doing during THIS session?  Scott Higgs, Dave B., Ryan, Bill
   
• Sunday 9:00-10:15am, Contras and Squares
  Saving the best for last.  Kathy Anderson, Latterday Lizards, Russell
   

DINING HALL SESSIONS

• Saturday 9:00-10:15am, Dining Hall, Shanties and Sea Songs
  If you're not up for dancing at 9am, join Doug Olsen for songs of the sea
   
• Saturday 10:30-11:45am, SWING OUT!
  Learn the basics of 6-count, East Coast Swing, then how to add some fun 8-count Lindy moves, so you can mix and match.  All levels are welcome.  After you take this workshop, you'll never have an excuse to site out a swing dance again!  Come get in the groove.  Yael Schy, Dave L., Bill
   
• Saturday 1:15-2:30pm, Squares
  Not your grandmother's squares - new moves and old, taking squares to a new dimension.  Kathy Anderson, Dave L., Peter
   
• Saturday 2:45-4:00pm, (Almost) No-Walk-Through English
  This session will offer some "dessert" for experienced English dancers.  Each dance will be briefly talked through, as though at a ball, then minimally prompted.  There will be few if any walkthroughts.  A dance program will be posted and may include Barbarini's Tambourine, St. Margaret's Hill, Fenterlarick, Newcastle, Mad Robin, and perhaps even Mary K.  If you're not familiar with every dance on the program, you're invited to drop in for those that are more familiar.  Sam Weiler, Peter, Marni, Bill
   
• Saturday 4:15-5:30pm, Rhythm and Movement
  Clapping, counting, stepping, and slapping are ways to express rhythms.  Whether rhythms are simple and happy or complex and challenging, you will be fully engaged.  This workshop blurs the line between music and dance.  No musical instruments are involved.  Just bring your body.  Russel S.
   
• Sunday 9:00-10:15am, Playful Country Dances
  Description forthcoming.  Scott Higgs, Contra Sutra