Singing Squares Callers Course
Tentative Schedule
| 7:45-8:30 | Breakfast |
| 9:00-10:00 |
Childrens' Morning Classes 9:00Age 2-3 Sing & Play: DeLaura Padovan -- We will do just that and more! Age 4-5 Play! Sing! Dance! Tell stories!: Liessa Bowen -- We will learn songs that are not only fun to listen to, but also fun to learn and perform. These include nursery rhymes and even foreign songs. The movement will be basic, yet still lay the foundation for contra dancing. Age 6-7 Movement, Singing and Stories: Abby Ladin -- Movement, singing, and telling stories with our bodies Age 8-9 Nature Stories and Craft: Leslie Jeane Millbourne Devine -- Each day a different story will be told by Leslie Jeanne revolving around the natural world. The group will also be engaged in a natural craft. Age 10-12 Put the glide in your stride: dancing with style: Bill Wellington -- Designed for beginner and experienced dancers, this class will teach the finer points of contra dance in a way that will make dancing more fun for those who take the class and everyone who gets to dance with them! This class provides fundamental instruction that never gets taught at a regular dance. Figures are broken down so that students see that how they dance is a huge part of making squares and contras so much fun. In addition to working on squares and contras, students will also learn the waltz. |
Morning contras (13 & up): Nils FredlandMusic by: John Devine, Steve Hickman Wake up gently with smooth, fun dances and wonderful music that will make you glad to start your day! |
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Experienced English (13 & up): Joseph PimentelMusic by: Dave Wiesler, Barbara Greenberg, Daniel Beerbohm This is geared towards those familiar with the repertoire and figures and who learn patterns well. We will look at some challenging dances that are best taught in a workshop environment, as well as some familiar dances with the intent of finding the special connections (with the music and the other dancers) that make those dances so wonderful. |
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Young Leaders Course (YDL Registrants): Gaye FiferBy pre-registration only |
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| 10:00 | Refreshments |
| 10:15-11:15 |
Childrens' Late Morning Classes 10:15Age 2-3 Sing and Dance : Charlotte Swovola -- We will learn songs that are not only fun to listen to, but also fun to learn and perform. The dances will be basic, yet still contain elements of contra dancing. Time permitting, we will include some body rhythm as well. Age 4-5 Stories, Songs, Dancing: DeLaura Padovan -- The title says it all! Age 6-7 Nature Stories and Games: Leslie Jeane Millbourne Devine -- Leslie Jeanne will tell nature stories from various Native American tribes while the group role plays the story. After story play we will play games and sing songs with nature themes. Age 8-9 Maori and Filipino Dance: Abby Ladin -- Maori stick rhythms and Filipino tinikling dance Age 10-12 Border Morris: Kappy Laning / Bill Wellington -- Border Morris is an energetic English tradition that involves stepping and sticking and dancing together, in pairs and as a team, to lively music. Kappy has taught this tradition at several other dance camps and is particularly excited about working again with this year’s 10-12 year old group with this English tradition. We will take a traditional border morris dance or two and make them uniquely our own, as has become the Timber Ridge tradition for Kappy’s 10-12 year old class. Sneakers recommended. |
Challenging Contras (13 & up): Adina GordonMusic by: Andrew VanNorstrand, Noah VanNorstrand Get your dance buzz going from intricate moves, close timing and unexpected choreography. A few brain-benders, a variety of surprises and a whole lot of fun! |
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English for All (13 & up): Joseph PimentelMusic by: Dave Wiesler, Barbara Greenberg, Daniel Beerbohm Come and enjoy the many pleasures of English country dancing (the beauty, playfulness, variety and great energy). The dances (old and new) will be accessible to all, but interesting to even the most experienced dancers. |
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| 11:30-12:15 | All Camp Gathering with songs, singing, games and stories |
| 12:30-1:30 | Lunch Buffet |
| 1:00-1:30 | Canoeing in the River |
| 1:30-3:45 | Singing Squares Callers Course |
| 4:00-5:00 |
International Dancing (13 & up): Rachel FiferMusic by: Eden MacAdam-Somer Remember last year when you kept thinking jealously that you wished you could do some International Dancing too? Now you can! We will do a mix of Romanian, Bulgarian, Israeli, French, and other dances to the enchanting and fascinating music of the Balkans. Dances can be as simple or as challenging as the class desires. If you have a particular dance you'd like to do, please email me ahead of time at rachel.fifer@gmail.com and we will try to make it happen! |
Family Dance Band (11 and up): Barbara Greenberg, Daniel BeerbohmDaniel and Barbara welcome all who are comfortable playing tunes at relaxed up to peppy dance tempos in the standard keys (C, G, D, & A). We’ll explore ways to improve listening and harmonizing skills. Also we’ll work on ensemble skills and prepare dance medleys to play for the Community Dances during the week. Whether you play from written music or by ear, bring your instrument and join us! |
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Stunts & Games at Poolside (8 & up, under 7 w/parent): Sam BartlettSam will direct a Daily Stuntology free-for-all: absurd games, balancing, tossing, throwing, creative manipulation of everyday objects. Fun, funny, educational, not necessarily in that order. |
