ENGLISH SCOTTISH SESSION

July 5-9, 1999

FINAL REPORT

Campers
ESS had a total of 107 campers, including 74 paying the full ESS & PCI fees, 12 work exchange positions (including one added later) plus 6 guests paying the PCI fee. Four committee members and 10 staffers were subsidized by the campers. Sixteen persons were new to Pinewoods and 30, new to ESS. 17 arrived from the July 4th CDS weekend and 32 stayed for the Scottish Session I. Of the 107 campers, 64 were female and 43, male. Only 18 Scottish dancers stated they were beginners while 30 English stated so.

Classes
The extra 10 minutes in morning classes were also extended this year. To accommodate persons with lunch set-up jobs, lunch time shifted to 15 minutes later, without a ripple. A new selection of casual classes taught by guests, rather than fully paid staff teachers, was offered in the afternoons, including the economical use of one well-known musician who asked to teach an English class, and one experienced teacher who had been asking to teach for 11 years... One month before camp, our swing class teacher, canceled. The two guest teachers, who were originally assigned one class only, both offered to teach one more class. They were paid $32/class.

Teaching Staff
Four fully paid staff teachers and 2 guest teachers provided the classes. A very high satisfaction with Gene Murrow's English teaching ability was reported. Scots, especially, continually commented on his ability to describe correct steps, rather n the more characteristic showing of steps in a few ways. Jacquelyn Schwab, staff musician, taught "Something English" and was highly praised for emphasizing style. Hanny Budnick taught one Hambo and one Waltz class. Colleen Putt's Scottish country classes were well received along with her humor and high spirits. Margaret Keller was invited back for a 2nd consecutive year, but she taught 2 different ritual English classes this year: Morris & Rapper. Kate Nealley taught Ladies Step & Highland. Both received very positive feedback for skill and inclusiveness.

Music Staff
Having all four of Bare Necessities was heaven. Earl Gaddis played for both English & Scottish so this was financially feasible. Well-known Liz Donaldson enrolled as the Scottish band boss and all musicians accommodated & enjoyed the locally-known Vince O'Donnell on the Scottish fiddle. While the combination worked beautifully, committee members are on notice that two 1st class band bosses need to be chosen by committee and those two alone decide which other musicians join, subject to committee veto, of course. This process was not understood until too late. Ray Tackett from Philadelphia, husband of Hanny Budnick, provided the sound work. Bob Cameron woke campers to his pipes.

Social Events
A gorgeous and elegant maypole was created and executed by Anne Richardson.
Bonnie Armstrong conducted an uproariously fun circus which brought out the (Scottish) dancing bears and an incontinent heffelump, as well as balancing acts and the strong man (11 y.o. son of Piper Cameron).
The afternoon teas missed elegance because the person who brings the beautiful servers was not a camper this year. However, Maureen Ryan coordinated them faithfully. She received a post-camp award for a work exchange refund because the 4 days of work was exceptional for one camper job.
The after-dance parties were all low key, but well attended as social unwinders. The food & drink was set up by 2 Bryn Mawr students whom everyone appreciated.
The welcome meeting Monday evening was too long, mostly because all speakers were not officially limited to 60 seconds. The campers loved sharing their news voluntarily, but this took so long that it might be featured at another time.
An environmental walk was coordinated by Gerta Conant and enjoyed by about 20 campers.
Ray Tackett volunteered a storytelling hour which was enjoyed by about 10 campers.

Evening Dances
All were positively enjoyed with the alternating English/Scottish in the beginning. The dances were programmed and posted beforehand, much appreciated by campers. The musicians resisted gradual increases in tempo out of respect for the newer and oldest dancers. Awards for the best costumes at Mardi Gras and the 50th anniversary of attendance at PCI, with runner-up of 47 years, were announced. Both guest teachers called a few dances: Jacquelyn Schwab to experience her English style and to allow Gene Murrow to play his music, and Hanny Budnick to allow her students to enjoy their Hambo skills at intermissions.

Summary
This was a deliberately less structured year (2 instead of 3 afternoon events.) Some campers missed the intensity of other years; most campers favored the pace. The guest teachers' classes were enjoyed for their new ideas. While this offers a chance for new teachers & older retiring ones who want to give more to ESS, it has to be balanced with the high expectations of campers for all their classes. The committee felt these teachers should have only one class each because of the risk they take with these less expensive, but nevertheless, accomodations . ESS 99 was blessed with a robust number of campers. Word of mouth, not advertising, seemed to bring the many new campers. A great effort was also made to include serious dancers under 18 y.o. and this was applauded by all. The lifeguard was 18 y.o. as well. He was quite capable & friendly. As ESS is known for attracting older dancers (compared to RSCDS) this infusion of young is heartening and should be carefully continued.