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Dance Community Conversations (13 & up): Joseph PimentelJoseph facilitates discussions on topics of interest to dance community leaders of many stripes. Those present will determine topics for discussion, and may include: attending to varying ages and interests in a single dance community, contra and English cross-over, balancing dance time and social time, success stories with challenging situations/people, and embracing the authority vested in us. Joseph provides focus and ensures equal opportunity for all to contribute and learn from each other. |
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Open Calling (13 & up): Adina GordonMusic by: Andrew VanNorstrand, Noah VanNorstrand Take your turn at the mic or come to dance. I am sure we will get many squares from the Singing Squares Callers Course! |
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| 4:45-5:45 | Bookstore staffed |
| Swimming in the Pool | |
| Canoeing in the River | |
| 5:15-5:45 | Sing for your supper |
| 5:45-6:45 | Dinner Buffet |
| 6:45 | Parade from the Grove to the Palyhouse |
| 7:00-7:35 | Community Dance |
| 7:35-8:15 | All Camp Gathering |
| 8:15 | Pied Piper/Bedtime for children 9 & younger |
| 8:30-11:00 | Evening Dance Party |
| 9:30 | Bedtime for 10-12 year olds |
| 11:00 | After-dance Activities |
August 12 - 19, 2012
Held during Adult & Family Week at Timber Ridge
Is there still room?
For up-to-date info about availability and wait lists,
see our main Dance & Music Camps page.
Program Directors
Ralph Sweet
Ralph Sweet has been calling square dances since 1948, and contras since 1952. His specialty these days is singing and patter square dance, as part of his contra dance programs. He has taught workshops in calling squares at Buffalo Gap Camp, at his Powder Mill Barn, and at the Dance Flurry Festival. His new book "On the Beat with Ralph Sweet", co-authored with Nils Fredland, is loaded with fun square dances for every level of dancer experience, with essays on how to get started in calling squares to contra dancers, or to complete beginners.
http://www.sweetheartflute.com/Barn/ralph.html
Nils Fredland
Nils Fredland has been calling dances since 2000. Respected for his expertise as a teacher and caller, and beloved for his sensitive leadership, generosity and friendliness, Nils is one of the busiest callers in the business. He is caller and trombone player with the touring contra dance band, Elixir, and can be heard playing his horn and calling with several other popular bands coast to coast and overseas. Nils is also widely known as an engaging and skillful song leader. His goal is to create a welcome and safe environment for all participants, and to deliver a joyful, community-building experience through learning and singing together.
Program Description
Ralph Sweet and Nils Fredland bring two distinct and valuable perspectives to the unique art of calling singing squares. Ralph, at 82, has honed his skills over the course of a sixty-year career, developing his remarkably smooth delivery, collecting a vast repertoire of dances and passing on his love of singing squares to generations of contra and square dancers. Class participants will learn, and take inspiration, from listening to Ralph teach and call these dances; equal focus will be placed on experiencing Ralph’s calling as a dancer, and listening and analyzing from the caller’s perspective.
Nils is the ideal co-leader for this class; in his early 30s, he fell in love with singing squares upon hearing a recording of Ralph calling some of his standards. Nils immediately began his own process of learning to call singing squares by listening and dancing to Ralph as often as possible. Over the course of the last six years, Nils has developed a thorough understanding of what makes a great singing square dance caller. He will help class participants develop that same understanding, with a focus on putting the essential skills to practical use right away, in a safe and supportive environment.
The daily class period will be broken up into three parts: a whole group exercise, led by Ralph and Nils, with a focus on singing, basic patter square calling skills and how to combine the two; dancing, listening and analyzing, during which class participants will rotate between dancing to Ralph and participating in a “listening lab” with Nils in order to recognize and define the subtle skills that make Ralph a master; and mic time for each participant to try out what they’ve learned, backed by a fantastic musical staff, with supportive feedback from Ralph, Nils and other class participants.
For the rest of the day, participants can choose from among the activities available at the host week.
Materials
All registrants will be expected to purchase a copy of On the Beat with Ralph Sweet (available from CDSS and at the camp bookstore), and be familiar with the basic concepts laid out in the essays in the book. Other helpful (but not required) resources include Ralph’s CD recording of singing squares, Shindig in the Barn, and the companion booklet (available soon) of the same title.
Registration
This course is limited to 10 callers to ensure plenty of opportunity for active participation. Previous experience calling patter and singing squares is helpful, but not necessary. The ability to match pitch is essential. If the class is oversubscribed on March 19, preference will be given to those on last year's wait list, newer callers, and to callers from regions in which squares are under-represented. Recommendations may be required for acceptance.
Please clearly indicate if you would like to attend Adult & Family Week at Timber Ridge if you do not get into this course. Scholarships are available.