Respectfully submitted,
Jeanne Maclaren

Class Descriptions

BASIC ENGLISH; "BASIC ENGLISH REPERTORY"
GENE MURROW
The basics of style, figures, footwork and formations characteristic of English country dance from 1651 to the present, featuring daces most favored by groups around the country. For people relatively new to English dance and others who wish to "fill in the gaps."

BASIC SCOTTISH
COLLEEN PUTT
Consideration will be given to the basic formations which will be encountered in tonight's dance programme.

CAPE BRETON
COLLEEN PUTT
Both beginners and more experienced dancers will be introduced to a series of strathspey and reel steps. Leather soled shoes recommended.

COTSWOLD MORRIS
MARGARET KELLER
We will focus on stick dances in the tradition of Oddinoton. Baltimorfis, a now defunct team, was known for an athletic style of Oddington and interesting new choreography. We will start with a traditional dance, and then move to dances created by team members. The style has a strong Baltimore flavor and mixes enthusiasm with grace. Morris bells are helpful if you have them. Sneakers are most appropriate footwear.

ENGLISH COUNTRY; "ENGLISH CHALLENGES"
GENE MURROW
An opportunity for accomplished dancers to enjoy dancing with one another while addressing issues of technique, style, musical phrasing and choreography that make for good dancing,. Knowledge of the basics is a prerequisite.

HAMBO & WALTZ
HANNY BUDNICK
Hambo: there was a time when you had 'arrived' in international folk dancing, only if you could hambo. This Swedish couple dance features the same steps for both partners, just one beat out of phase with each other. You'll dance out of this session knowing how to do that with ANYbody! Folk Waltzes: although waltz as a generic dance is usually a great treat for the dancers, there are waltzes with distinct movement patterns (and specific music as well). These are what we will learn during this session. Better brush up on your long-short-short beforehand!

HIGHLAND
KATE NEALLEY
Highland traveling and setting, steps in both reel and strathspey tempos for beginning and intermediate dancers. We will perform a "Strathspey and Reel" by the end of the session.

RAPPER SWORD
MARGARET KELLER
Rapper is a fast driving dance form that uses bendable "rapper swords" to form figures and patterns. This week we will learn "Murton," a fast moving, traditional dance. Hard soled shoes help, but are not required. No experience necessary. We will form sets right away and begin the dance. Once sets are formed, you should plan to attend all of the classes.

SCOTTISH COUNTRY
COLLEEN PUTT
Interesting and fun dances with a difference.

SCOTTISH STEP
KATE NEALLEY
A gentler, less vigorous styling than Highland will be featured, with many of the same kind of movements. A simple traditional step dance will be taught for newcomers, and a more advanced one for dancers with more experience.

SOMETHING ENGLISH; "IN THE FLOATING ZONE"
JACQUELINE SCHWAB
An English Country dance class for everyone, with emphasis on dance movement, style and connection. Especially if the afternoons are hot and muggy, we will do a fair amount of no-thinking, langorous dances.

PARTY PREP
COLLEEN PUTT & GENE MURROW
A class to review and pre-view difficult figures and dances on the evening proaram. All welcome. Be serene at the evening dance--come to Party Prep.

NOTE: Morris and Rapper are both co-operative team efforts; therefore it is a very good thing to come to all the classes and dance on the same team--don't let your team down!

Staff Biographies

HANNY BUDNICK
Hanny started folk dancing when she was eight years old as part of physical education in school. She has never stopped, has been teaching folk dancing since her arrival on these shores in 1959, and has done graduate work in dance education. She formed the Germantown Country dancers and organized the first Playford Ball in the US (1977). At dance festivals and workshops here and abroad she loves to share the gifts of many countries to our dance world, emphasizing fun as well as style.

LIZ DONALDSON
A full-time musician, Liz plays piano and accordion, and has played for dancing for many years. She is known for her innovative back-up style incorporating exciting rhythms, textures and harmony lines. Liz is a member of Dance du Jour, Findhorn, Terpshichore and Folk Remedy, and teaches BandAid, an ensemble playing workshop. Her recordings include Terpshichore; Scottish Dance Music and a CD of American Contra Dance tunes, Summer-Tunes. Liz has taught and played at Ramblewood, Pinewoods, Asilomar, Tokyo, Atlanta, Chicago, Ames, IA, Tucson and Mendocino. She enjoys composing tunes, especially waltzes.

EARL GADDIS
Earl has been fiddling for a mixture of Enclish, Scottish, American and international dancina for more than 30 years. He currently plays for weekly dances in Boston and Northampton, MA, as well as for dance camps, workshops and balls throughout the country and abroad. He is a member of Bare Necessities, whose third recording of English country dance music, Nightcap, came out in 1996.

MARGARET KELLER
Margaret began English dancing 20 years ago. Later she started Cotswold Morris and Rapper Sword. She was a member of Chesapeake Rapper in Baltimore, and formed Charles River Rapper when she moved to Boston 3 years ago. Margaret is a member of Ha'penny Morris and formerly of Baltimorris, two teams that perform "Oddington", a Morris tradition that she will teach. Margaret serves on the CDSS Board and is President of CDS, Boston Centre. When not dancing, she is Associate Director of Resource Development at Sloan School of Management at MIT.

MARY LEA
Mary began playing for dances in 1977. Within a year she had joined the contra band Yankee Ingenuity and discovered the beautiful music of Jacqueline and Earl, who played for Boston's English country dance series. From that time on Mary has been a much sought-after musician, performing all over the US as well as abroad for dances, camps and workshops. She is a member of Bare Necessities, BLT, Orient Express (international music) and Childsplay, and has recorded with many of these bands as well as others. She has also produced her own two recordings of couple-dance music, Cascade of Tears and Gypsy Wine.

GENE MURROW
Gene has done many weird things during his life, like running a small computer company serving the construction industry, teaching Advanced Math to bright teenagers, building a TV studio in Los Angeles, writing a geometry textbook that sells mostly in Europe, playing the oboe, teaching the recorder, conducting motets, earning a masters degree in teaching Scottish dancing at Mohonk Mountain House, and playing concerts at Lincoln Center while dressed as a character from Rabelais, to name a few. Teaching English dancing fits right in, and he's glad to be back at ESS after a six year absence.

KATE NEALLEY
Kate has danced since she was four, and was honored to dance in both the Ladies' Step and the Country Dance demonstration teams at the RSCDS summer school in St. Andrews. She has been teaching Scottish country dance, Highland and Ladies' Step since 1987. Kate also enjoys English country dancing, and has recreated American colonial dances for the Colonial Assembly of the Germantown Country Dancers. She is very active in Community Theatre, and met her husband Ed in a Gilbert and Sullivan production. Their daughter Sara, aged 4, can dance a Strathspey step already! Kate is happy to be back at Pinewoods after several years' "maternity leave."

VINCE O'DONNELL
Vince O'Donnell plays fiddle for Scottish, English and Contra dancing. He is a member of the White Cockade Scottish country dance band, and discovered country dance music in 1965, through the Canterbury Country Orchestra, with which he still plays occasionally. A former jazz guitar player, Vince loves ensemble interaction, harmonizing and improvising, along with the challenge of keeping all of that reasonably within traditional bounds and making it fun for the dancers. Every once in a while, he manages to compose a tune, and he supports outreach to new musicians, both adults and children. He has served on the NEFFA Board, and was a founding director of the Dance Musicians Development Fund.

COLLEEN PUTT
Colleen hails from Sydney, Nova Scotia, but grew up as an air force brat in Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, New Brunswick, Manitoba and Quebec. She teaches high school History and Drama by day and Cape Breton stepdancing and Scottish country in what little remains of her spare time. She is thrilled to be returning to Pinewoods after too long an absence.

JACQUELINE SCHWAB
Jacqueline, a former manager of Pinewoods Camp, loves ESS. She combines traditional music with a classical touch and a dance pianist's improvisations. Her solo performances have been featured on seven of Ken Bums' PBS series, including his recent Frank Lloyd Wright and his upcoming Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. She has performed and recorded with Bare Necessities, Jean Redpath, Alasdair Fraser and others. Jacqueline's most recent recordings are Mad Robin, her solo reflections on English dance tunes, and Celtic Dialogue, a duo Scottish recording with fiddler Laura Risk.

Monday Night's Program

For those who love to know things ahead, here is tonight's program; the dancing to begin as soon as our essential first-night meeting in the camphouse has been accomplished--so see you at the camphouse promptly at 7:45

MISTWOLD (Longways)
CARE NOT FOR THESE (Circle Mixer)
FREEFORD GARDENS (Longways)

MAYFLOWER (Reel)
MONYMUSK (Strathspey)
PELORUS JACK (Jig)

TAKE A DANCE (Longways)
LEAH'S WALTZ (3-Couple Set)
HOLE IN THE WALL (Longways)

HOLLIN BUSS (Jig)
SILVER TASSIE (Strathspey)
DE'IL AMANG THE TAILORS (Reel)

Thursday Night Program

MACHINE WITHOUT HORSES (Jig)
CATCH THE WIND (Hornpipe)
WISP OF THISTLE (Strathspey)
PINEWOODS REEL (Reel)

MR. ISAAC'S MAGGOT (Longways)
KNEELAND ROMP (3-Couple Set)
FACE THE MUSIC (Longways)
CUMBERLAND SQUARE (Square)

MAIRI'S WEDDING (Reel)
ROTHSAY RANT (Jig)
ADIEU MON AMI (Strathspey)
REEL OF THE ROYAL SCOTS (Reel)

LEATHER LAKE HOUSE (Longways)
WIBSEY ROUNDABOUT (5-Couple Set)
BONNY CUCKOO (4-Couple Set)
ELIZABETH (Longways)

Last updated: November 30, 1999 by Judith_Schrier@brown.edu